Our day in the clinic was supposed to be over. We had already seen 20 patients 
for minor complaints, done 2 simple surgeries that morning, and it was time for lunch followed by an afternoon of working on the mission house. Then, just as we were about to close up the clinic and head over for lunch, an Amerindian women stepped through the door holding her small limp daughter.
for minor complaints, done 2 simple surgeries that morning, and it was time for lunch followed by an afternoon of working on the mission house. Then, just as we were about to close up the clinic and head over for lunch, an Amerindian women stepped through the door holding her small limp daughter. The look on the woman's face was unreadable, but her voice was anxious as she quickly explained that her little daughter had had 4 "fits" this morning and felt like she had a fever. The young girl in her arms was barely responsive, and felt extremely hot to the touch, so she was quickly brought back to our small exam room. Her still form was laid on the table, a quick prayer was offered, and we began our work.
The task at hand was to cool her down as quickly as possible. We began to bathe her in rubbing alcohol in an attempt to cool her small burning body down. This aroused her somewhat, and soon her screams were heard reverberating around the small room. An auxillary temperature read 102 degrees, meaning a temperature of 104 when adjusted for true body temperature. A dangerous range, especially for such a small child.
The task at hand was to cool her down as quickly as possible. We began to bathe her in rubbing alcohol in an attempt to cool her small burning body down. This aroused her somewhat, and soon her screams were heard reverberating around the small room. An auxillary temperature read 102 degrees, meaning a temperature of 104 when adjusted for true body temperature. A dangerous range, especially for such a small child. While Alexis and her mother continued to wipe her small body down with the alcohol, I began looking for a possible IV site, all the while praying that she would not be too dehydrated making it difficult find a vein. Thankfully, a good vein was quickly located, the IV was secured, and the cool fluids began to infuse into her bloodstream. As we worked, her mother told us that she had had diarrhea since the day before, and began to run a fever early that morning, then had her first seizure at around 9am, she had already had 4 seizures by the time she arrived at our clinic.
With the internal and external cooling underway, she quickly began to become much more alert, making her 
protests to our treatment loudly known. Soon, however, she calmed down and was able to sit up and drink some cool juice. In the next several hours, as the IV fluids infused, Alexis put her social work skills to work playing with her and involving her in her treatment by encouraging her to wipe herself down with the sponge. Later that afternoon, as little Taffeanna walked out of the clinic with her mother, Dr. Scott turned to us and said: "I really believe that if her mother had not brought her to the clinic for treatment, there is a good possibility she could have died." He went on to explain how quickly little ones can get into a downward spiral from something as simple as diarrhea that leads to dehydration and fever, something that I well knew from working in the ER. We were all very thankful that God was able to use us to minister to one small child, and as a result her whole family in the process.
protests to our treatment loudly known. Soon, however, she calmed down and was able to sit up and drink some cool juice. In the next several hours, as the IV fluids infused, Alexis put her social work skills to work playing with her and involving her in her treatment by encouraging her to wipe herself down with the sponge. Later that afternoon, as little Taffeanna walked out of the clinic with her mother, Dr. Scott turned to us and said: "I really believe that if her mother had not brought her to the clinic for treatment, there is a good possibility she could have died." He went on to explain how quickly little ones can get into a downward spiral from something as simple as diarrhea that leads to dehydration and fever, something that I well knew from working in the ER. We were all very thankful that God was able to use us to minister to one small child, and as a result her whole family in the process.
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