FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: MAY 22, 2021 ALFERES SAVES A LIFE! Wednesday, 4:30pm, I hear a yell. “BABY IN TROUBLE!” Leaving my kitchen, I see Alferes running to my house while cradling a small bundle in his arms. I hurried him into my house, instructing him to put the baby on the table inside my door, and remove her clothes. TWENTY-MONTH-OLD BABY ANGELINA from the Gazelle house was suffering a full-blown febrile seizure, (eyes rolled back, limbs stiff, convulsing, and not breathing). Her skin was super hot! As Alferes removed her clothes, I plunged my bath towel into a barrel of water in my nearby bathroom. Covering her body with that cool towel immediately began lowering her body temperature. Alferes stayed with her as I soaked 2 more towels to help cool her down rapidly. We had to bring down her temperature quickly to break the seizure so she could breath! By that time Angelina’s Foster Mother, Balbina, had reached my house crying hysterically (thinking her foster baby was surely dead). As Alferes and I wrapped Angelina in the cool towels, the seizure broke. I ordered Balbina to get into my King Cab pick-up as Alferes got in, holding the now breathing Angelina. Dominica, our Women’s Pastor, jumped in to provide emotional support as I backed out to take her to the hospital. With flashers blinking, and honking my horn to clear traffic, we arrived at the hospital in 2 minutes with Angelina CRYING LOUDLY! Music to my ears, for it meant SHE WAS BREATHING JUST FINE!!! A malaria quick test in the ER proved POSITIVE in less than 2 minutes! As the technician looked for a vein to start the IV meds that would kill the malaria larvae, he saw nothing! I raced to fetch Sister Lisha at her home, as she is the best Pediatric Nurse they have. But Sister Lisha also found no viable vein due to Angelina’s rapid dehydration from the high fever. The decision was made to give the malaria meds via injection into her buttocks (rarely used) BUT IT WORKS! Her fever began decreasing, and she began drinking an oral electrolyte solution that would rehydrate her body. Dehydration helps the malaria larvae to kill the kidneys quickly, causing the urine to turn black, thus malaria’s nickname “black water fever”. The Emergency Room that night was full of parents with infants suffering from malaria, which is rampant right now. PTL that the cooler temperatures have begun, which will decrease the number of malaria mosquitoes in our area. WE PTL THAT ANGELINA WAS SAVED THAT NIGHT, AS WELL AS THE OTHER INFANTS WE SAW TREATED WHILE IN THE ER. The Dr. allowed Angelina to come home the next afternoon, with strict instructions to complete the 3‑day treatment of Coartem, and provide twice-a-day liquid vitamins with iron, as her hemoglobin had dropped during the night to borderline low. We are giving her all she needs and she will be retested in 7 days to make sure her Hemoglobin is rising. ALL OF US WERE PRAYING during this entire time, THANKING JESUS for his miracle life saving love for our little Angelina. Hero Alferes, with Balbina and baby Angelina 2 days after her seizure THE REST OF THE STORY The next day, I asked Alferes how he encountered the sick baby. He told me that Balbina was crying and trying to run with the baby to my house when she became short of breath near our soccer field. Alferes was playing soccer when he spotted Balbina. Angelina was seizuring, so he just grabbed her and ran for my house (about 200 yards/meters away). PRAISE GOD FOR HIS QUICK THINKING, for it helped us break her seizure before she suffocated! KIDS SAVING KIDS! I LOVE IT! Right after food buying, I plan to teach a simple First Aid/CPR class to our teens. We are giving a crash course on malaria seizure treatment next week to our Foster Mothers, as that can’t wait. Alferes reacted correctly, but many of our teens told me they would not know what to do if someone was really hurt or having a seizure. It is fact that many a child or teen has saved a life because someone showed them what to do when they see someone is in distress. As a certified instructor in both First Aid and CPR from my college days, it is time I shared that knowledge with our children. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO HELP OTHERS. BLESSINGS BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |