Yuh get de ting?

This is the question on everyone's lips these days when they hear that you are not well. 

De ting

Many people here do not refer to the virus as Chikungunya, because they do not believe that the doctors know what they are dealing with. How could something as tiny as a mosquito bring even the biggest and strongest man down in no time at all? People are fine one day, and literally cannot get out of bed the next day.

It is really an epidemic in this country - the question is no longer if you will get Chikungunya, but how badly will you get it when you do. Workplaces are scrambling to cope with the amount of their employees who are falling victim to the virus. Schools and churches are also affected as teachers and students and pastors and worship leaders are not immune.

I contracted chik-v two weeks ago. It began with a pain in my right wrist. The next day my left wrist joined the party, and I had pains in the back of my knees. By Monday I was in pain everytime I moved. This made following my doctor's orders to drink two litres of water per day a challenge, since that resulted in many trips to the toilet, which involved moving. I couldn't open a tap, change my clothes or even stand without being in pain.

But I am thankful to God that I didn't get the full-blown version - I was still able to move around, once I moved very slowly. I'm also thankful for my landlords - Pops and Sister Wilma - for providing sustainance to fortify me while I was sick.

Spice tea which is good for everything

Good ole fashioned chicken soup

Watermelon was so refreshing

Coconut water provided by Pops, Sister Joan and Darius

Caralie bush remedy for itching - thanks Patrice!

I am also grateful for Thandi who brought bread for me when my own ran out. With the pain in my wrists, I did not trust myself to drive. I am also thankful that I didn't have to worry about what to eat, as I had enough food in my freezer to last me for the week - talk about provision!

I don't know if it was the paracetemol that I was taking for the pain and fever, or if it was the virus itself, but I spent the majority of my time sleeping - both in the day and in the night. After the first 3 days of being in the house all day and night, I decided to take some fresh air, so I slept outside instead :)

My day bed

By Thursday, I really just needed a good old fashioned beach soak. I didn't have anyone to take me, because my riding partner was also down with chik-v so she was of no help to me... LOL Thankfully Sister Dale agreed to accompany me to Grand Anse. I took my time and drove very slowly to get there. It was so worth it!!!!

I literally felt no pain while I was in the water - none at all!

I am very grateful to all who prayed, called, offered to come and take care of me, emailed or sent whatsapp messages to see how I was doing. Your support meant a lot to me during my down time :) I am fully recovered now, with no residual pains gracias a Dios.

Finally, I am grateful that this did not happen while I was sick:

Laundry room and kitchen get flood out!

Boxes of cleaning supplies from camp damaged

Last week Tuesday we had some heavy rainfall. I was at my computer all morning and went to the kitchen to get lunch when I was greeted by water all over. I alerted Sister Wilma and upon investigation, discovered that a drain was blocked, resulting in a river of water being channeled directly into the laundry room. When that room was full, it overflowed into the kitchen, and if I had not gotten hungry in time, my bedroom and living room would have been next. Sister Wilma said that our mop up operations reminded her of when hurricane Ivan hit. I am grateful that I didn't have to deal with that when my knees and wrists were not working properly.

My sister sent me this verse when I was sick, and I think it sums up my experience perfectly:

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all - Psalm 34:19