The poor man began feeling poorly, his eyes hurt and were sensitive to light. Yep, soon appeared a rash, and the fever went up, up, up. This was a man who didn't know how to handle illness. Oh, a cold from time to time, but nothing he couldn't handle. I put heavy army blankets over the windows because any light was distressing.
When I couldn't get his fever down, and the rash was spreading, I called the Base Hospital and called for an ambulance. I explained the fever, the rash and the light sensitivty, and gave direction to our place. He didn't want me to leave his side, but I had to go to a neighbor to phone, as we hadn't had a phone installed. We waited and waited, and my husband was becoming more and more anxious. After a half hour, and no ambulance. I was becoming anxious at this point, too. So, I left again to telephone.
This time, I pulled rank. I said I had called earlier, Captain Long's temperature was going up, and I couldn't get it down, and if there wasn't an ambulance showing up within 10 minutes, I was calling the Base Commander. I think they made it in nine minutes.
Anyway...I wasn't allowed to go to the hospital with him, but two days later, I was allowed to visit. What a change! The rash, which had spread all over his body, had begun to disappear, his eyes were no longer light sensitive, the temperature was normal. But he did have German Measles. I think he stayed in the hospital less than a week when he was sent home. And there were no complications.
Not long after that, he found out he had been exposed to mumps. Now this is really serious for an adult man. We worried for a couple weeks, but his natural immunity kicked in again, and no mumps. Whew!!
This will be the last entry for this week. I'm overwhelmed by preparations for Passover. But I'll be back next week.
Chag Sameach Pesach!