The hymn, "Amazing Grace," is a comfort to millions of Christians around the world. There is one particular line that recently has described our lives:
"Through many toils, dangers, snares have I already come..."
The day that the Seminar Notebook was finished Phil began to feel a little sick. Thursday night, as he was brushing his teeth, he could not stop shaking and shivering. No matter how many blankets were on the bed his coldness would not leave. In addition to this, his back felt like it had been set on fire and every joint in his body was aching. When Leah came in, she noticed that Phil's body was burning up.
At this, she immediately told the people we have been living with and they came in to pray. Phil's hands had turned yellow and from his wrists down his hands were going numb - also, from his knees down, his legs were tingling. They prayed for nearly an hour. Then, the journey was made to Kijabe Hospital.
Upon arrival, the nurses and doctors diagnosed Phil with malaria. All his symptoms pointed to a bad case of malaria. But one thing was strange: despite the symptoms, his blood work all came back negative for malaria. But they were not going to take the risk - so Phil was discharged that night and sent with medicine to fight malaria.
All day Friday Phil laid in bed and continued to feel horrible pain in his back and now his stomach. At about 2 a.m. Saturday morning, Phil woke up and went to the bathroom. Diarrhea and vomiting went on for about an hour... In the morning, Simon called one of the head doctors in the hospital because Phil was certainly not improving. That morning they returned to the hospital.
After many tests and blood work, the doctors discovered that Phil did not have malaria - rather he had Ecoli. In addition to that many things were looking bad in his blood work. Phil's kidneys were not functioning properly. Saturday through Tuesday was a blur of action.
Saturday and Sunday Phil only seemed to be getting worse. His kidneys went from bad to worse. He had zero energy and could not even get out of bed without someone helping him. By Monday, his veins were often collapsing when nurses tried to take his blood for more tests. They had to change the IV port three times because his veins were so weak.
Only later did we find out that death was lurking about, waiting and desiring to take Phil. When the doctors saw him later, the said that the illness was life threatening.
By Monday afternoon Phil began to recover. By Tuesday the doctors felt good enough about his condition to release him with two major oral medicines. The conclusion about what Phil was suffering from was somewhat vague. But it iwas thought to be both Ecoli and a Salmonila Dysentary.
From Tuesday until the present time (one week later) Phil has been resting and slowly recovering his strength.
(In Kijabe the hospital has many American doctors serving on staff. This is probably the nicest hospital we have ever been in, in Africa. The entire staff is well trained and they did a fantastic job through the whole thing! We thank God that we were in Kijabe when Phil feel sick. God is doing great things through this hospital as they serve many communities in Kenya. They are so well known that many Muslim will come to this Christian hospital because their service is superior to many other options.)
Needless to say, our seminar in Kaithe has been postponed. But the people have been extremely understanding. We are now resting and recovering... this entire thing has been an exhausting experience.
To return to the title of this blog - we thank our gracious and merciful God who spared Phil's life in the midst of such a bad illness. Truly, it is only by God's grace that we are able to report that today Phil is recovering. Today, Phil went to get a blood test and brief exam. All tests are showing that his body is back to normal. All levels are normal and his kidneys are functioning as they should be.
Our God is great! And greatly to be Praised! We can sign that verse of "Amazing Grace" with new respect... for truly through many toils, dangers, snares have we come. AND it is His grace that has brought us here thus far! And it is His grace that will lead us home!
Our next post will be Leah's reflections during this time.
"Through many toils, dangers, snares have I already come..."
The day that the Seminar Notebook was finished Phil began to feel a little sick. Thursday night, as he was brushing his teeth, he could not stop shaking and shivering. No matter how many blankets were on the bed his coldness would not leave. In addition to this, his back felt like it had been set on fire and every joint in his body was aching. When Leah came in, she noticed that Phil's body was burning up.
At this, she immediately told the people we have been living with and they came in to pray. Phil's hands had turned yellow and from his wrists down his hands were going numb - also, from his knees down, his legs were tingling. They prayed for nearly an hour. Then, the journey was made to Kijabe Hospital.
Upon arrival, the nurses and doctors diagnosed Phil with malaria. All his symptoms pointed to a bad case of malaria. But one thing was strange: despite the symptoms, his blood work all came back negative for malaria. But they were not going to take the risk - so Phil was discharged that night and sent with medicine to fight malaria.
All day Friday Phil laid in bed and continued to feel horrible pain in his back and now his stomach. At about 2 a.m. Saturday morning, Phil woke up and went to the bathroom. Diarrhea and vomiting went on for about an hour... In the morning, Simon called one of the head doctors in the hospital because Phil was certainly not improving. That morning they returned to the hospital.
After many tests and blood work, the doctors discovered that Phil did not have malaria - rather he had Ecoli. In addition to that many things were looking bad in his blood work. Phil's kidneys were not functioning properly. Saturday through Tuesday was a blur of action.
Saturday and Sunday Phil only seemed to be getting worse. His kidneys went from bad to worse. He had zero energy and could not even get out of bed without someone helping him. By Monday, his veins were often collapsing when nurses tried to take his blood for more tests. They had to change the IV port three times because his veins were so weak.
Only later did we find out that death was lurking about, waiting and desiring to take Phil. When the doctors saw him later, the said that the illness was life threatening.
By Monday afternoon Phil began to recover. By Tuesday the doctors felt good enough about his condition to release him with two major oral medicines. The conclusion about what Phil was suffering from was somewhat vague. But it iwas thought to be both Ecoli and a Salmonila Dysentary.
From Tuesday until the present time (one week later) Phil has been resting and slowly recovering his strength.
(In Kijabe the hospital has many American doctors serving on staff. This is probably the nicest hospital we have ever been in, in Africa. The entire staff is well trained and they did a fantastic job through the whole thing! We thank God that we were in Kijabe when Phil feel sick. God is doing great things through this hospital as they serve many communities in Kenya. They are so well known that many Muslim will come to this Christian hospital because their service is superior to many other options.)
Needless to say, our seminar in Kaithe has been postponed. But the people have been extremely understanding. We are now resting and recovering... this entire thing has been an exhausting experience.
To return to the title of this blog - we thank our gracious and merciful God who spared Phil's life in the midst of such a bad illness. Truly, it is only by God's grace that we are able to report that today Phil is recovering. Today, Phil went to get a blood test and brief exam. All tests are showing that his body is back to normal. All levels are normal and his kidneys are functioning as they should be.
Our God is great! And greatly to be Praised! We can sign that verse of "Amazing Grace" with new respect... for truly through many toils, dangers, snares have we come. AND it is His grace that has brought us here thus far! And it is His grace that will lead us home!
Our next post will be Leah's reflections during this time.
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