Illness

Wait. Before you all think I'm ill, I'm not. I was, but now I am fine. 
But while I was ill I feel like I learnt a few things that I wanted to share.
So a couple weeks ago now I have 3 days off because I contracted a virus. Where it came from I have no idea but I have a suspicion it may have been picked up while I was on the plane on the way back from Ghana. Anyway, this virus made me feel absolutely exhausted (I pretty much slept for 3 days), gave me a fever and a razor blade throat, blocked nose, chesty cough and a horrible headache. Now I like to think I am quite tough. Last year I had one day off work and that was because I was sent home when my work found out I had fainted that morning in the shower. I very rarely give in to being sick and so taking 3 whole days off was quite a big deal for me. I rang nhs direct on the second day and they told me I had to get to a hospital because I was at risk of having malaria! Nothing like danger to make you feel worse. So I trundled to the hospital and was checked over by possibly the most attractive Dr I have ever seen (Campbell, if you ever read this, you truly made my day), had some blood taken and then was sent home for more sleep. At one point over those days I genuinely wasn't sure if I was going to get better - probably in my delirium I convinced myself I might die. 


It was at that point that I really began to value health and life. Both things that are taken for granted. I take my normal good health so for granted - like I have never broken a bone, or spent a night in hospital, or had to have any medical procedures done to me. Life is taken for granted by so many people. According to the Guardian in 2010, 189 574 abortions happened in the UK (http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/may/24/abortion-statistics-england-wales) When those thoughts were going through my head questioning if I was going to make it or not I was struck by how much I love my life. Even though it has it's struggles and there are times when I find it really hard, I know that I am here for a reason and that I have a God who I can turn to to help me at all times. Lots of my friends are having babies at the moment. Just at my work we have had 3 babies born in the last month; my friend Katy is due in 4 weeks, Sarah in May, Keziah is due in Sept, and just today my friend Rachel announced she's pregnant too! I feel like life is precious. All you have to do is hold a newborn baby to realise how fragile life is and how miraculous it is too. 


Being ill has made me thankful. Weird, but good.