Africa Journal Posting 9
There is nothing more frightening than not being able to breath. When you take a deep breath and you can't get oxygen that you need to keep living – there is panic that follows in the next few seconds. Big time panic. Well this describes my last few days in Nairobi. Breathing is hard at times. I have caught a serious chest cold – at least it seemed that way at first – but it grew worse each day.
Saturday AM was not good. With some consultation with one of the mission's nurses and a little convincing by Alida we headed to the Agha Kahn Hospital to see a doctor.
After waiting in the doctors office my turn came to see this wonderful servant of God! After a series of questions to build his understanding of my health history, he then began a series of tests on my heart and lungs. In a matter of minutes I had a ECG and an Echo Gram(sp?) of my heart and chest. He pronounced my heart to be in very good shape but was questioning if I was suffering from congestive heart failure.
His pronouncement was straight forward telling me that I had a condition known as Asthmatic Bronchitis which was causing this serious stress breathing. He prescribed some medication and suggested some further possible treatments at home.
In the outer office we had to now pay the bill. NOW I HELD MY BREATH! It was $12,600 Kenyan Schillings. That included the special tests and the doctor's services. Divide that by about 66.50 to get the Canadian dollars. It was the best $189.00 Canadian I have ever spent. The meds came to about $35 Canadian. A gift given to us before we left Canada paid for it all.
Through this experience I have been reminded again that being far from home and the comforts that we have in Canada – then getting sick is terrifying. Being in a “dirty air” condition each day as you walk or drive is not good for your lungs – but the clean air of Canada is something I will never take for granted – EVER!
Reflection...
Our teachers, nurses and missionaries live with this all the time. It has given me something new to pray for and will do so as I return home.
Tomorrow we will head home to Canada. I am looking forward to this part of this trip. Thank you for your prayers for us.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Saturday AM was not good. With some consultation with one of the mission's nurses and a little convincing by Alida we headed to the Agha Kahn Hospital to see a doctor.
After waiting in the doctors office my turn came to see this wonderful servant of God! After a series of questions to build his understanding of my health history, he then began a series of tests on my heart and lungs. In a matter of minutes I had a ECG and an Echo Gram(sp?) of my heart and chest. He pronounced my heart to be in very good shape but was questioning if I was suffering from congestive heart failure.
His pronouncement was straight forward telling me that I had a condition known as Asthmatic Bronchitis which was causing this serious stress breathing. He prescribed some medication and suggested some further possible treatments at home.
In the outer office we had to now pay the bill. NOW I HELD MY BREATH! It was $12,600 Kenyan Schillings. That included the special tests and the doctor's services. Divide that by about 66.50 to get the Canadian dollars. It was the best $189.00 Canadian I have ever spent. The meds came to about $35 Canadian. A gift given to us before we left Canada paid for it all.
Through this experience I have been reminded again that being far from home and the comforts that we have in Canada – then getting sick is terrifying. Being in a “dirty air” condition each day as you walk or drive is not good for your lungs – but the clean air of Canada is something I will never take for granted – EVER!
Reflection...
Our teachers, nurses and missionaries live with this all the time. It has given me something new to pray for and will do so as I return home.
Tomorrow we will head home to Canada. I am looking forward to this part of this trip. Thank you for your prayers for us.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Sunday, April 22, 2007
1 Comments:
Murray, my heart goes out to you and so does many, many prayers on your behalf. Not being able to breath is a fear I have so this message and your struggle will certainly cause another new direction in my prayers for you and for the dear missionaries who don't have the necessity of the clean air that we take for granted.
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