Cerebral Malaria

Cerebral Malaria is a serious complication defined by coma, convulsions and encephalopathy which can lead to death.

          Yona

Sick two days, fever, diarrhea,

Playing, robust, chubby legs, warm heart, smiling,

Eating porridge in the morning.

Convulsions, coma, diazepam,

Last breaths, strong heart,

Ambu bag pushing breaths in and out,

NG tube placed, stomach decompressed.

Mother waiting watchful,

dreading, hopeful,

hopeless,

1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours,

When to stop- it is my call,

My wild God is in charge,

He knows the why.

Eyes fixed and dilated,

Let him go quietly.

His mother waits on the floor across the room,

A torn hole in her light blue sweatshirt, blood on her skirt- her child's? her own?

Strong heart. The nurses would have gone on breathing for him for hours,

They were not tired.

Decorticate, decerebrate, brain dead, eyes fixed and dilated,

My wild God loves Yona and He  loves me. Lord, comfort his mother in her pain

and loss.  You understand.

Your son died too.

Jesus,  "a man of sorrows and familiar with sufffering."

Give her strength to bear this grief.

reference: Isaiah 53:3, 4