The Malaria Story

 I have attempted to write this… maybe 7 times, but time and time again the story comes up short. It is choppy, or it didn't fulfill an appeal of a post. I have written it in parts, segments, perspectives and at times run on sentences. Maybe as I prepare for the departure from Korea to the land of the free, home of the brave, maybe this time the story will reach posthood.

At the hospital with faithful Baam

After two episodes of malaria in a Ugandan refugee camp, it all seemed behind me. The diarrhea, vomiting, cold sweats, it was now left behind, right?

Arriving in Korea it was fast paced from the start. A new school, with new faces, there were names to know and a new system to learn. The learning process would cut short. I still remember after eating jja-jang-myun (black bean sauce noodles) with Mr. Ahn laying on the school couch in the teachers’ lounge. Months back my principal and I were eating together in Hawaii. He told me of a comfy couch at the school that I would be able to rest on. Little did I expect that the introduction with this couch would be of a sickness draining exhaustion, but indeed it was of comfort. Laying lifeless on the couch, teachers walking in and out, I pondered the possibilities. Maybe climate change, or jet lag had hit me. Yeah, that must be it! Jet lag.

The time ticked, days drifted, and from the comfy couch session I was still in a downhill direction. One of the nights I pressed myself to exercise. My body was incredibly weak. I crawled into bed and prayed Jesus would grant relief. The night had me in swaying phases of cold and hot. At times cold sweats during others burning to the bone. Through the night, whether I was awake or asleep, I am not sure. But after hours of restlessness, God answered my prayer and somehow there was relief enough to sleep.

Ministry team in the camp 

About a day later, I was with some friends. In the early morning, body was burning; 40 degrees Celsius. We rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. During the few hours at the hospital the fever subsided. One thing I still remember to this day is seeing my principals face at the hospital. Faint through weak eyes, but there he was. To this day, his visit has still left a powerful impression on how I appreciate him. (I wonder if he knows that, thank you Mr. Youn.)

Without conclusion and a slow recovery, the next few hours left concern during the spontaneous hospital visit. Going up to the counter, Baam and side by side, we asked for the bill. We left the hospital that day praising Jesus for the blessing of $0.00. “Baam, I think I am starting to like this country.” But even so, the sickness remained.

I took refuge at Baam’s house until we were to find out a solution. With each passing hour I could feel body diminishing. All foods were a detest, but for about a 5 hour stretch there was a deep craving for skittles. (Yes… skittles.) At the site or smell of food brought me to the bathroom with dry heaves of bile from my stomach. In one of these occurrences, in the middle of the night I shuffled to the bathroom. While looking in the bathroom mirror, it was difficult to recognize myself. Pale face sunken into cheek bones, ribs showing like I was a box of bones. I knew if this was malaria, I knew there was a possibility to die in few days’ time. Something to be done, and soon.

The school’s kindness extended such great love. This love came in the form of a parent of the class I was going to be teaching. Getting the message, he picked me up in the car from Baam’s house. This was the first-time meeting one of the students. Though weak, putting on a brave face, I tried to make a pleasant first impression. “Hello, my name is Mr. Jarid. What is your name?” A little shy at first, but in time we warmed up to each other during the ride to the clinic. When we arrived, I was given various of tests. After the test, we were off to Baam's house for praying, praising, and waiting.

Laying on Baam’s bed, the mind went to the most difficult places during these events. Laying down on the bed, I looked down at my body; skin color diminished into a pale white color. It was as if the malaria parasite has sucked the life color from my flesh. My eyes were in a constant state of fuzziness and frustration. Slipping the gaze down at my body, I saw my ribs, as if they were breaking out of my skin. Desperation set in, and I pondered about the potential outcome of dying. My friend Jessie Rotholz passed away from malaria while doing missions in Uganda, will this also happen to me? My body would be brought back on a plane to the United States. Family would be in turmoil, lamenting in every which direction. My death would cause heart ache, and would… "Kakao!" The phone shocked me back into reality. I flinched in my mind, but the body has remained without reflex. I continued in a few silent moments of transition. My eyes adapting to the screen to be keen and clear to read the message. A relief hit me knowing the cause, so I was thankful for the clarity of being positive for malaria for the third time in 2 months.

Jessie in the front on the right

(If you are interested in knowing more about Jessie's story, here is his remembering Facebook page: (13) Jesse Rotholz | Facebook)

 

Then I wondered if Korea had the proper medication for treatment. Three days of 12-hour increments of injections with Baam sleeping on the bedside cot, and his mom bringing in meals. This assisted the road of recovery. We had a delight at the hospital meeting other people and spending quality together, talking with friends who visited, and recovering; it’s as if I could feel the color returning to my body, and strength being regained in my bones. After our 3 day, what we called it, “Hotel Vacation Stay,” we were out and ready for life.

Along with this are many other things that could be explained, such as the enduring endeavor of oral medication prescription of 5 mefloquin in one day (this was to ensure the malaria was eradicated,) or about the stages of malaria growth in the body, (this would be of better reference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v55yg0RfoY) and how it affects the body, or even the details about the first two occurrences, but for now I can answer the question many have asked. “Do you have any lingering side effects of malaria?” With a heart of gratitude towards the Lord and all of those who assisted me during that time, I can simply say, “No.” Fully recovered, without side effects, and not only have complete recovery. Even more so, through that experience in many ways stronger in Him, fearless with the fear of the Lord, dependent on the direction of Christ, and assured in the assistance of the Holy Spirit.