Weekend (1/25-26/14)

Sadly, Sebastian’s uncle was just diagnosed with what appears to be a renally-based tumor. He went to the doctor for back pain, and had an ultrasound that revealed a large left renal mass. Sebastian and I went to visit him in the hospital on Saturday, and I was able to look at his CT scan because all the patients here have their imaging right next to their bed. He has a large, necrotizing left renal mass without radiographic evidence of metastasis. He is going to have a thoracic and head CT tomorrow, and then he is planned for surgery on Wednesday next week. His spirits seemed relatively high, all things considered, and he is now asymptomatic and pain free.

With a mix of happiness and sadness because of his uncle’s illness, on Saturday evening, we went to Sebastian’s nephew’s wedding—my first Nicaraguan wedding. It was held in a beautiful Catholic church, the Iglesia de la Merced. At the ceremony, I had the very unexpected opportunity to meet the Nicaraguan Cultural Ambassador. After the ceremony, we went to the reception, which was held near Sebastian’s house in the former hospital for Leon. The building served as the hospital in the 1800’s, and was founded by a Dr. Debayle, an important figure in the history of Nicaragua. There was a mariachi band, which Sebastian sung with. I met many of his family members that I had not yet. It was a very enjoyable evening, and a wonderful opportunity to get even closer to Sebastian’s family.

Attending a wedding with the Perez family 

On Sunday, we went to Las Pinetas, one of the beaches near Leon. The weather was beautiful, an uncharacteristically mild day. We swam in the ocean, and walked up and down the beach, and afterward stopped by Sebastian’s brother’s house on the way back to Leon.

A mariachi band at the wedding