At about 3:00 am Saturday Jan 24 I experienced the onset of Malaria. A recent trip to Burkina Faso Africa had exposed me to mosquitoes that were bearing the disease. And though I had been back for 12 days, the virus was still very active. The short story is that from that early morning onset of symptoms I did not find real relief until sometime Thursday morning. I faced high fever, intense body pain and headaches that responded best to ice packs on either side of my head. In short it was the most horrific experience of my life. I would wish it on no one.
And while I would gladly have never experienced it I must say with all honesty I am grateful. I am grateful that my son Jonathan who slept on the cot next to me in Africa has to date not shown any symptoms. If one of us had to have it, I am grateful it was me.
I am also grateful that I had the privilege of being treated by a great infectious disease Doctor and a fine staff of nurses who did everything in their power to help me seek relief. They were very patient with me when all their efforts seemed ineffective.
I am grateful for a wife and family who cared for me so tenderly. I am grateful for a family of faith, that extends farther than I can imagine, who prayed for me without ceasing. The difference between my condition Wednesday evening and Thursday morning January 29th is borderline miraculous.
I am grateful that I will never be the same. I have been given and incredible gift of understanding, like few can, what it means to millions of people around the world to suffer from Malaria.
While in Africa this year I had held the feeble fingers of a small child as we tested him for malaria. You could almost tell by looking at the child that they had the disease. We had treated adults who had traveled many miles on foot to the clinic. I look back now and remember how desperately ill I was as I traveled by car to the hospital and wonder how they ever made it to the clinic.
I am grateful that for the first time in my life I have a passion for something and for a people that is beyond the walls of a religious status quo. I have already been challenged to never go back to Africa. They argue that the danger to my health is all the reason I need. And my response is,” how can I possibly not go back.” How can I not go and try to help people find relief from a treatable disease of which I now know of the terrible affliction first hand.
Had I known then what I know now I would have spent every moment of every day trying to care more tenderly for those who had the disease. I would have done everything I could to check and treat every person I could.
I will not likely return before January of 2010. But when I do I will go back with a greater sense of focus and passion than ever before. I hope to be able to do more to be prepared than ever before. I want to give an insecticide treated mosquito net to as many mothers of young children as possible. I want to give as many families as we can some repellent for their homes. We will test and treat more people for Malaria than we ever have before. I will share the love of Jesus more passionately than I ever have before.
Thanks for your prayers. Thanks for your love. Pray for those who suffer right now from Malaria.
