Time for a brief medical update. I have been out of the hospital for a week now. Forced to recover in a local bed and breakfast here in Pretoria. It is actually a nice place, but mostly I am resting and reading, not really site seeing. The State Department Medical Unit would not let me go back to Zambia with drains, tubes, and staples in place for fear I might develop an infection or other complication and get septic. They said, "Do you know how expensive it is to evacuate a septic patient?" The compassion was touching. I said, "Come on what are the odds of that..." Well, probably greater than the odds of developing a hole in one's colon, a pelvic abscess and fistula following a routine colonoscopy! It did strike me as somewhat ironic that an infectious disease doctor would be done in by septic shock. I did mention that I was well aware of the risks and as soon as I developed fever and evidence of a pelvic abscess in Lusaka a few weeks back (hematuria and pneumoturia for the medical people) I started oral ciprofolxacin and flagyl which I just happened to have on hand. I have always firmly believed that oral antibiotics are just as good as intravenous and I am sure this kept me stable during my transport here. They did not take this as reassuring but probably as a good reason to not let me go too soon - who knows what this guy might do if we send him back to Lusaka.

It is very tedious being away from everyone (except Amy who has been a true helpmate) with not much to do. I have managed to walk to the local CDC office and put in time on the computers there - teleworking. But one still feels pretty disconnected from work. I have always known that my self-image is tightly connected to what I do at work, but this has really highlighted that in my mind. How dare they survive without me! I also realize how much my self-image is tied to being a parent. Makes me wonder a bit about how I will do when I retire and the kids are all gone...maybe I will have to take up golf afterall! Not likely.

I have been much more tired than I expected. I also have a fair bit of pain with most movement thanks to the urinary catheter so I am looking forward to its removal on Monday. The actual incisions and holes are not so bad, although I am not sure I am ready for sit-ups just yet. I appreciated Sue Makin's comment that I am holier than most right now, probably the only time.

Enough for now. We appreciate your prayers. Jim