Sunday, November 21, 2010

Anemia Heart Failure

Malaria is responsible for more than 1 million deaths each year. In Sub-Saharan Africa malaria kills 2 children every minute. The parasite is transmitted through the bite of a mosquitoe. The parasite multiplies in red blood cells and destroys them leading to severe anemia and heart failure.

So LIttle
Rachel weeping for her children who are no more. Hemoglobin 2.7. In extremis. glucose 51 too low. 3+ malaria smear- quinine given-blood started- lungs filling up with fluid. Lasix given. Lasix given again. Pink tinged nasal secretions. Let the mother hold her dying child. She should hold her. It is her last chance. Mother singing gently to her dying child, expressing drops of milk into her gasping mouth. Weeping for the mother. Patting her shoulder softly. Listening for a heartbeat, nothing, watching for a gasp, any movement- nothing, weeping inside. I am so sorry. I had hoped... but the nurse said the blood looked like water- so little hemoglobin, so many parasites, so little chance of survival. So little. Little baby, only 4 kilograms-just a few months old. And my tears fall freely as do God's for His beloved suffering creation. Jesus wept. He is weeping still over fallen broken humanity.
Learn more about the Malaria Networkers Mother's Day Project at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/internationalhealth/networkers/

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