Illin

One thing that is certainly not taken for granted here it seems, is good health. In a way I am reminded of historical letters written in the U.S. in the 1800s, which when read by calm narrators in a Ken Burns type documentary film, always mention health first thing: Dear Wilfred, I hope this letter finds you in good health. It has been a hard winter…  The long greeting when one sees someone one knows here often includes “how is your family”, “how is your place”- Habari ya famalia? Habari ya kuako? I also try to not take good health for granted. I have been increasingly cognizant of health and illness since studying and working in health care. Never before have I been as thankful as now. I think an incident when I had with a high fever last July in Minneapolis and ended up admitted to Abbott NW helped to expand my thankfulness. Here it is full bloom.

A few Saturdays ago I woke up, had some water, and started my day with a run. I had decided to run into town to the place where Tumiani holds some outreach activities- mainly a game of soccer for the streetboys followed by some food. The run to the field where the game is held is probably 5 or 6 miles from the house in Kenmosa. After some time to stretch I was able to join in on the game for a bit. Then I walked into the central part of the town, got a huge bottle of water and walked to meet Deb for a late lunch. I continued to drink a copious amount of fluid that whole afternoon. We arrived back in Kenmosa to the house at 5ish. I began shivering and feeling week almost immediately. Later my fever shot up to 102 or so. For the next three days my temp would begin the day near 99 and later go as high as 102.8. Thankfully our group of friends includes many doctors here and one happened to be staying at the house in Kenmosa also. He, after 3 days of fever recommended to start the course of malaria meds (with a clear head now I should probably have gotten the simple test to confirm- but was willing to do anything at the time). Next I was hit with nasty GI stuff (I’ll refrain from details…)and I was left dehydrated and weak.  The illness seemed to run its course and I spend a week mostly prone, in bed. Once I was feeling normal, it still took a few days to have to energy to carry on with days tasks and not feel exhausted. When Deb came down with a fever a few days later, it seemed to be confirmed- just a nasty virus.  Deb seemed to fight it off a bit better and didn’t seem quite as debilitated. When the illness first started and it was a mystery I felt a bit of concern that may not be present when back in the U.S. It makes me think about health differently and the excellent health care infrastructure in the U.S.

To Health!