It's not really advised for you to try and diagnose me overseas, hahaha. To calm your mind, here's exactly what happened with my Malaria:
Saturday: Heavy fever/chills, and I suspected malaria. Sister Krumm took me to be tested, and I tested positive for P. Falciparum (the same one as before). I was given medication and began taking it immediately. I went home, and runny stomach, the most severe migranes, and occasional vomitting ensued for the duration of the day. I spent the day trying my best to sleep. Not very easy. Saturday night was when I passed out.
Sunday: More of the same, only more vomitting. Towards the evening and through the night, my body was rejecting all the fluids in my body, and I could feel myself dehydrating. Up to this point, I still hadn't eaten anything, but I was doing my best to drink plenty. I was still taking my medications, which included ibuprofen, paracetamol, ciprofloxacin (in case of other infections), and the anti-malarial. Miraculously, whenever the time came to take the medications, I was able to keep them in me, whereas anything else I took was forcefully expelled.
Monday: Elder Kirkham was concerned about dehydration, so he took me to the emergency room for a saline drip. While I was there, I also received an injection in my leg to stop the vomitting (that was key). I stayed there for a few hours, got rehydrated, and the doctor came to check on me (no worries, Dr. Mahmoud knows his stuff. He's very reputable as an excellent doctor). He said that I was okay to go home after the drip, and that the medications and everything that I was taking was good. He prescribed two anti-nausea medications for me as well. I was finally able to eat in the evening time for the first time in three days, and things started going down well.
From there, it's just been a slow recovery process. The parasite really took it's toll on me, so it's just been a matter of time. Sister Krumm in particular is a worry case, so she's been forcing me to stay inside and sleep even when I feel okay. Ha ha ha, it's really funny actually. She worries a LOT for us Elders, so if any of us are sick, we get a great deal of TLC from her.
I personally believe that I was infected by the parasite here in Sinkor since I came. When I first came, the mosquitoes were REALLY bad in our compound. Our screening wasn't quite adequate, and most detrimentally, the septic tank had a rupture in it, so we had our own breeding pool just outside our window. I was being bitten like crazy when I first came. The doxy that we take can only inhibit the reproductive ability of the parasite, but if we're exposed to too much of it, there's only so much it can do to stop it. I think I was just overexposed. Since that time, we've had our screening repaired, the septic tank has been repaired, and we keep an ample supply of "Raid" in our apartment to keep it mosquito-clean.
Malaria isn't common in the mission like it used to be. It used to be that every missionary was expected to contract it at some point in his mission, but that was mostly because of the general disobedience regarding doxy and things that was being observed. Nowadays, Sister Roggia has everyone keeping the rules. While indeed the cases of malaria have been minimized, they haven't been eliminated. That's virtually impossible, considering that malaria can be contracted from a single bite. So, it is contracted every once in a while, but as we are heading into dry season, we're anticipating that it will get a little worse before it gets better.
So, as far as my own health now, I'm doing quite well. I'm at about 90%, so things are great. Sister Roggia trusts the medication that I was given, so I trust it too. I don't believe that this case was a recurrence for me, beause last time I even took two rounds of treatment to be extra sure. I guess the one I took this time is a lot stronger, so it's not necessary. Even Dr. Mahmoud recommended it, so I think I'm okay. It's just been a matter of taking it easy this past week. But really, I'm doing great now.
I really appreciate all of the prayers and things. We really are helped and guided out here, and we need it every single day. Missionary work is not easy at all. The only thing that I look forward to when I leave here is having the heavy mantle of "Elder" fall from my shoulders. To carry it for two years is the heaviest task I've ever had, so it's wonderful to receive support from those on the other side. Thanks so much!
I'm so glad to hear that Dad's not going to have any problems with his health again. I'm relieved to hear that. I'd hate for your capacity to serve as couple missionaries someday to be hindered. ;-)
Yes, recovery is the most frustrating part of being sick. I've wanted so badly to go and work all this week, but doctor's orders said that I needed to sleep. Well, I'm doing great now, so I'm grateful for that!
You know, I could really feel it when I heard Dad try to talk on the phone Christmas day. I could feel just how much it meant for him to talk to me. I think that hearing him struggle to talk is what touched me the most. I mean, I guess I just had no idea what was going on at home, and then to hear that he was in the hospital in some unknown condition just dying to talk to me... I dunno, it really did touch me.
I spent the remainder of the day thinking about it all the way through the next day. And I can just tell when my Mom has been overworked! ;) I'm grateful for the way things turned out though, and I'm especially grateful for the doctor that was able to help. I'm just so glad that he was so sensitive to you and Dad as well, trying to make things alright in a situation that was just so messed up. I think I'm most grateful for him. While I am indeed watched after by earthly angels here, you are where you are as well. I guess it's a mission blessing or something.
Well, this week wasn't all that much in terms of missionary work. Mostly resting, sleeping, and relaxing. Yep, not much else. We did have a baptism on Saturday, which was awesome. It was amazing that we were able to pull off a baptism considering our severe lack of proselyting, but it was wonderful all the same. We were originally going to have it in our chapel here in Sinkor, but there was no water, and nobody to help us get water (our physical facilities manager was in Kakata). So, what we had to do was go all the way to the Matadi chapel and baptize there, which was a pain, but I was grateful that our candidates had to sacrifice a little for their baptisms. It always makes it much more meaningful for those people. They'll never forget it, because it didn't come so easy for them. I was really happy with it.
Anyhoo, that's the week in review for me. Not a whole lot going on. Thank malaria for that one. This week will be a lot better though. I'm on my feet, and I'm feeling good, so no problem.
Love,
Elder Vaughan
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