Irony in the New Year

Right before New Year's 2014/2015 I wrote a post about losing my phone and feeling guilty and stupid when I thought about buying a new one and how many people that money could help. But I found the phone and everything was ok.

This time, the phone was actually stolen from my bag, so I obviously didn't get it back. My mom offered to buy me a new one, but I declined. As much as it sucks to not have my awesome iPhone, I borrowed and old Samsung from a friend and it will have to do. 

I guess I learned something. 

So for this new year 2016, as I prepare to go back to Tchad and deal with real poverty, hunger, need, I hope to keep my priorities in order and remember that there are many things more important and necessary than a phone. 

And I wish for all of us, whether you have something to do with medicine or not, that we strive to make the world a better place. Even a little bit. We really *can* make a difference, and if we all do just a little, it all adds up to something great. 

Happy New Year from Berlin!!!!

Malaria and dead phones...

It started Thursday... After Physical therapy in the afternoon, I just felt tired. I went back to my room and literally passed out. Woke up 2hrs later, a bit confused and wondering what time it was. Got up, did the night dressing changes and went straight back to bed, didn't even eat. 

I should have known... 

Woke up the next morning and noticed I had slept with my sleeping bag. This is Chad. Lowest temperature is like 30 Celsius (or like 80F). My sleeping bag is for below freezing temperatures (I'm going to Nepal after this). Something was clearly wrong... 

But I still got up and pulled on my scrubs. I made it as far as the living room (50ft away) when it felt like my head exploded and I just collapsed on a chair. 

There was no doubt. I had malaria... 

So whenever I felt able, I pulled myself together to go back to my room and swallow 3 more malarone pills (I had already taken my morning prophylaxis dose). Promptly collapsed again, and didn't move for the rest of the day.

When it rains, it pours, so my phone choose this particular moment to refuse to charge. It still worked perfectly, it would just not charge! So when the battery died, I would have no way of communicating with the outside world. No news of ebola. No way to tell my mother I'm still alive. No blog. Nothing. 

There was nothing I could do, so I just remained in bed and watched the battery drain... 

Today (saturday) I feel slightly better. Even managed to eat a bit... After that, I felt I had a little more strength, so I braved the malaise to go find someone who could tell me if I could get a sim card for my iPad, and get me connected again. 

Clearly, that worked, and I can now still blog and email, just no more phone calls, txt messages or whatsapp... Oh well... It's better than nothing, and my new and overpriced iPhone 5s (which I paid full price for, 3 days before it got reduced due to release of iPhone 6) will arrive in 10 days, along with Dr. Scott. 

I'll survive until then...