Memoirs of Morogoro

I arrived here at school the first week of February, for an intensive 4 month course in Swahili, along with approx. 10 other students. Two of my classmates also have medical backgrounds: Riikka is a midwife from Finland, and Carina is a surgeon from Germany. Since the second or third week of school, the Swahili has been the least of our worries. First Scott, my drill mate from England contracted malaria and came very close to dying. Apparently the malaria parasite, which is spread through infected mosquitoes, multiplies very quickly in the body and wreaks havoc in the red blood cells. Scott was tested for malaria three times before his test finally showed up positive. What he had to go though I would not ever wish upon anyone on this earth. He suffered greatly with vomiting and diarrhea that left him devastated and weak for days. Thanks to many prayers that were offered on his behalf and the tireless energies of Riikka, Carina, and Josh (another student here and one of Scott's best friends) Scott has now fully recovered and has gone on to Moshi, TZ to work there with young people. The next case for the "medical team", as we are now lovingly called, was to be a young woman who suffered a miscarriage one Saturday morning. As I was walking to breakfast that morning I saw her husband as he was carrying food back to their room. I ask him if he was treating Gina to breakfast in bed, and then he told me what he thought had happened and that she was bleeding heavily. I quickly gathered the team and we went to see her. How thankful I am that the Lord in His goodness and wisdom sent Riikka and Carina to be here with me! It was really quite amazing the way that we all worked together. We all knew the gravity of the situation and that something had to be done immediately lest Gina bleed to death. After starting an IV we transported her into town and after some time the doctors finally did an ultrasound to determine if she had retained tissue in her uterus....she did. Retained tissue meant that the bleeding would not stop on its own and that she would need to have surgical intervention with a D&C. The next obstacle was that the nearest hospital that could do the procedure was 3.5 hours away in Dar es Salaam. Armed with multiple IV bags and towels we set out for Dar. The Lord was surely with us as I drove and prayed. By late Saturday night Gina had the D&C and the bleeding finally stopped. Her hemoglobin dropped so low, it is estimated that she lost almost half of her blood volume. Weeks after the incident Gina is now feeling good and attending class with no problems.
Malaria is a strange beast for sure. While it wreaks havoc upon one person's GI system, for another it may come on as a slight headache or general complaints of "just not feeling well." So it was to be for its next victim. She began the first week of March with a general complaint of a constant mild headache, but really didn't think too much of it since she wasn't having any of the other symptoms of malaria which include: fever, chills and GI issues. By Saturday night the pain in her head was so severe that Riikka and another friend, Mikyong, a student from Korea threw her into Riikka's vehicle and set off to have a malaria test. Malaria is a cruel parasite, but the treatment for it is almost as bad. Once doctors found her positive for malaria, a IV was started and a IV drip with Quinine was started. Quinine is hard on the body as it sucks up all the available glucose in the body. This leaves the patient in a state of constant hypoglycemia unless juices, and anything with sugar is ingested. Another side effect of Quinine is that it brings on tinnitus in the ears, which results in a temporary deafness. After being in the hospital for nearly 4 days she was discharged and sent back to school to recover under the watchful eye of her classmates.
I don't really remember too much about those days in the hospital or even going to the hospital, but what I do remember is the love and care that was shown me during during those days. Riikka and Mikyong spent the night with me in the hospital that first night and hardly, if ever let go of my hand. This act of selfless act of love occurred in a hospital ward with 2 malaria patients and a room full of mosquitoes. The second night Riikka stayed with me and we ended up sharing my hospital bed together when a young mom asked Riikka for the bed she was sleeping in. Riikka hardly slept for 3 days while caring for me. While in the hospital and during my recovery back at the school I have wanted for nothing. My friends here brought me food and juice in the hospital and would have gone to the moon to bring me anything else I would of wanted for. At school they have tirelessly served me bringing all my meals to my room and visiting me frequently throughout the day. I have truly seen the beautiful body of Christ in action selflessly serving and caring for one of Her own, and I am humbled beyond words to be the recipient of such extravagant love and concern.
It has now been nine days since I was released from the hospital and I am still on the road to recovery. The malaria has left me weaker than I think I have ever been in my life. For four days the farthest I journeyed outside my room was to the toilet. I must confess that all of this has been such a new experience for me, for I had never known what it was to be truly physically weak. I guess I thought that weakness could always be overcome by an act of the will. How wrong I was! I have slept and rested more in the last two weeks than I have in the last two years, but little by little my strength is returning.
In closing this entry I would be remiss if I did not take time to mention a few of my friends here who have faithfully attended me:
.....To Riikka, thank you for watching over and caring for me throughout this whole ordeal. Your selfless sacrifice of love, compassion, time and care is an example to us all. I am blessed to call you my friend...
.....To Mikyong, thank you for being there when I needed you the most. Your joy and laughter has been medicine for my soul.
.....To Carina, thank you for staying with me in the hospital as well and for being the one doctor I truly trusted here. I'm not sure what I would of done without you.
.....To Josh, my faithful American brother! Thank you for the days you stayed in my room the entire day to watch over me, and for being my knight in shining armour holding my arm every time I walk the marathon to the cafeteria!
.....To Paulette (whom I have loving nicknamed "Saint Paulette") Thank you for the marathons you have walked day after day bringing me food, water, treats, tea, hugs, and whatever else my heart desired. I am in awe of your energy to serve others and even more in awe at the size of your incredible servants heart. You have blessed and honored me more than you will ever know.
.....Father Sandro (my favorite Italian Catholic Priest) Thanks for all the visits in the hospital and for being so instrumental in my escape from there. Also thanks for "the lift" you gave me from the cafeteria! I hope your hernia heals soon!
.....To my Lord & Savior, Jesus, Thank You for the way that You have so faithfully loved and preserved me through all of this. I have truly seen Your magnificent display of love and care through all that you placed around me here from the women in the cafeteria who brought me fresh squeezed juice everyday to those who bathed me at my weakest. You and You alone, are truly good and I have been an eyewitness of your love and compassion in action through Your body here. I have only been made more steadfast in my calling to love and serve You here. You are my rock and my fortress and I love the way You love me. Thank You Lord...
( Side note......Carina, Mikyong and Riikka all came down with malaria too, but thankfully it was caught relatively early and they were able to be treated with meds and are recovering at the school also.)