Culebras Trail

Pretty much every time you play Oregon Trail, your children die of typhoid fever before you make it to the coast. Minus 5000 points.

Fortunately, I saved Professor Duffy 5000 points. On Friday night, I started feeling like I had a little fever and a headache. It didn´t seem like a big deal because I had a sinus infection going on, as I mentioned below.

Fast forward a few hours and Im lying awake in a bed in Raypa in the medical post alternating shivers and sweats - throwing in plenty of trips to the baño to excrete a vile red-brown liquid.

In the morning, mi compañero, Rafael woke up to the sound of me vomiting. He went to get the nurse (how convenient that I was already laying in a medical bed). She took my temperature - 38.8C or roughly 101.5F. She gave me a pill to reduce the fever and came back an hour later to see if it had worked...39.5C (103F) was the result. I was given an injection of something that I could not understand to reduce my fever and passed out.

At 11:30, Rafael roused me from the bed. The next bus was at noon. Raypa, by the way, is four hours of mountainous road away from anything close to what the average American might consider civilization. When the bus came, I had to help Rafael carry our heavy duffels of gear and a car battery and throw them on top of the bus. The ride that ensued seemed it would be impossible to endure. Luckily, the human body has a contingency plan for such events. I either totally passed out for most of the ride or at least switched off the short term memory part of my brain. Next thing I knew I was carrying the bags again up the church stairs in Huarmey. We then walked to the hotel and checked in (finally a bathroom). From there, a moto-taxi to the hospital.

I was admitted immediately and after describing my symptoms, I gave a blood, urine, and stool sample. The nurse thought I had misunderstood her instructions because my urine and stool looked alike. I assured her Id understood.

"Fiebre de Tifoidea"

Did I hear that correctly? I was immunized to typhoid I explained, but fiebre de tifoidea it was. A few IVs of saline, a lot of antibiotics, and two days of rest later, I was released. It was like getting out of prison. Now Im free and feeling much better. Now to continue on the Trail.

Other than the Typhoid, things are great! Seriously, I mean it. I couldnt be happier to be living with a family from Laguna that I already know well. Also, my work is going awesomely.

In Laguna, the stove I gave to Rosita last time went over incredibly well. The first thing Rosita's daughter, Margarita said to me when she saw me was, "Tu cocina nos salvó." However, my spanish still being rusty, I heard, "Tu cocina... no salvó." What I thought I heard means, "Your stove - she didn't save it." What she actually said was, "Your stove saved us."

In March, a flash flood destroyed a lot of things in this area including the biodigestor in Laguna. Laguna was knee deep in agua. The only place above water was the small concrete porch of the school. The whole town crowded onto this porch and the only way they were able to have food was to carry the stove onto the porch and use the tiny amount of dry firewood they could salvage to cook with. They said they would not have eaten for a week without it. Wow.

After fixing the biodigestor, which was remarkably easy, we held a town meeting. We explained the projects that we might work on for them during the week. When I asked them who was interested in having a stove like Rosita's someone from every household raised their hand. Some said they wanted two or three. Some wanted one for their other house in Huarmey. I told them what materials were needed and that they should get them by Monday, when I'd return. I didn't know I'd get typhoid. Manuel, who deserves a blog post of his own sometime, agreed to build a composting toilet with me. See you soon, Manuel!

I'm resting in Huarmey until at least Thursday, so there should be a surge in blogging. I have to meet the Public Health and Physical Therapy gang for dinner.

Hasta,
Davíd