Ok. So. This week has been a bit cursed, and I must say that I'm not too sad to see it end. First bad thing: Saturday night my cluster was walking home from a movie and knitting night at our TCF's house when we witnessed a dog get hit by a car. It didn't kill it either; it just sat on the side on the road looking at us as we passed but there was nothing we could do. There are no vets in Kyinka. It was terribly sad.
Second bad thing: The next day Dave was on the bus and witnessed a man die of a heart attack. He left the bus and got onto another and passed a wreck in our community that had some people splayed about. Heavy.
Third bad thing: Monday night I contracted a severe stomach virus and was briefly hospitalized. I threw up so badly that I tore my stomach. I did get to experience a Ukrainian hospital, and you will all be happy to know that they took excellent care of me. They had to give me 6 liters of IV fluid, so I felt pretty bad. I've gotten back to solid foods now so that is awesome. I'm now a celebrity.
Anyway, next week is our language proficiency interview is next week so I'm very excited, along with my TEFL demo lesson!!! Training is winding to the end!
Hey guys this is Danny! Let me tell you my perspective. So, I was washing clothes on Monday night and...actually before all of this I remember Shannon telling me that her stomach hurt and I told her to lay down and relax so I feel bad a bit now. But I was washing clothes on Monday night and I left my phone in my bedroom. I always have it on me but I took it out of my pocket to wash clothes (by hand). So, when I got done washing, I went to my room and had six missed calls from Shannon. When I called her back she said, and I quote, "I need you to come over. I think I'm dying." So, I told her to call the Peace Corps doctor. She did and he told her to wait an hour. Meanwhile, I was hitching a ride with a bus to Shannon's. I got there and she was throwing up almost every three minutes.
At some point, as she was throwing up so hard, she apparently tore something in her esophagus or stomach and there was a bit of blood so I called the doctor in Kiev and he told me to call an ambulance. Now, an ambulance here is not as scary or urgent as one in the States. By that I mean that if you are deathly ill, it is exactly the same. If you are throwing up every three minutes then it is helpful because, in our community, there are not a lot of cars and the only option for us was either take public transit with a vomiting woman or take an ambulance which is paid for by Peace Corps.
The ambulance came and Shannon was cared for as good or better than she would have been in the States. She was taken to the hospital in Chernigev and the doctor from Kiev was here that night (it's a two hour drive). So, Shannon was given fluids and a mild sedative and her condition improved and was better by morning with the exception of a bit of soreness and tiredness.
She left the hospital on Wednesday. The hospital staff wanted to keep her overnight on Tuesday to make sure she was truly ok which she was.
This experience has made me very confident in the hospitals here in Ukraine. The staff at the hospital was extremely knowledgeable and caring. They fixed Shannon right up with speed and efficiency. You simply could not ask for better care. The Peace Corps also was extremely efficient and helpful. They made sure that we had a contact with a doctor and sent their own from Kiev to make sure that Shannon was given the exact care she needed and nothing she didn't.
Today, Shannon is sitting in a pizza place eating pizza and feeling great and it's because of the care of the Ukrainian physicians and nurses and the Peace Corps personnel. She wasn't near death or anything but she recovered so quickly simply because of the great care she received.
Also, I bought a guitar today too!
Until next time...we love you guys and have a extra HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Danny and Shannon
