Pertussis Positive

So, after being sick for over 3 weeks, last Friday, I decided to go to the doctor (again) for ear pain. I did in fact have an ear infection, so I began antibiotics for said infection. However, curiously on Saturday I began coughing. Not really thinking much about it, I ignored the cough and figured if I had anything that required meds, it'd be covered because I was already on antibiotics.

Wrong.

I continued to get worse as the week progress...a fever being the second most draining part of it. The foremost draining part of being sick was my cough.

Finally, after missing another day of work, I decided I should listen to those around me and go to the doctor (again!!)... So they put me into the "respiratory isolation" room. The doctor decided to test me for whooping cough, which was a lovely squirt of saline solution up my nose. After depositing a snot rocket into a small plastic pee cup, the nurse politely gave me a mask to wear to the lab and pharmacy before departing the medical clinic.

As I left, adorned with my nifty light blue mask I stepped out of the office heading towards the lab and pharmacy. I do not think I have ever experienced such shame in a public setting. I had a leprosy experience. I walked out and everyone was staring at me because of "the mask." It's like declaring to everyone, "Hey! I'm unclean! I'm dirty! I'm not worthy to be around you for any reason." The doctor said to notify my job and those living around me, because I could potentially make them sick if I had whopping cough. Outbreaks are common in the Boulder County, because people don't notify the proper authorities when they have it.

Well, after several days of fevers and coughing, I was tested positive for pertussis. Check out a microscopic version of the bacteria:

Now, I'm having to notify all those I've been around since I've been coughing. Folks at work, some people from church, friends, all the family have all been put on antibiotics.

Now, back to my leprosy moment. I could not help remember the instance of Jesus and the ten lepers.
"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

My greatest fear is that I will be one of the nine who do not return and and say thank you to the Lord for all He has done for me. Is that even possible? Could I be so arrogant and rude? Probably. Chances are good that I would do such a thing.

But I stand here today declaring just the opposite. I give thanks for the blessings I have. I offer up my suffering with whooping cough to the Lord for those who do not know Him. May every cough be a sacrifice and prayer for those whose life is still in the dark. May my faith in Jesus Christ be all I need and not just a healthy body to live in.

Amen.