Day 31: Never know what to expect

Went to the research ward and Fasileni (patient with inoperable brain tumor) had woken up! The malaria was what pushed her into the coma. Palliative care came to see her and mom was just glad to finally know what was going on. She was able to take her daughter home and is going to be able to spend spend time with her daughter awake before the tumor expands.

Fanny, the infant, was feeding well and her breathing had improved.

I admitted Blessings, a 3 month old with sepsis and pneumonia. We placed her on oxygen and she continued to improve throughout the day.

Unfortunately, in the morning, I stated getting chills with nausea, diarrhea and general aches and pains. Did an LP on another admission. Just as I was debating whether to stay or leave, the attending saw me looking pale and send me home. Or tried to. As I was grabbing my bag to start the walk home, she called me over to help. Grace, the patient who'd been seizing for ? amt of time had taken a turn for the worst. The attending asked me to listen and feel for a pulse. I didn't find one. She was already bag-valve mask breathing for her and so I took over while she tried to find one. She listened for awhile, but there was nothing. In the States, we already would have intubated her and been pushing epinephrine, but here...we had to let her go. There was nothing we could do.

I walked home, feeling worse as I got closer home, both from feeling flu-ish and from losing Grace. Walked in the house, mumbled a few words to one of the guys who was already home, drank some water and crawled into bed. Feeling feverish, I took some ibuprofen. Checked my temp an hour later and it was 102 degrees. Drank water and went back to bed whenever I woke up. Slept from 2pm-7am.



Day 32: Sleep is the best medicine

Stayed home sick. Fever had broke, but was still feeling ill. Slept again from about 12-6pm. Came out of hibernation for movie night and then went back to bed and slept some more.

Day 33: Friday

Went in for the morning rounds on the ward. There were a lot of new faces, as many of the old patients were discharged. Mike was still comatose, but his MRI showed less edema. Slept in the afternoon and then went to a local bar/restaurant for dinner with 2 of the guys. The rest of the group had driven to Lake Malawi. TJ's reminded me of an American Sports bar. Talked with the guys, learned a bit more about their family and friends.