In Sickness and in Health

The last month has felt a bit like a pre-marriage boot camp. Lately we have both seen each other at our worst as we have spent the last few weeks battling various illnesses. After climbing Kolombangra, Ben contracted some sort of jungle fever. He was very ill for about 10 days. At first we thought it was Malaria, but all tests proved negative. The doctor put it down to some sort of virus, for which there was no cure. So poor Ben endured 10 days of fever, headaches, lethargy and vomiting… and I had to endure 10 days of rubbing his head and back and doting on him like a little child. Just when we thought it was over and we could go back to enjoying our trip, I developed some sort of nasty tropical ear infection. I have never felt so much pain! And then it was Bens turn to rub my back and put up with my whining and crying (yes, there were tears).

We both became very familiar with the Gizo hospital, which is an adventure in itself. It’s a half hour walk to the hospital (which is not nice when you are sick and its boiling hot). On the morning I was sick there was no doctor on duty (it was a Saturday), so the nurse asked me what kind of drugs I thought I needed. They were all out of painkillers so I had to endure the pain for the weekend. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I obviously chose the wrong medication because I was allergic. So I spent the weekend with a terrible earache, stomach cramps and an allergic rash. By the time I got to see a real doctor (which had to wait until Monday), my ear drum had perforated, my face had gone numb and I couldn’t hear out of my ear at all… I was not in my finest form! Thankfully the doctor was able to give me the correct drugs and some painkillers (although it was too late by then… I had reached the numb stage), and two days later I am on the mend.

Whilst it was an experience neither of us are keen to repeat, I am happy to say that while I was sick I really felt like God had sent me an angel. Ben was so good to me and I know that when it comes to say our vows, I will know that he is genuine when he says he will love me ‘in sickness and in health.’