Mysterious Panama Fever Continues

March 18, 2020

“Therefore, to you who believe, He (Christ) is precious.” I Peter 2:7

After a good night’s sleep in my own comfortable bed at home here in the USA, I checked my temperature. It still read a little high but I felt fine. I called my doctor’s office and spoke with my favorite nurse, “Freda”. “Oh, Pam, things are so awful here with Covid 19. I wish you could come work with us.” I reminded her I don’t have an RN license in this state. She went through her questionnaire and said, “You need to get checked for Covid. Go to the dedicated website and the telehealth doctor will talk with you and order the test. They instructed us not to order the test because they want to track everyone through this site.”

Because the site kept bumping me out, I finally called the number on the screen. The lady who answered said the site wasn’t working well and advised me to pick up a written prescription from my doctor’s office and bring it to the testing site. She gave me the address and told me it was on the lower level.

I called Freda back and asked for the written prescription. She instructed me to come now and she would bring it out to my car. With her mask and gloves on, she handed me the paper at arm’s length and blew me a kiss. “I love you, Pam, and am praying for you!” We have had precious times of fellowship in the office in the past. I thanked her for helping me.

I drove to the address which turned out to be the local hospital. I looked and looked for a sign for the testing and drove all around while asking the Lord to help me find it before they closed at 6 p.m. The only person in sight was a security guard in front of the parking garage wearing a mask and gloves. I asked him for directions and finally saw a tiny sign that read Covid Testing. I told him I had an order for the test and he motioned me into the garage. A lady in a blue paper gown, goggles, mask, and gloves rolled her computer out of a red tent to my car window. She said she was from Registration. I showed her my paper order and she said, “Oh, I don’t need that. Your order is here in the computer. You will receive your results in 5-7 days.” She motioned me to drive up to the next station.

A nurse in a hazmat suit asked me to hold very still while she inserted a swab high up in my nose. She handed me a tissue in case I sneezed. A few seconds later it was over. She stuck it in a tube, broke off the swab, and had me verify my name and birthdate on the tube. Relieved it was over, I drove home.

March 26, 2020

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my ROCK and my salvation…” Psalm 62:5-6

This is the fourteenth day of my intermittent fever with no results of my Covid test. They said on the news the labs have run out of reagent. My doctor texted me and assured me she checks daily for my result. Some days my legs feel weak with fatigue. I have no cough or trouble breathing. I thanked the Lord that I don’t feel too bad and asked Him to heal me of whatever I have. I don’t feel nearly as sick as when I almost died of pneumonia two years ago.

My kind friends drop off groceries. I enjoy creating new recipes with what I have on hand. I haven’t eaten a meal with anyone in two weeks. I miss going to church. I’ve been watching it online and talk with a number of people on the phone including friends in Africa and Germany. The beauty of Whats App still amazes me! It’s so wonderful to do video chats and hear and see about their circumstances. I especially like showing them my flower garden that is coming to life and praying together.

I follow several YouTube couples traveling through Central and South America who are having a tough time getting out. I thank God I’m home because Panama has a strict lockdown now. The residents are only allowed to go out two hours a day for essential groceries or medicine.

I emailed “Dra. Susan” who saw me in Panama when I first had the fever. I asked her what tests my doctor should order if my Covid test is negative. She immediately replied and said she remembered me well. Malaria, dengue fever, rickettsia (a tick-borne disease), and parasites occur there. She asked me to inform her of my Covid results. I looked up all these tropical diseases and noted I didn’t have symptoms for any of them.

Dear Lord, give me patience. Thank You that You are in control of my life. 

March 31, 2020

My doctor called me this morning and said, “I’m not permitted to give you your Covid results, but you can read between the lines. What are the tropical disease tests your doctor wants me to order?” I told her and decided to wait until the next day to get them on April 1 when my new insurance began with better coverage. I hung up and thanked God that I didn’t have Covid. Later that day my COVID 19 results appeared in My Chart. I emailed Dra. Susan and told her my happy news.

April 1, 2020

I entered the foyer of my doctor’s office where a masked assistant sat in front of the computer. I told her I was here for lab tests and was Covid negative. She checked my temperature orally and it read 98.6 F (normal). I pulled out my temporal thermometer and checked my forehead. It read 100.4 F! She rechecked my temperature and it read the same thing. She entered my new insurance info, being careful not to touch my cards. I entered the lab and the phlebotomist drew all my blood on the first stick! (I have terrible veins.) We praised God together and shared all the lessons we were learning through Covid. She said her hands were almost cracked open from all the handwashing. When I had that problem, I coated my hands with petroleum jelly or olive oil at bedtime and wore a pair of cotton gloves all night. She said she would try it out.

April 6, 2020

All my tropical disease tests came back negative and I feel fine. My doctor asked me if I wanted her to do any more tests? I told her I think I have an inaccurate thermometer and had a mild case of the flu I picked up on the plane. It has been six months since I received my flu vaccine. I declined any further tests.

I looked at the blue sky and thanked the Lord for His mercies to me.

I enjoyed taking walks over the next days and enjoying all the spring flowers in bloom. This garden was a real treat with gorgeous azaleas.

Please feel free to share in the comments what God has been teaching you or a Bible verse that has encouraged you through the Covid pandemic. Or you can send me an email at pamela.aprn@gmail.com if you don’t want to make it public. All nurses feel free to share prayer requests. I thank the Lord for your service during this challenging time.