A typical day before Africa {please keep our team in your prayers as we go}

We have a funny little saying “only before Africa” that we like to say…as it seems the craziest things always seem to happen before leaving on a mission trip. For me, today was one of those days indeed! I now know I’m in the small percentage of people who are allergic to the malaria medication I was taking–and honestly I’m just thankful the day turned out like it did!

Richard had one of his biggest meetings of the year today (he was in Houston) and I was in Georgia with the littles. I woke up feeling nauseous and wished I hadn’t taken the malaria medication the night before. Hours passed…the dizziness started–and then I knew because I was here with the children I needed to call for help in case something happened. I was hugging the toilet when everyone got here {so thankful for my sister April, brother-in-law, Christy Elphick and the Jones family!} Kevin and Leasa took me to an urgent care as soon as they got here–but the doctors there sent me right away to the ER. I was completely out of it and was carried in–so I don’t remember so much of that part.

On the way to the ER, I could tell my breathing was slowing down and I was losing consciousness a bit. Then I felt my hands and feet tingling and going numb (now I know it was due to lack of oxygen, hyperventilation and hyptokalemia (a reaction from the medicine causing your heart to be irregular from low potassium). The Jones’s are ALSO going on the trip to Africa–so this was a little pre-trip bonding I guess you could say because they were right by my side the entire time. Next thing I knew the ER was stripping me down and putting heart monitors all over my chest, ivs in and a shot or two in my arm. Then I was wheeled back for xrays and then bloodwork. And in between it all vomiting all over the place. NOT FUN.

At one point I really thought things were not good–so I turned to my friend and told him to please tell Richard I loved him if anything happened. I have never experienced anything like this before–so for me, it was really scarey–and honestly…I’m just so thankful for hospitals and doctors and medicines to reverse an allergic reaction like the one I had today!

That being said also–I’m so tired now, and not quite sure the best anti-malaria route to go–but because malaria is so bad in Zambia this momma has to figure out something:). I’m home now and all is well–and I’ve got anti-nausea medication to help me until the anti-malaria I was taking is completely out of my system. Of course these things happen before mission trips. God has a big plan for us!!! Please keep our entire team in your prayers–that we would be protected from illness, sickness and any harmful thing. Tomorrow is my last full day spending it with my family–and after today’s craziness…I want to just gobble my little ones up!

ON THAT NOTE–I didn’t make it to the post office today…so your t-shirts are delayed by ONE day;). Rico Suave has volunteered to mail them tomorrow for me:) Hope y’all all have a great night…and so thankful today turned out for the better!

XOXO,

andrea