Attack of the mosquito net, pellagra and the ride...

In spite of the great night's sleep during the layover in South Africa, I had trouble adjusting last night.  I slept soundly from about 9 pm to 1 am and then I was wide awake.  I tried to be still and not disturb Martha, but I couldn't take it anymore and sat up to quietly read and answer email.  I thought I was being so good, but after a few minutes, she rolled over and said, "Oh good.  I was trying to be still and not wake you up".  Then we both sat on our beds in the wee hours and typed away.

By about three, I was ready to try for some more sleep.  The next thing I knew I was bound and gagged and panicking.  As I surfaced to conciousness, I realized my mosquito net had come loose from the ceiling and had me completely entwined.  Martha, being the most helpful friend assisted by dying laughing.  She did however hold the flashlight for me while I stood on the bed in the dark and resuspended the thing.

Today I stayed in Kasese and worked in our clinic with Wilson Bett.  He was great at offering guidance as I don't really see the same problems at home that we see here.  I diagnosed and treated three cases of malaria today.  This is worrisome because the rain hasn't started, so I don't know where the mosquitos are breeding.  We are also seeing an outbreak of pellagra, which is a vitamin B3 deficiency.   This was eradicated in the US in the 1930s.  It starts as a skin condition and then progresses with time to dementia and even death.  Stephen has figured out that it must be associated with the cyclic availability of certain foods.  Now how to prevent it?

After clinic, Father Levinus retrieved me as promised.  However the 45 minute trip to Kalembe was not 45 minutes as I know them  We arrived there around 4:45 pm after a guided commentary of all the small villages along the way.  I had a tour of the compound, shared a beer, and then he graciously served the re-heated dinner that had been prepared for us last night once Father Joseph arrived.  We had a delightful visit.  Then, we started with our farewells and as we moved outside to the truck, it was pitch black.  The time was 6:30!!!  I'm afraid of very few things, but traveling at night in Malawi is one of them.  I will just summarize by saying it was harrowing and surreal.   Dolly Parton's "Joleen" is blaring (Fr. L loves  country music) and there is no street lighting.  There are pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, soccer playing children, goats, chickens, dogs and cattle along the dirt road that is so obscured by dust, that I was reminded of a west Texas dust storm.  How in the hell, we did not kill someone or something amazes me.  Back to Kasese at 7:55 pm.  Forty-five minutes my ___.  Thank you dear Lord.  I promise to be good from now on.