Summary

The author recounts surviving malaria twice in 2000 and swine flu (H1N1) in 2009 while pregnant, sharing lessons learned about staying calm, trusting intuition, and seeking help.

Abstract

The author, a survivor of both malaria and swine flu, reflects on their experiences with these illnesses and the insights gained. In 2000, while volunteering in Mozambique, they contracted malaria, first a mild strain and later a more serious one, and were advised to pray for survival alongside medical treatment. In 2009, during the 37th week of pregnancy, the author was diagnosed with H1N1 and hospitalized, eventually giving birth to a healthy daughter. They emphasize the importance of not panicking, trusting one's intuition, and seeking timely medical assistance. The author also provides facts about swine flu and malaria, noting the high death tolls associated with these diseases, particularly in the African Region for malaria. The narrative underscores the value of knowledge, intuition, and action in overcoming serious illnesses.

Opinions

The author believes that staying informed with accurate information from reliable sources is crucial in managing serious illnesses.
They stress the importance of not panicking, as it can weaken the immune system and exacerbate the situation.
Trusting one's intuition is seen as vital, with the author suggesting that listening to one's inner voice can lead to better health outcomes.
Seeking help without hesitation is advocated, whether from friends, family, clinics, or hospitals, especially when in doubt about one's health.
The author reflects on their experiences to convey a message of strength and solidarity during the current pandemic, emphasizing collective resilience and the need for accurate information.

I Survived Malaria and Swine Flu and Here is What I Learned

In 2000 I survived malaria twice. In 2009 when I was pregnant with my daughter, I was diagnosed with H1N1 and was hospitalized. My due date was only 3 weeks away, but I stayed calm and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Here are the lessons I learned.

In 2000 while I volunteered in Mozambique, I got sick. The diagnosis was malaria. I had typical flu-like symptoms. So, I went to the private clinic in Chimoio, Mozambique to get tested. They poked my finger, took a sample of blood and then I waited for the results. Those 45 minutes seemed to stretch out to eternity. The verdict… malaria, strain 2 which is mild. The doctor prescribed 2 pills to take, one before bedtime and then others in the morning.

I asked him with a hesitation: “That is it? Only 2 pills?”

He responded with calmness: “Yes. After taking them one more thing…”

“Yes.” I murmured.

“Pray to God to survive.” He said while looking straight into my eyes. It was a scary moment. I had just turned 20 years old.

Of course, I survived the first time. Of course, I had it a second time. This time it was a strain 3 which is more serious. I survived that too.

In 2009, on a gloomy Sunday morning when I woke up, I knew something was wrong with me. I had completed the 37th week of my first-time pregnancy and was expecting a little girl which I always wanted.

At that moment, I knew I needed to get to the ER right away. We arrived at the Rose Medical Center ER in Denver, CO and got triaged. They called the OB from the 4th floor to check on me. Everything was fine with the baby. The young doctor prescribed Tamiflu and sent me home with the instruction if it gets worse to call or return to the ER.

Sure enough, the next morning I felt even worse. I couldn’t keep the Tamiflu in, I was vomiting and unable to keep anything inside. My temperature was still very high.

We returned to the ER and I promised myself, I will stay here until I get better. They checked everything again. The baby was in mild distress but nothing serious. The young doctor from the previous night checked me again and felt uneasy. He requested a doctor from the infectious disease department to check on me before the discharge. After he arrived, he immediately hospitalized and started me on an IV drip. He was suspecting Swine flu but could not confirm it because the blood test needed to be sent to the CDC. The results are sent back few days later. They assumed it was the H1N1. Indeed, three days later, the test returned positive. In the meantime, I was lying in the hospital bed attached to a sonogram. I was at peace; I knew everything would be okay. One week later I got discharged home. I was symptom-free and three weeks later I delivered a beautiful baby girl.

Facts About Swine Flu ( H1N1)

The swine-flu pandemic of 2009 may have killed up to 203,000 people worldwide — 10 times higher than the first estimates based on the number of cases confirmed by lab tests, according to a new analysis by an international group of scientists. According to CDC, the H1N1 virus that caused that pandemic is now a regular human flu virus and continues to circulate seasonally worldwide.

Facts About Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 405 000 in 2018, compared with 416 000 deaths in 2017. The WHO African Region continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2018, the region was home to 93% of malaria cases and 94% of malaria deaths.

Like many, I recovered from swine flu and malaria. I know getting a serious illness is terrifying. And the best way is to prevent it but sometimes, no matter what you do, you still catch it.

Through the experience I learned:

1. Don’t panic it won’t make you feel better. It will make the situation worse. Because you are already sick and stressed. Your immune system will get weaker. How I learned not to panic is by knowing all the facts ( my medical background made it easier). Yet, anyone can seek and get educated from trusted sources. Especially in today’s digital age. I always read many scientific articles from reliable sources backed by science, government (the trustworthy one), or education.

2. Trust your intuition because it never fails you. Listen to your inner voice. Literally, listen to your gut. The more you listen to your intuition the more you will hear little voices to act now. That is how I became highly-intuitive.

3. Seek help. Never be afraid to ask. When in doubt, always call your friends, family, clinic, or go to the nearest hospital.

I hope this survival story will make it easier for the current pandemic. The experience taught me to be stronger. We are all in it together. It is critical to seek out accurate information from trusted sources, and not to panic.