When she was cutting her bottom two teeth, her temperature went up like most children's do when their teeth are coming in. I checked her for malaria then just to be sure the fever was only because her teeth were pushing through. It was negative.
This past week though, her temp went up again. Her top gums are swollen and she is always chewing on her fingers. Naturally, I assumed it was just her teeth on top. I took her with me to a friends house for Bible Study and we talked about how she was feeling because she was fussy. (And she is always fussy at Bible study...never fails!!) I even said that we should test her for malaria just to rule it out. Well...I should have that night.
The next day her temperature kept going up and she was not herself.
So I was the bad guy and poked her little chubby finger to get a drop of blood for the malaria test.
Within a minute I could see the positive line showing up.
DARN IT! I was going to start her on anti-malaria meds on Monday too!
So not only was she dealing with her top teeth cutting in, but now she was going to have to flight off malaria as well.
Thank the good Lord that we had the test kits on hand and the treatment meds. We are most likely one of the only families out in the village that have test kits and treatment for malaria on hand. I am thankful for that, but I wish others had access to the same treatments we do as quickly as we do. Many folks have to go to the center for treatment, which is a good treatment, but costs money. Money that many don't have. (And readers...we are talking at MOST $5.00 for everything!)
I was also able to send text to family (grandparents and aunts) knowing that they would all be pounding on Jesus's door on Corrie's behalf.
This is the face of a kiddo that doesn't feel good...
After her first dose of meds. She slept on and off for the first two days. The way that the treatments work is that if you have malaria you start to feel so much worse the first day and into the second. The malaria parasites are trying their hardest not to die, and the treatment is killing them. As a result your body takes a beating from the inside out. It is so very important to drink lots during the treatment to flush out the dead parasites and the meds from your kidneys, and to keep you from getting very very dehydrated.
Corrie hated the meds. She needed 15 ml once a day for three days. Worst. Thing. Ever. Ever. Ever! But we did it, she finished, and she is back to her normal happy self! Well, aside from those two top teeth that are still causing her irritation.
We thank God for healing Corrie and that we were able to get on top of the malaria and treat it so quickly.
Last day of treatment and we had watermelon to celebrate!
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