Here’s a final update on Nili.

Yesterday we learned from the doctor that Nili’s echocardiogram showed two defective heart valves. This is apparently a long-standing condition, which resulted in her enlarged heart and caused her recent symptoms.

She is on several medicines now, which have her blood pressure and heartbeat stabilized. Because of that, her breathing is normal again. So she and Odi went home today. Nili was missing their five children, as you can imagine.

She’s feeling a lot better than she was last week, and we’re thankful for that. She is supposed to avoid heavy work, which is difficult in the Palawano farming lifestyle. And according to the doctor, her condition could become serious and even life-threatening at any time in the future.

She will return to Puerto in a month to see the doctor as a follow-up. It remains to be seen how much she can travel to be involved in the translation project, but she should be able to continue working in the clinic in the village.