I started feeling bad at bible study Thursday night and mentioned it to the group to pray that I wouldn't spend the weekend in bed sick like I had a couple of weeks before. By the next morning I had a fever and a headache and was developing a cough that would continue over the weekend. By Monday by fever was worse and it was apparent that taking over the counter drugs were not going to help with anything I had so Elsie decided it was time to go take a trip to the clinic to see the doctor. We went down the hill and I filled out the information sheet in the reception building and then went next door to get checked out. I felt bad for walking right in without waiting; after all some of these people had been there at least a good two hours before I came down, but nevertheless I went in and saw Jean Robert, Canaan's doctor. After a quick exam he diagnosed me with a lung infection and sent me to Pier Payan's hospital for some blood tests. I had been to PP's hospital before visiting one of the ladies that was here in the Fall but hadn't ever needed to use their services. Going to a hospital here is a little bit different than going to one in the states. To get the blood work done you knock on the door to hand the lab technician your slip of paper stating what tests need to be done. The lab here had had both the lab needle pricker and lab result announcer plus three other people waiting to hand the lab person their papers as well as a person waiting to get a test done. The people running the lab didn't seem to be in any sort of hurry despite the large number of people waiting outside on uncomfortable benches. After waiting an hour they finally called my name and I went inside for my needle pricking. I went back outside to wait for the results while Elsie went to visit Dr. Ric who was here from Texas for a week with a medical team. For what seemed like another hour I sat there waiting for them to call my name for the results. When they finally did the good news was it wasn't a lung infection with malaria the bad news was it was a pretty bad lung infection from the tests so back to the clinic we went to go get an antibiotic shot.
The shot seemed to help a lot and I perked up enough to actually want to eat some lunch. For those of you that know me you know that the one way to tell if I'm sick is to put food in front of me and if I don't eat it then you know something's wrong. Unfortunately the medicine didn't last long and I was back to square one. I ended up going back to the hospital for a chest xray which showed the infection had spread to pneumonia.
Haiti has so many people that can't afford the medical care they need. The blood tests costs less then $5 the xray $10, but to some people here that's a month's salary. Canaan's clinic, and the doctor and nurses that work there, do an amazing job at serving the community. Elsie works tirelessly at making sure the patients have what they need. It's amazing to see God's hand working in the clinic. For as bad as I felt God definitely had His hand in it all. I had a doctor at Canaan who could do house calls anytime I needed. I also had Dr. Ric check in on me to see how I was doing. There was a pharmacy full of medicine which everything I needed. There was also a hospital close by that could do the necessary tests I needed done to help get better. I was fortunate and blessed.
The shot seemed to help a lot and I perked up enough to actually want to eat some lunch. For those of you that know me you know that the one way to tell if I'm sick is to put food in front of me and if I don't eat it then you know something's wrong. Unfortunately the medicine didn't last long and I was back to square one. I ended up going back to the hospital for a chest xray which showed the infection had spread to pneumonia.
Haiti has so many people that can't afford the medical care they need. The blood tests costs less then $5 the xray $10, but to some people here that's a month's salary. Canaan's clinic, and the doctor and nurses that work there, do an amazing job at serving the community. Elsie works tirelessly at making sure the patients have what they need. It's amazing to see God's hand working in the clinic. For as bad as I felt God definitely had His hand in it all. I had a doctor at Canaan who could do house calls anytime I needed. I also had Dr. Ric check in on me to see how I was doing. There was a pharmacy full of medicine which everything I needed. There was also a hospital close by that could do the necessary tests I needed done to help get better. I was fortunate and blessed.
Caroline --
ReplyDeleteMy wife (Krystal) and I (Fred Apelquist)are in your dad's small group on Thursday evening. We are at church now at a table Robbie and Irene Pruitt set up about their mission trip to Haitit in April. Our son, Nicholas, will be joining.
You are praying for your work -- and your health. God bless you!
Fred & Krystal Apelquist
Oh CAroline I'm sorry that you're sick! I REALLY hope you feel better soon and am praying for you right now. Thanks for writing your blog and being thankful in the midst of everything!
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