Measles, Typhus, Typhoid = apparently the same thing

Benjamin's diagnoses was not enough to convince anyone at VOH that he was okay, so again he was taken to the Doctor. This time I think we actually found a competent doctor in Arsi Negelle. The children actually have Measles, who would have thought?! But it's a relief actually, just like we thought typhus was good news instead of typhoid, so measles is better than typhus. As the babies haven't actually been immunized it makes perfect sense and measles cannot be detected by any blood work, just signs and symptoms. Benjamin still looks like "crap" (in Steff's words), but he is slowly recovering. Balditu is doing better and we've got the babies on a dose of Vitamin A.

For everyone's information I never had Typhoid either. That was another misdiagnoses. Apparently if I did have typhoid I would have to prove that I was rid of the disease before I could even get out of the country to leave for the States. Also Typhoid is horrible- you have to burn the person's feces, they have to be quarantined from everyone/thing and you have horrible pea soup diarrhea. What I did have was a parasite that I cannot honestly cannot remember the name of it. I have yet to gain faith in the health care system here, but I have a hope that no matter what our kids are misdiagnosed with that hopefully some Emox will recover it.

This week is the kids' last week of school before they go home to visit their families (though most of them are orphans they will go to see grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc). We will be taking them to Lake Longano this Saturday and all the kids are super excited. It will be sad while they are gone, but maybe we'll actually get some work done?

Cheers,
Jenelle