Walking4Water

“Dont bugger around with that stuff” is I think the most common phrase I hear in reference to malaria. People here take it seriously, and rightfully so, because its pretty dehabilitationg and can kill you if you don’t get treated. Lots of people in Africa die every year from this mosquito-born disease. Now I have officially had it and survived; although I’ve met someone who has had it 21 times! I wasn’t feeling quite right before dinner and immediately after I just laid down. Within four hours I knew something was seriously wrong and I was up the rest of the night with a fever, puking, and completely sick. I could barely move the next day but Aaron graciously helped me pack everything up and walked our stuff to the road and hailed down a ride to the biggest city around, Beira, on one of the “chappas”. I am not actually sure how I made it the four hour driver to the city without being sick, except that I was praying, a lot. The chappa driver’s wife is actually a taxi driver, so he had her meet us where the bus stopped and she took us the rest of the way to the hospital. Turns out Beira is a really big city! Once I described my symptoms to the doctor, he immediately ordered a malaria test and we had the restults in less than 30 minutes, and I was given several prescriptions. Sure, it might not have been a particularly “sterile” place, but I will say that it was definitely the most efficient hospital trip I’ve ever made! Besides taking my meds at the proper times (3 prescriptions, simultaneously, multiple times a day) orders are to rest, rest, rest, stay out of the sun, no greasy foods, no alcohol, no dope. The no french fries thing is sad, but other than that I think I can handle it!