Back Around

So much to say…Bennett and I (Jeff) are back in J’burg in the room next door to where we were last week. The road back here, so to speak, has not been pretty. Basically, after returning to Lusaka last Saturday, Bennett was on again, off again sick climaxing on Wednesday when he was vomiting all day and could not keep water down.

Almost 3 weeks to the day after this whole deal started, we went back to the 97-degree clinic to get Bennett on an IV. That night, our international medical care/insurance company decided he needed to be back in J’burg after the surgeon in Lusaka recommended a barium enema and more, so yesterday (Thursday) we flew commercial down to J’burg and checked back into our newest home away from home away from home. (Ask Molly how “Graceful” I was with the flight crew that was not going to let us board because we didn’t have a “Fit to Fly” note from the Doctor…)

Wednesday was certainly the worst day in the process, realizing that we were right back where we started after 3 weeks, but since we’ve arrived back here at the hospital in J’burg I have felt like we are moving fwd. True to form with this on again, off again sickness, Bennett has seemed great since we’ve arrived.

(1 Hour Later) O.k…Just had a long conversation with the doctor. Bennett’s ultrasound this morning has revealed a potential "Pelvic Ureteric Junction Obstruction", which is a congenital situation that would make sense of some, but not all, of his symptoms these last weeks…treatable by surgery. A couple more tests are going to be done to confirm this, and options laid out in the next couple days. Hopefully, we have found the root of what is going on but we will be pursuing every possibility.

Obviously, we covet your prayers right now – our family is split up across Southern Africa, which is less than ideal for everyone. Molly stayed home in Lusaka to care for the girls and give them some level of normalcy. Obviously if Bennett needs surgery, Molly and possibly the girls will come down. Pray for a quick resolution to Bennett’s sickness and for restored health.

We have felt your prayers throughout this – While being here in Africa certainly gives perspective, there is nothing quite so personally difficult/emotionally exhausting as having a sick child. On a positive note, I’m having a great time with Bennett – I’d rather be having this time with him Fly fishing for Tiger fish on the Zambezi River, but, I’ll take what I can get with my boy.

p.s. Bennett turns 5 tomorrow.

p.s.s. Just found out we are being released from the hospital for the weekend – so, guys Birthday weekend in South Africa as long as Bennett continues to do well…We’ll check back in to the hospital for 48 hours of test on Monday morning.