Bush Beat Blog
FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA”DATE: DECEMBER 17, 2015
EMERGENCY RUN TO PEMBA SAVES LAYLA’S LIFE
LAYLA SILVA AND CREW ‚WORKING ON CLOTHS DISTRIBUTION. (THIS PHOTO TAKEN EARLIER THIS YEAR.)
Sunday, 8a.m. Layla felt sick and began to vomit large amounts of fluids, was suffering body aches, and had a rapidly rising fever. Around here that means malaria is usually the culprit, and on a Sunday in our area, good luck getting a lab test to prove it. I gave her anti-vomiting medicine, followed a bit later by the first dose of malaria treatment.
I knew we’d “lost the battle” when she vomited the malaria meds within 15 minutes, meaning she needed IV fluids and IV malaria treatment immediately. I called the Pemba SOS hospital, and the Doc agreed. Working faster than a beaver in a flood, I raced around locking up the compound, organized extra guards, called Capena to take over for me, loaded Layla in the back seat of our King Cab pick-up (laying down), and within an hour was on the road with my trusted assistant/mechanic, Mario “Big” riding “shotgun” for me.
A King Cab with a Turbo engine can really move on, and I used it well that day, making it to Pemba in record time with no police stopped me.
God’s GRACE, since I went through 4 major police check points! (at the speed limit of course)
Upon arrival, an IV was started, blood taken for lab work, and 2 different IV meds given to control her upset stomach. The lab reported a POSITIVE MALARIA SMEAR, severe dehydration with electrolyte imbalance. Immediate IV treatment for malaria was given, and 3 liters of IV fluids with electrolytes were dripped in rapidly over the next 3 hours. All was then under control, PTL, and she was out of immediate danger.
(She remembers none of this.)
We were soon allowed to leave for the night as long as we stayed at the hotel next door to the SOS hospital. She needed to be back for additional IV malaria treatments at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday. All went smoothly, and she was allowed to leave Pemba on Tuesday with an additional 3 days of malaria treatment (pills) in hand.
Since this is her 2nd case of malaria in 6 weeks, the SOS Doctor wrote a letter declaring that she should not live in a malaria area as she has a poor resistance to it
We are now entering the Rainy Season (Dec. to April) which has the PEAK MALARIA TIME each year.
SO LAYLA FLIES OUT ON FRIDAY, DEC. 16TH for the USA.
Layla will be missed, and we thank her for the gifts of love, laughter, and English that she leaves behind.
ANOTHER NOT SO FORTUNATE
Upon our return to Balama on Tuesday, Carlitos Jorge came to me with the sad news that his 5 year old nephew had just died of malaria. He had gotten sick early that morning with the same vomiting/dehydration symptoms that Layla had, and perished 8 hours later. The local hospital tried to save him, but children are much more sensitive to electrolyte/dehydration imbalances.
MALARIA kills MILLIONS of people across Africa each year. Not the actual malaria larvae themselves, but the horrible symptoms they cause. If a person can’t stay hydrated and keep their electrolytes balanced, then they lose the battle quickly, especially in hot temperatures. Our December temps are now above 95 F. (35C) daily.
DIXON GROWING UP!
Tiny Dixon, who came to us weighing 4.4 lbs (2kg) AT 4 MONTHS of age, is now in pre-school! Thanks to the good care that your Love Gifts provided, we were able to give him the high protein diet and medical attention that saved his life.
Dixon, now 4 years old, stands here without his shirt, asking me to fix the burn on his chest. He dropped a spoon full of hot cereal on himself, and now needs a bandaid for his “oweey”. He’s a tough little boy, and didn’t even cry when I treated it. He was tough, cute, and full of JOY when he came to us. He’s growing into a handsome young man, and has a smile that melts the heart of all the little girls who play with him in our pre-school.
TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE LITTLE ONES!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!
JESUS says THANK YOU for “being HIS helping hands to the little ones in this far away land”.
HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS, AND GET READY FOR GOD’S MIGHTY WORKS IN 2016!
Bush Bunny Brenda Lange and all our Moz. Staff!
