Update on Rachel's health

On Sunday Rachel called to tell us that she was sick with a fever and had to go to the hospital in Accra. She said she was feverish, sweating profusely, and had a severe headache as well as pain in her joints. For some perspective, ten of the other 29 students have been to the hospital with similar symptoms. The doctor gave her lots of pills, including the antibiotic ciprofloxin, which is specific for typhoid fever. She is also being treated as if she has malaria as a precaution, even though they don’t know whether or not she has it. Unfortunately, the doctor said her blood work didn’t indicate any antibodies for typhoid fever, even though she took the oral vaccine course here weeks before she left, which is a bit concerning. I guess she must have gotten bad vaccine. Rachel was a little freaked out because she said the nurse didn't wear gloves when she took Rachel's blood. Welcome to third world health care, darling!

I spoke to her again on Monday after she had been on medication for 24 hours, and she sounded much better. She said she felt much better, was just weak. She was staying home for the day with her host family (who are very nice, by the way), and planned to return to work at the orphanage on Tuesday. I haven't heard from her since then, so I'm sure she's on the mend. On Sunday the AFS group will start their travels along the coast, visiting the old slave headquarters and possibly doing a canopy walk in the rainforest.

Rachel rarely posts to her own blog any more. Reviewing my recent posts, I think it's not really necessary for her to do so, since all the posts on my blog these days are about her! One of these days I'll have to get a life of my own!!