I Survived Malaria

Thank you for all your prayers. I am much better now.

Malaria is terrible!!!! It is worse than I imagined. I see people come to the clinic with malaria and they definitely aren't well, but they seem able to function. Employees who get it take medication and are ok to work the next day. Although I prayed I would never get it, I assumed if I did, it wouldn't be that bad. I would be able to handle it. Well, I was mistaken. I have so much more compassion for people with malaria than I did before. They are very sick and still find a way to walk to the clinic or work. They are just a lot tougher than me.

My symptoms began on Saturday. At that point I didn't know I had malaria. My stomach began to hurt at lunchtime and I got a headache and fever in the evening. I took some Alieve and by morning, my headache and fever had left. I made it through Sunday ok. I was just really tired. Monday around 2:00am, I awoke with a very bad headache and knew I must have a fever. I was in so much pain, I couldn't go back to sleep. So, I just waited until people woke up. Suzy came and asked me if I was exercising and I said "no, I don't feel well." She sent in Margaret to check on me. I had a slight fever so she gave me a fever reducer and pain reliever for the headache. When she checked on me two hours later, my fever had increased and I felt very nauseous. I also had joint pain. Suzy and Caleb did a paracheck on me (that tests for malaria) and I was positive.

Bummer.

Well, at least we knew what it was so I thought "give me Coartum and I'll be back in shape by tomorrow." That was not the case. I felt incredibly nauseous, my head hurt, I was alternating between really hot and really cold and my whole body ached. I thought I might be able to work a bit and answered my door when Bona came looking for more registration books. As he talked to me, I couldn't understand what he was saying. I realized I wasn't feeling well and turned to sit down. After that, I don't know exactly what happened. I fainted. I don't remember blacking out. I just remember being on the floor with someone holding my shoulders up. Bona called for help and people came over to help me back to bed. I was still really confused about what happened. I spent the rest of the day in bed thinking, surely, I will feel better tomorrow. We have movie nights on Mondays so Suzy came and got me and set me up on the couch. Unfortunately, I started feeling pretty bad and went back to my room. Night came and went and I was so nauseous, I couldn't sleep.

When the sun rose on Tuesday, I was upset to discover I did not feel any better. In fact I was worse. I couldn't eat or drink and had all the same symptoms of the day before. That day I got really weak and the vomiting began. I could barely walk and had to have help going to the bathroom. By Tuesday night, I was not showing any signs of improvement.

Wednesday morning came and I still hadn't slept. The vomiting continued so they changed my medication from an oral medication to IV. Suzy put me in her room so she could keep an eye on me. I was able to sit outside for a bit, but still couldn't eat, drink or sleep and I kept throwing up. Wednesday night was the worst. I began the night sleeping in Rachel's room (no one wanted to risk me fainting again - it had happened twice so far), but moved back into my room when I was too restless to sleep. My legs were doing something weird and I couldn't stop moving them. That led to another sleepless night. At this point I was so hopeless and discouraged. I just cried out to God and begged for help. The lack of sleep was doing me harm physically and mentally.

By Thursday, I felt a little better. My fever had reduced and my headache was gone. The nausea began to decrease as well. Thursday night, I felt good enough to sit at the dinner table with everyone else. Even if I couldn't eat, it would be nice to see everyone. Unfortunately, I felt sick after about 10 minutes. I rushed to my room, but didn't make it, vomiting right in front of our veranda. I was really bummed. I thought I was getting better.

Thursday night was a turning point, fortunately. I SLEPT!!!!! That made all the difference. I woke up Friday feeling better than I had in days. I was still really weak and tired, but I was able to go to devotions. At last, the malaria was behind me.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday I had to rest a lot. After being in bed for four days and not eating or drinking, I was exhausted and had to lay down and sleep every two hours or so. It is now Monday and I am feeling good. Still a bit tired, but fully recovered.

Thank you so much for your prayers. They really got me through. Although I would never want to get it again, I did learn a few things from having malaria:

1. With God's help, I can endure a bad sickness. I acknowledge being a wimp and there were times I thought this would break me. However, I made it. It was awful, but I am ok. It will help me in the future when I am sick and feeling discouraged.
2. When you are sick, you learn to drop your pride and you must accept help (something that is hard for me). God has blessed me with amazing people here. I was really well taken care of by so many people. Suzy was constantly checking on me and praying for me. While I was in her bed, she washed my sheets and cleaned my room so it would be nice and fresh when I got back. Amy was always asking what she could do for me. She would bring me anything if it meant I would eat and drink (chicken broth, cereal, crystal light). She even helped me to my chamberpot, half naked and waited while I finished. Rachel gave me a few massages that helped ease my pain. Sabet emptied my chamberpot and vomit bucket. Margaret gently started my IV. I lost count of how many people saw me vomit. So many more people helped me. Thinking about it makes me cry and I appreciate them so much.
3. I have increased compassion for the patients with malaria. They are so tough and I have a lot to learn from them.

Thank you for everyone that prayed for me and sent me messages. They really encouraged me. People I didn't even know were praying for me. So thank you, thank you, thank you! God is good.