Measles, for REAL!

A few weeks ago I wrote to you all that there is a Measles Outbreak in Lusaka, and told you how a mom, Jennipher, and her baby, Brighton, both had the measles.  I knew I had been vaccinated against the measles, and that I’ve recently had a booster for measles, mumps and rubella.  But just to be on the cautious side, I skyped our Doctor’s office  in the US to make sure I was covered..  They checked my file, and agreed that I had all the requisite precautions, so I went to deliver the formula to Brighton, and some vitamins and vegetables for Jennipher.  That was the last I thought about measles (except to check in on them), until last Tuesday night, when I woke up at 1:20 am shivering with the chills.  I couldn’t get warm.  And that, for me, was the beginning of measles, though I wouldn’t know it for about 5 days after that.  So, I had a high fever, chills, aches, and no energy for three days, and just when an American virus would begin to go away, and you’d start to regain your energy, I started adding new, awful, painful symptoms, until there wasn’t one part of me that wasn’t itchy, painful, hot, or needing to sleep.  I went to the doctor here three times, and on the final time, when nausea had been a new and fun side effect that he promised to give me a shot for, as well as a shot for pain, too, he actually said that mine was such a classic case of measles, he wished he had his camera!  I was covered from head to toe with  either a red rash, or a purple rash, so I looked eerily like Mystique from the Fastastic Four, even though I didn’t feel like a superhero one bit.  That was Wednesday, and after I could finally start eating again after his shot, I thought I might be on the mend, but oh, no, it was just a hopeful little blip on the screen.  For then, the eye pain, and blurry vision began.  Now, 12 days after this virus began, my eyes are burning, and I can’t see clearly at all.  Last night I couldn’t read at all. Now the pain is fairly intense, and there is nothing I can do for the pain!

I was very healthy before this, and strong.  My kids would be a different matter if they catch this.  So, we need you to pray that our children, Beth and Eric are all protected from getting the measles.  Since all of us had the same US vaccines,, and all of us are here, exposed to the measles, any one of them could get it, especially because it is highly contagious by coughing, sneezing, and breathing, all of which I’ve done tons of, right in their space.  Please pray with us that it would end with me.  Eric and Beth are worn out, for sure.  So, please pray for blessing on them as they serve!