Not Quite How I Expected to Come Home

I know it has been a while, the last few weeks have not been at all what I had expected! I had some great plans for my last few days in Guatemala.  I wanted to spend some time capturing pictures of the beautiful Guatemalan culture – the women in their traditional wear with baskets on their heads and babies tied to their backs, men walking town the street with a machete in one hand and shovel in the other, etc – followed by farewells to all my Guatemalan friends with lots of  hugs and pictures. 

That didn’t happen.

I spent the last few days in Guatemala sick.  Very sick.  I was running a high fever, and just did not feel well overall.  I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew something was wrong.  I was going home soon enough that I didn't want to go to a doctor in Guatemala, so I decided to tough it out.  I was happy to have a few hours my last day there where I felt well enough to run to school and say my good-byes to my students (during which time our apartment was robbed -  It was a rough week). The rest of the time was spent at home, trying to pack and sleeping a lot.

I left Patzicia at 4:30 on Thursday, July 19^th.  After an hour drive to the airport I checked in, grabbed some breakfast in an effort to stay alive and well through the trip, and waited for my flight.  Three and a half hours later I landed in Texas.  I prayed that custom’s would let me through even though I was not well.  Thankfully, they never asked any questions.  I hopped on my next flight to SLC, and two hours later was gratefully home about 13 hours after my day had started.

I had some great plans for my first night back in the USA.  I was going to eat dinner with my family, followed by the longest shower ever, a moose tracks shake from Artic Circle, and a blissful nights sleep in my clean and comfy bed.

That didn’t happen.

My parents picked me up at the airport and we quickly drove straight to InstaCare.  At InstaCare they took my vitals (a temperature of 102.7, and blood pressure of 80/32) and sent me straight to the ER. 

I don’t remember much in the ER.  I was sicker than I have ever been in my life.  They took all sorts of tests and gave me lots of meds. Remember that overall feeling of being sick in Guatemala?  I guess that was the blood pressure.   I started to panic when I couldn't raise my arms up anymore. They did everything they could to raise my blood pressure, using every trick they had.  They pumped 4 liters of IV fluid into me.  They tipped by bed practically upside down (guess that is suppose to raise your blood pressure) and finally resorted to taking my BP by hand, because they figured that no one could really stay that low.  And yet I did.  Six hours later we got my BP up to 85/50.  We all cheered and they finally sent me home.

My kind mom, understanding my desire to sleep in my own bed, spent the night on the couch in my room making sure I stayed alive throughout the night. There was no shower when I got home.    I literally fell into my bed and was gone for the next 7 hours. 

 I love to travel, especially by plane, but July 19th was the longest day of my life!    I remember reaching a point on my first flight where I was so sick I thought I was not going to make it.  I reached into my bag to grab my ipod in an effort to take my mind off of things.  I pulled out the earphones, but they had come out from the ipod.  I was too tired to try again, and fell asleep holding my earphones in one hand and my bag in the other.  I woke up a half an hour later in the exact same position.  I have been asked how I survived the flight home, the fact that I was walking is pretty remarkable.  The honest truth is that I don't know! I think I must have had angels carrying me a lot of the time, there is really no other explanation.  It was the longest day of my life, but one filled with so many tender mercies!  And they continued for the next several days.