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| This is the post-clinic photo from Sunday that SHLP posted on their Facebook page. This clinic was held at a community center in a La Paz neighborhood (colonia) called Chametla. |
Then Eleanor crashed, much worse, I think that was Thursday night. Her fever (this girl doesn't get fevers) ran up to 104 and all the ibuprofen and acetaminophen aboard wasn't bringing it down. Saturday morning I took Eleanor to the hospital where they covered her in cool compresses, drew blood and urine for testing, and spent about 40 minutes looking at every organ in her abdomen with an ultrasound.
La Paz had a run of Dengue Fever following last year's hurricane and the doctor was looking for evidence of this.
"Influenza" was his verdict.
"That's good...wait, so she's contagious?"
"Si."
That night the fever and aches and pains made sleep for me impossible. The next morning Windy was feeling crappy. Frances was starting to feel better, but still coughing.
Living on a boat in close quarters with your spouse and kids is the greatest thing in the world. Coughing and sneezing and moaning and blowing noses isn't living, and to do that together for a string of days in close quarters just sucks. I went in this morning to get some water because we were out; tomorrow we're all talking about maybe getting ashore to shower and launder bedding.
We've not been sick like this since we started cruising. The real bummer of it though? The timing. We missed two important events on our calendar (and we're cruisers, these were the only two events on our calendar): a wedding aboard a friend's boat and the first spay/neuter clinic held in France's name by the Sociedad Humanitaria de La Paz (SHLP). The big-hearted volunteers who organize these clinics even made a cake for the absent Frances.
But the good news is that the wedding was a success without us and 50 cats and dogs were fixed at the clinic without us. And while there will not be a repeat wedding before we take off for French Polynesia, there will hopefully be another clinic around the end of this month that we can all attend.
Following is a Facebook capture of a video that the SHLP organizers made for Frances. These are all friendly faces we've come to know.
--MR
Sorry about the flu! I've been thinking about you and the planned big journey. Earlier this month Bill and I had a nice day sailing & snorkeling on High Pockets in St Thomas, a Chris Craft Comanche 42.
ReplyDeleteI met a dedicated animal lover from Arlington/Charlottesville while in St Thomas. She visited the Humane Society on the island and arranged for the cats at our resort to be spayed/neutered. She will LOVE to hear about Frances's clinics in La Paz!!!
Sorry you all have been ill! I would have made you some matzo ball soup (vegetarian) for ya! We have been thinking of you. WE are in La Cruz and many boats are making the jump. We wish you well and can't wait to hear of your adventures. Namaste
ReplyDeleteSorry you've all been sick...that's never any fun. Hope everyone is on the mend and you're getting ready to jump. Sorry we didn't get that chance to meet you before you leave. We'll be following and awaiting to hear you've made is safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteSafe Travels
Terrapin Crew