So last month, when we were in Panama City, we had access to some of the most brilliant medical professionals in the entire country and we know that because one of our teammates had need of them. In Lesotho, the situation is a little different. Have no fear, I didn’t need to go to a hospital, though the tale is still unfolding.
Basically the story goes like this.
Day 3 of travel to Africa, we make it to the Johannesburg airport (which you can read all about in my blog, Travel Day and the Circle of Life). I start to feel a little off, but brush it off as exhaustion and dehydration. Anyway, as I’ve already described in what I consider enough detail, the rest wasn’t really pretty, but after approximately 22 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period, I thought I’d kicked the worst of it.
Unfortunately, the past couple of days have gone something like this; wake up at 5:30, feeling fine. Have a quiet time, maybe a bite of breakfast, and sit down with the team for feedback and sharing.
This is where the days start to get hazy. My body grows weak, I get really tired and a little sore. I’m hot virtually all the time and I have to sleep for the majority of the day, say, 10 – 4 p.m. when I wake up feeling fine again. Oh, and through all of this, my stomach is in a constant state of gurgling and not the good, “I’m hungry” kind, the one that’s more like, “let’s see how bad we can feel with pukey burps without actually vomiting.”
Sorry if that description was too much.
So anyway, after about four days of this, my teammate sits me down and tells me it’s time to go see a doctor. (Mom, you can direct all your praise and thanks to Bex). I roll my eyes, but agree, at this point, I’m so stir crazy that I’m willing to do just about anything to see the campus and these kids from something closer than a window view.
Consequently on day 5, Ally and I, with the assistance of the good Mr. Laurenz, our property manager and driver, head over to the clinic.
I don’t know if it was because it was Saturday or because this is how things usually work in Lesotho, but the doctor was working at a different facility that day. So when we got there, I checked in with the nurse, Lerato, a lovely woman who speaks English beautifully. She then proceeded to ask for my symptoms, then call the doctor and talk to him about my case. Then it was my turn to talk to the good doctor, right there in the waiting room, and after ruling out a few things like pregnancy and malaria, he told me Lerato was going to give me two injections and some medicine.
Cool. I got her to write down everything she was giving to me, not the easiest task, but we did it, along with what everything was supposed to help me with. Then, as advertised, she took me to the exam room (first I’d seen of it) and I got my two injections, walking out of there within 20 minutes of walking in with a reminder to come back in three days if I still wasn’t feeling good. Easy peasy.
Let me tell you, I may know what it was called, but I don’t know what was actually in those injections, but they worked. Half way home I was antsy in the car, unsure if I was ready to run a mile or take a nap. When we got back, I ate a full sandwich and chips for lunch, the first lunch I’d eaten in days and had no problem keeping it down. I even went on a walk after that around the small campus that is our home for the next few weeks. (It’s very small, lots of things to watch out for, like kids, puppies, and cows.)
After that I did take a nap, but only about two and a half hours and I think it’s worth noting that I was feeling good enough to attempt walking into town to find the rest of our team, but seeing as it was the hottest part of the day, I eventually elected to attempt more daring adventures tomorrow if I’m still feeling up for it. See, I do have common sense, and every once in a while I do use it.
Anyway, that’s the fun story of the day, I’ll keep you updated if there’s any more to say on the matter.
Love always,
TL
P.S. THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY SUPPORTERS! Because of you, I have officially less than $1,000 left to raise. You are all wonderful and I am so thankful for each of you. Thank you for making this journey possible financially. I’ll work on keeping my body up and running so this journey is possible physically!
P.P.S. If you wish to join this elite group, simply click the button on the left side bar that reads, “Donate!”
Y’all are the best!
~TL
*Mom, this title, like many of my others, is over dramatized. I’m sorry if I scared or worried you unnecessarily.
