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Rochelle & Richard Thorpe
October 2003
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Tubal reversal
Oct 7, 2003
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Pregnancy #1
It's a Boy! Aug 5, 2004
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4 cm left side
5 cm right side
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Welcome
Gabriel Maxwell Izaak
August 5, 2004 at 8:05 AM - 7 lbs 2 ounces and full of joy.
Again we are so grateful to the
blessing Levy, Moreno, and Doc Perez provided us, and to God for
making it possible. Indeed the angel Gabriel was present so we
named him Gabriel, and the wellspring of blessings we received made
us add to his name Maxwell - Great Well or wellspring... Izaak or
Isaac the profit showed us the way with the story of his birth to
Abraham and Sarah... hence the entire meaning of his name!
Continued blessing to all leaning
on God and receiving blessings at Rio Bravo!
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Update February 2004
The blessing continues. On Friday before Valentine's Day, we had an
ERA Ultrasound -- Early Risk Assessment for our age group. The test
came back all clear of any abnormalities and during the procedure
the little one was playing, sucking his thumb and then made sure I
stopped calling him a girl by showing us the stem on his apple. The
doctor even moved our due date up to 8/11 which means we got
pregnant on our first try after all (we only tried twice). Isn't he
adorable? As promised he will be names Cheveyo - a Native American
Hopi name that means Spirit Warrior. Again, God bless the Three
Caberellos f"Dr. Perez, Dr. Levy, and Mr. Moreno"
Richard and Rochelle T.
Update! December 2003
Hello Levy, Moreno, and Doc Perez: Well, your 70% chance was
actually 100% chance. -- we are expecting already: Not bad for 42
year olds. We are one month at least: Due August 2004
Happy Holidays! Richard & Rochelle T
October 2003
When I learned about Rio Bravo after searching the Internet, I felt
that my discovery was the result of prayer. I immediately scheduled
the appointment and set aside the funds that came to me
unrepentantly. In the past something always came up to demand our
monies, but turning 42 soon, I knew I could no longer postpone
having a reversal. I have two teenage children and had my tubes tide
following the birth of my youngest, 12 ½ years ago. At age 29, I
didn't expect to divorce or to remarry at the time of this decision.
I had always wanted more children but had given into the influence
of others.
This year my new husband and I are celebrating eight years of
marriage by going to Rio Bravo. Prior to going, my cousin shared
with me a precious book, Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize. I
read it continuously up until the time of our flight. I shared the
book with a Christian sister in Church who is weeks from delivery.
This book has helped me to pray about conception and birth with the
guidance of the Bible. You can image the concerns I had having
waited so long, being older, and 40 pounds over my ideal weight. I
had done lots of research and had fears that I would have scar
tissue, endometriosis, and not enough tube.
God answers prayers: the night we arrived not only was Dr. Levi
greeting us at the door with a big smile, the nurse who was
attending me was lovely and had a big pregnant belly, her name was
Concepcion, and not only where we taken to room # 7, it was our
anniversary too, October 7th. I felt like I was in a dream.
Everything went so fast, so smooth, and as I was praying for - with
very little discomfort. I was up and walking around the next day and
ever since.
During the procedure I awoke and enjoyed talking with "The Three
Caballeros" -- Francisco Moreno (Mr. Brown), Dr. Levy, and Dr. Perez
while they worked on me. They answered my every question and gave me
good news - I had no scar tissue, no endometriosis, and plenty of
tube. Although one was cauterized close to the uterus Dr. Perez was
able to leave 4 cm on the left side and 5 cm on the other without
any trouble. I strongly believe that prayers caused this result.
The only anxiety I had was the epidural and not feeling my legs. I
never felt a thing, and in fact the next morning I asked my husband
to help me go to the restroom, he said to me that I was already
going because I had a catheter in - I hadn't even felt it.
Fortunately for me I was able to email and speak with a lady who had
posted her experience at Rio Bravo, and Richard had the opportunity
of speaking with her husband, so we were well prepared for the
experience. My husband is so pleased he started a dissertation (see
below). The hospital gave us the needed anti-biotic and pain
relievers upon checkout. Our total cost was $1,910. After having a
good experience at Rio Bravo - you'll want to have the entire
experience end well -- so I advise having enough money for your own
travel plans, and for the unexpected. Taxis vary in price as so do
the hotels and there is 8 percent tax on food in Texas.
I will be forever grateful to the entire Rio Bravo Team for their
kindness and making me whole.
- Rochelle T.
Husbands Comments.
When my wife, Rochelle, first told me of her desire to get a tubal
reversal, I was initially supportive but a little skeptical. After
all, it had been 12 years since she had her tubes tied and all of
our previous research (mostly hers) led to solutions that were too
expensive. I was convinced that the only way we were going to have a
child of our own - Rochelle very much wanted to adopt, but I, being
adopted myself, was insistent of having our own child. The only way
that was going to happen was surgery or a miracle. Up until October
7, 2003 it did not appear possible.
Sometime during the summer, Rochelle found Dr. Perez's website and
asked me to look at it. She was very excited and after I had a
chance a review the website, I became impressed, especially by the
many glowing testimonials given by mothers that had traveled far and
wide from the United States to Rio Bravo, Mexico to undergo the
procedure.
She told me that we should definitely go to Mexico so that we could
have the operation. It would probably be our last opportunity. We
had the money, I was able to get the time off, and we were both
convinced that it was going to happen. On the plane ride from Boston
we prayed for a successful operation and experience. Our flight went
as planned, we arrived at McAllen Airport at around 3:45. It was
pouring. Dr. Levy was supposed to have sent a driver to pick us up.
After waiting awhile and looking for this person, we took a cab
driven by a congenial driver named Panfilo Serrato. He even
allowed us to stop at a bank.
The trip took about 35-40 minutes (including our stop to the bank).
There were no delays at the Mexican border. We arrived at the
Hospital de las Americas, and Dr. Levy escorted us to our room.
Rochelle's surgery was scheduled for 7:30 pm. Our room was fairly
large and clean with a sink, toilet, shower, full size couch and
television with built-in VCR.
At about 7:00, the nurses gave Rochelle an IV, some other medication
and her hospital "Johnny." At 7:30 or so, Dr. Levy and a couple of
nurses came to wheel Rochelle to the operating room. I quickly
followed. While Rochelle was being prepped for her epidural, I spoke
with Dr. Levy and Dr. Roberto Perez Rio. Dr. Perez would be
performing the surgery, with Dr. Levy assisting. I told them I
wanted to be present during the operation.
After about 10 minutes, I went into the operating room and sat down.
The operation took about two hours and I held Rochelle's hand most
of the time, letting go only to look at Dr. Perez and Dr. Levy do
their thing. Rochelle did not respond to me right away. She thought
I was one of the doctors. The good news is that Rochelle's left tube
was about 4cm. Her right tube had 5cm left. Dr. Levy said that was
no scar tissue, no endometriosis and no complications. Although her
left fallopian tube was very close to her uterus, he still gave her
a 70 percent chance of conception.
In retrospect, both Dr. Perez and Dr. Levy were very competent,
caring and gentle. Ditto for the nurses. Rochelle did not even feel
the epidural and was not in much pain, before or after the two-hour
operation. Everyone was very nice and supportive and we had ample
time to practice our Spanish.
I would recommend Dr. Levy, Dr. Perez and the entire staff of The
Hospital of the Americas to anyone who is looking to have a tubal
reversal. Our experience was even better than we could have hoped.
The trip took no longer than expected, the surgery went very well,
the bill was within the minimum price, and we are very grateful. We
could not ask for anything more.
God bless the doctors, nurses and staff of The Hospital of the
Americas.
- Richard T.
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