Saturday, October 2, 2021

Short Break

 

Hi friends,


I'm popping in to let you know I have to take a short break.

The other day while on my way to an errand using the city bus, I was in an accident due to heavy braking by the bus driver. Though I was seated, I went flying across the seats in front of me, smashed my face, not once but twice, into a hard plastic casing. I mostly injured my face, lower neck, right thigh and knee. After a trip to the Emergency Room, I am now recovering at home. 

All should be well, but I;ve been referred to the plastic surgeon due to broken bones in the face and an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist for an issue in the right ear. They said the bones should heal but the follow up is a proactive measure.  While I was in the hospital I was thanking God that I live in a country where all the testing, medicines and so on are covered by the government and not out of my own pocket (unless you count the taxation of the citizenry that raises the funds to pay for all government expenditures). 

At the ER admittance desk there was signage posting the costs of various medical procedures for those that don't have medical insurance which would mostly apply to foreign visitors. I didn't have time to read it but one item dealing with some kind of heart treatment jumped out at me because the cost was almost $8000 (eight thousand dollars).  It gave me pause and made me appreciate that I don't have to pay for anything hospital; not the CT scan, EKG, oximetry test, blood work, ER bed,  nurse and doctor services, painkillers and a small snack.  The bill would have been substantial even though I was only there for about 5 hours.

Over the many years I've been doing missionary outreach with the very needy in Kenya, I've learned not to take anything for granted and to be grateful for my many blessings.  On that note I want to update briefly about the urgent Kenyan prayer needs.

Pastor Jonah is now at home recovering after spending 5 days and 4 nights in hospital due to the severe reaction to his second Covid jab.  His recovery is slow but steady and it is encouraging that his appetite has returned.  

A few weeks ago I wrote about Pastor Parteleu from a small village north of Nakuru City.  He is of very slender build and has been having a very difficult time keeping food down.  A few weeks ago he travelled to Nakuru for various tests and was hosted by Pastor Jonah.  His return visit was for the purpose of scheduled surgery but he was only able to raise a portion of funds. Since he could not raise the funds, he was given the run around, sent here and there, given a different diagnosis and ultimately he returned home without any resolution.  His situation is very sad but not uncommon in Kenya for those that don't have money for medical care.  This is one of the reasons I now focus on medical needs there despite all the other important needs.  But it is difficult to keep up to all the medical needs due to the high cost and I do not currently have the funds to help Pastor Parteleu.

Last but not least is Livingstone.  The doctor recommended he go to physical therapy to help the healing of his leg. We've managed to send him to a few sessions but he will likely need more.

Please keep these men in your prayers. 

I'll be back to regular blogging after I've recovered a bit.


God bless.

🙏🙏🙏

11 comments:

Joanne Noragon said...

I am so sorry. A head injury is not good. Take care, heal up as soon as you can.

Red said...

I'm sorry to hear of your accident. I hope that you are well looked after and heal up to be good as new.

diane b said...

Wow that sounds like a nasty accident. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Mari said...

I'm so sorry to hear this. Will be praying for you and I hope you are back soon!

Jeanie said...

Oh Penny, I don't know where to begin. I'm deeply sorry to hear about this. I wonder why there aren't seat belts on buses? This would be a very good reason to institute them. You must be in terrible pain and I hope that all heals as it should. You are indeed fortunate to have the kind of national care that so many need but don't have. I could see how something like this could break a person, much less for catastrophic diseases like heart or cancer. I don't think I need to say "slow down and take care of you" because you are wisely doing that. But I will send all wishes and prayers for full healing -- and soon.

Practical Parsimony said...

That sounds like a nasty, painful accident. I hope you are doing better and get all the care you need. Will the driver be reprimanded? Hope so.

eileeninmd said...

Oh my, I am so sorry to hear about your accident. I hope your recover quickly and all is well. Take care, sending prayers and well wishes.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Dear Penny, Somehow I missed this post, and just came to it now because I was reading your newest post and you mentioned your injuries, so I knew I had missed something. I am so very sorry for what you've been through with this injury, but and so thankful it wasn't worse as in serious head injury or other internal injuries. But what you've been through is bad enough. Praying for your complete recovery now. I will go back to your newer post and continue reading.

Practical Parsimony said...

That was certainly a grisly accident! Broken bones in the face is horrible. I went to the ER and was never admitted to the hospital and was charged $30K.

Joyful said...

Wow! Unbelievably expensive.

Rhodesia said...

Just seen your latest blog and had to come back to here to see what happened. So Sorry. I have been so busy in the garden and the kitchen I have not been keeping up with blogging. Take care, thinking of you Diane

A Few Scenes from the Week

Hi friends and fellow bloggers, Here are a couple of snapshots to end the month.  Wishing you a fabulous end of November. See you in the mon...