Exceeding Epidemic Proportions

Dengue Fever.... just hearing someone say it sends chills up my spine. So many people I know have had it. I have watched it steal the lives of several otherwise healthy people and of three unborn babies. A four year old boy is currently admitted in our hospital fighting for his life. 

Dengue is typically found in tropical climates and is spread by mosquitos. A female mosquito becomes infected with the virus when it bites an infected person. After about a week incubation period, it then bites a healthy person transferring the virus to them. Incubation in a healthy person takes about four to ten days after the inicial bite. The infected person develops an extremely high fever often reaching as high as 104F with shaking chills, severe bone and joint pain, headaches, vomiting, a red rash, and swollen glands along with the classic low white blood cell count (usually illnesses cause the white blood cell count to go up) and a low platelet count. The fever usually breaks after about a week but that can be a false sign that the person is recovering. The virus can damage the blood vessels so severely that plasma leaks out into the tissues and floods the lungs and then causes the person to bleed to death very quickly. Our admitted little boy's platelet count continues to go down and his blood count is going up which means that his plasma is leaking into tissues. This is not good. I have been anxiously listening to my radio all day yesterday and all night last night waiting for the anticipated distress call "CQ Balfate Code Blue" that signifies that little boy has stopped breathing. His mom who has been vigiantly sitting by his bedside has been warned that he probably won't make it. He survived the night last night but his blood counts have worsened today. He needs a miracle. 

There are four different strains of dengue. Usually when a person is infected the first time, they recover fairly quickly. Being infected a second time by a different strain often has deadly consequences. It is quite possible that our little boy has been infected with dengue before. 

Dengue had already reached epidemic proportions in July with 25,000 cases in Honduras, a country only the size of the state of Tennessee, resulting in the Honduran officials taking action by fumigating whole cities and villages. The hospital was fumigated Tuesday with the promise that missionary houses will be fumigated as well. The latest count reports 48,000 cases by September with a known death toll of over 150 people. The death toll doesn't count for the number of non-confirmed but suspected dengue related deaths.  With the coming of the annual four month rainy season, the number of dengue cases is likely to continue sky rocketing due to rapid breeding of mosquitos in stagnant water such as puddles. The nearby village of Lucinda located on the river has been particularly severely affected by the outbreak. Most of our operating room staff who is from Lucinda has been admitted to the hospital with the virus. One of our missionary surgeons and his teenage son have also had it. Last week a 28 year old young pastor died of dengue leaving behind his very pregnant wife. 

Pray ...

1) for an end to the outbreak of the epidemic

2) for the families of the patients who have passed away all over the country from dengue fever

3) for the physical, emotional, and mental strength of us medical staff taking care of these patients. It is very hard to lose these patients who we try so desperately to save. A lot of the missionary staff is having a very hard time with this. 

4) Financial provision is always a prayer request. I would not be here if it were not for all of you! If you feel led to support me financially, you can do so by clicking here.

Praise
I will be in Maine for Thanksgiving to spend some much needed time away and time with my family. I would love to see as many of you as possible while I am there. Please contact me by email or by Facebook so we can make that happen. Looking forward to seeing you!

One of my littles fell asleep during church

twins are coming soon!

more babies

a trip to the city with fiends