Published: Aug. 9, 2024
Please continue to hold us in your prayers, as Sister Alegria and I are not well. We are super grateful that Hermana Catalina is here and taking care of us. We couldn't do it without her.
Dengue fever is rampant in Honduras right now. It was declared a national health emergency about two months ago, and appeared in Limon about a month ago. Sister Alegria has been feeling icky with body pain since last week -- possibly a light case of dengue. We have mosquito nets up and are using repellent. Cooper fumigated the yard on Wednesday, so that should help.
I was getting over COVID and went to Tocoa last Saturday for our usual monthly errands. Had a stool exam done which showed parasites (I've had gut issues for two months, and was already diagnosed and treated for giardia), so took the three day treatment for worms. On Monday afternoon, I walked to the bus to meet Sister Catalina, and we walked back to the Limon monastery (10 minutes each way, in the sun). Suddenly I felt awful: a significant headache, pain particularly from the hips down. I drank water, suspecting heat exhaustion. Tuesday morning I felt a little better, so went up to the Motherhouse to pay the workers. My legs told me the bike ride was too long. When I got home at 10am and rested, I noticed I had a strange hot and cold sensation. Took my temperature and registered a fever of 38.2'C (100.7'F) -- not too high, not too low. Acetaminofen helped, but it returned in the evening. I spent the rest of the day feeling awful in bed, but I stayed hydrated and was able to sleep that night.
We were concerned about dengue fever, so Wednesday morning I took a taxi to the clinic for lab tests (complete blood count and urinalysis). Sister Alegria read the results and found the UA inconclusive. The big pain in my hips went away in the afternoon. Thursday morning I contacted Dr Diriam about whether I should get another blood test (with dengue, you want to make sure your platelets don't get low). She hadn't seen my results from the day before, but when I sent them to her, she told me to come in, and diagnosed a urinary tract infection. She gave me an oral antibiotic and IV fluids. Sister Alegria was still uncomfortable with the diagnosis because I hadn't been able to clean myself well before doing the urine sample on Wednesday.
This morning I woke up with a rash on my legs. Rash is a symptom of dengue, so I returned to the clinic for more labs. This time I took a urine sample at home after a proper cleaning. I stayed at the clinic to wait for the results. It is clearly a UTI and not dengue, thank God. The rash is just from the heat. Today Dr Diriam prescribed an injected antibiotic for three days as well. (Gentamicin -- that hurt!) I am now in full treatment. Obviously, I kept pushing myself more than was good for my body in the last week. I rested all afternoon today and plan not to go anywhere for the next week.
A young woman from La Fortuna we'd known since she was about 12, now a businesswoman, wife and mother of three, died two weeks ago from dengue (with underlying conditions). Everyone locally is taking this epidemic super seriously now. We are spending money (a few thousand dollars) to make sure that Cooper and the clinic have the materials and medicines they need including plenty of acetaminofen, a working motorcycle, birth control, IV fluids, syringes, and more. Please keep the donations coming as we are spending down our accounts here. We appreciate every form of support you offer us!
Bendiciones,
Sister Confianza
Amigas del Señor Monastery
Limón, Colón
Honduras
https://amigasdelsenor.weebly.com/
from Sister Confianza, Amigas del Señor Monastery (8/9/2024)