Sunday, September 26, 2010

Who's Flu?

Did I get it from the baby at the AIDS clinic that sneak attacked me and stuck her lil hand in my mouth?
Did I get it from Tobias, the 4 year old that I play cards with at the hospital, and who I shared a cookie with the day I got sick?
Did I get it from the tomato that I ate from the garden without washing it?
Did I get it from Amber, who has been graciously hosting every illness since we got here?
Did I get it from the nurse that I shared a PB&J with at an off-site clinic? I was using hand sanitizer, but that is not a thing here.
Did I get it from the constant replay of nausea-inducing surgery images? The C-sections? The amputation of the 8 year old's infected arm? The same 8 y/o who was only brought in for medical treatment bc one of our nurses saw his rotting arm on the bus and threatened his mom with citizens arrest if she didn't go to the hospital with him. (Citizens arrest is not a real thing here, but Zimbabwe's laws are so ass-backwards, you can get away with anything). The amputation was more of a clean up bc the arm was so infected that it had self-amputated. Parents refusal to provide their children with FREE medical care gives a new meaning to child abuse. The image still makes my stomach turn.
All of these are likely suspects, but I have resolved that my stomach flu is a direct result of the communion cups at the hospital's church service. What I failed to notice (and what the hospital staff neglected to mention) is that the communion shot glasses are community shot glasses. 2-3 people sip out of the same itty bitty cup. Excuse me!?! We are at a hospital. In Africa. These people are very sick. I am not even close to being immune to anything he. Don't get me wrong- I love serving them, tending to them, talking to them, reading to them, playing with them, sharing stories with them- but I am in no way interested in sharing in their illnesses. Not cool guys, not cool.
My take aways- Purell more. Eat less. And sleeping in a tree fort is very conducive to the flu- all you have to do is lean over the edge.

2 comments:

  1. uh oh... hope you get better soon!
    and say what?! how an parents neglect their babies like that? so sad...
    keeping you and all that's around you in my prayers

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  2. I see you broke down. Couldn't resist :) Great first post!!
    Be safe and get better!
    Mhb

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