Charis

Please pray for Charis.  Yesterday, Zach told me that she was sick with giardia, she needed an IV, and that I was in charge of watching over her. I didn't realize she was that sick. Charis has had giardia before, so I wasn't worried when I first heard she had giardia again. I was planning on checking on her after I finished studying, but Zach made it to me first.

As soon as I got to her room I realized how bad she really was. Charis had woken up at 4am and started vomiting; in fact, fluids were coming out of both ends every hour. It was 1pm by the time I came over to take her to the hospital. At that point she had nothing left to vomit and could hardly walk. (She had violent dry heaves that would rack her body. All she could do was lay in the fetal position and pray it would pass quickly). I almost had to run to urgence for a stretcher multiple times on the way to the hospital. 

We eventually made it to the OR where Olen had a bed and IVs ready for her. He hooked her up and checked her vitals. She had a 147 pulse! She was severely dehydrated. Olen piled on the meds; some to make her sleep, and some to prevent nausea and vomiting. Olen stayed with me to make sure everything went smoothly and Dr. Bland popped in every once in a while. 

In spite of the drugs Charis was still vomiting. Olen was impressed that she could still wake up to vomit. She was maxed out on most medications, so we just had to wait it out. As we waited, Olen did research on medications, while I watched her IV. He wanted to know what other medications he could give her if he needed too. He didn't want the medications to counteract or react badly to each other. After 11 lactate ringers, four Metro IVs, seven hours of waiting, and many drugs we were able to walk her home. I spent the night at her house helping her when she vomited or needed to use the bathroom. 

Currently, Charis is doing a bit better. She is exhausted from being in a drug-induced state for over 12 hours, however, she hasn't thrown up in the past eight hours. She is able to walk slowly on her own, but isn't well enough to be left alone. (I'm actually sitting at her bedside writing this).

Continue to keep Charis in your prayers while she is fighting the toxins out of her body. She needs strength and stamina to keep going strong. Hopefully, she can eat some solid foods today and keep them down.