Hospitals & Health Update

March was a hard month for me, mainly due my health. Initially, I started out with a cold. Then once the cold left, I managed to get an inner ear infection. This lasted for about  week and I did not have any hearing in my left ear for about 2 weeks (and I still have not gained all of my hearing back in that ear).

Then I was sick again. I thought it was just another cold, but we soon found out that it was not a cold. It was a viral infection that hit me hard. I spent a few days just in bed and I had no desire to eat. Knowing that I needed to eat, I forced some chicken broth and a few spoonfuls of rice down. Just an hour later, I found myself spending all of the next 12 hours in the bathroom.  My body was pushing the eject button and it did not care what end it came out of. Literally every 15-20 mins food and fluid was coming out.

Then I would try to rehydrate myself and that was just making madders worse (and I was getting more dehydrated by the minute). That morning I went into the hospital. I was given an IV, some medication and was shortly released.

After being home, I was finally able to keep some fluids down, but I was far from well. I still could not eat anything without throwing it up. I stayed on a liquid diet for a few days, and I tried some rice again and the cycle started all over.

I found myself the next day dying in the bathroom again (but this time it was daytime and it stirred up some commotion-The Thai Staff were so concerned for me).

I went to a different hospital and I stayed there for days. I was under strict observation. They gave me numerous injections, IVs and some NASTY food. The last day, I finally felt human again (it is such a nice feeling).

I have tried to ease myself back into life (which is HARD for me…to take things slow and rest). I am still on a simple diet. Currently that consists of Chicken Broth, Jello, Juice and recently added Bananas and Crackers.

I am writing this to ask you to join me in prayer for a few things. The obvious, is my health. Pray that I can shake this current illness, that my immune system will become stronger (it has always been weak), and pray for the health of the staff and volunteers here (4 others have had this illness and 1 other was hospitalized as well)

Furthermore, you can pray for my finances to be resolved. I have been saving some money to visit the States this June, to connect with supporters and reconnect with friends and family members. Yet, with these recent events, all of that money went to pay for hospital bills.

To be really honest, I was really looking forward to visiting the States after serving for a little over a year. I know that if God wants me to return home, He will provide (like he always does).

The painful IV was being removed-hence the happiness.