Food Poisoning

I’m very sorry for how long it has been between posts! I’ve been wanting to blog for a while, but life has been unpredictable and blogging has suffered as a result. Anyways, I hope to eventually update you on some of what has been happening and it all starts with this post!

I got to have my first experience of a third world hospital which is probably an experience I could have done without. However, it’s just too good to deprive you of some of the highlights. About two weeks ago I got violently sick after eating something and started throwing up. A lot. After throwing up several times at 5 minute intervals, I decided that maybe it would be a good idea to go to the hospital. I might have been wrong about that. Anyway, I went to the hospital and the doctor looked at me and had me brought to a solitary room to give me some shots and hook me up to an IV. They also gave me a bowl to throw up into which should have been bigger. In some ways, I was rather lucky. I had a room to myself instead of having to share it with about 6 other women. And I had my own bathroom. The plus was that the toilet flushed. The minus was that the sink and shower did not have any water coming out of it. The following might be a more fun way to describe some of my experiences:

8- number of times I threw up

2- number of days that I had an incorrectly placed IV in my hand which was effectively pumping liquids into my tissue instead of my vein

13- number of times that the nurses tried to insert the IV without success

1- number of bugs that might have crawled up my leg while trying to use the bathroom while also carrying my IV

23- approximate number of visitors I had at the hospital, several of which I had no memory of ever meeting

0-number of times I was offered water to swallow my pills given to me by the nurses

3- number of nights spent at the hospital

2-number of doctor visits in Accra as a result of damage from the incorrectly placed IV in my hand

Worst advice given to me by the doctor: When you have diarrhea, it is very bad to eat bananas. Instead you should eat fried yams.

I’ll be honest and say that the hospital was a horrible experience. I would strongly hesitate before going to the hospital again. However, I do think I learned some important things!

1) Remember how the Bible said something about visiting the sick? Well, even though it can be tiring, I don’t know how I would have handled 3 days in the hospital without all the visitors. It was so nice to have people stop by and spend time with me to make me feel better and remind me that I wasn’t alone.

2) The experience gave me a new found appreciation for doctors and hospitals in the US.

3) As my advisor, Paul Neeley, wisely said: “Serving with the rural marginalized poor means that the health care, education, training of pastors, and more may also be marginal. Serving the marginalized poor is glamorous for about 2 minutes each day!