Swine Flu

Prior to our departure from San Antonio, the H1N1 flu, then known as “Swine Flu” was a major concern and topic of local interest. Many South Texas school districts had closed early because of fears of possible pandemic and the numbers of people being infected were confused and exagerated. It seemed to us that in many ways, the media was overreacting to the new strain of influenza, and we joked about “fleeing the country to escape the swine flu.”

Our four bed isolation suite in Royal Angkor International HospitalThat joke didn’t seem nearly as funny after we were in Bangkok for Beth’s treatment and noticed signs on the hospital walls warning of cases of H1N1 being treated in their facility. However, we took all precautions that we thought necessary to avoid exposure and after Beth was released from the hospital we returned here to Siem Reap. Two days after our return, Rachel began to experience an extremely high fever and body aches which was followed shortly by a sick stomach. In typical SuperMommy fashion, she didn’t complain and continued caring for everyone else in our home including our four children, Joseph and Elder Dwayne Shafer (who stayed with us for about a week after our return). By Sunday afternoon it was clear that Rachel was not getting better, and Emily and Beth were also beginning to experience symptoms.

After Brother Dwayne’s departure on Monday morning, we began to seriously discuss another trip to the hospital. Joseph had already scheduled a visit from Brother Dara and two other ministers and thier wives for Wednesday, and they were planning on arriving in Siem Reap on Tuesday evening, so we decided to move Rachel and the children to a hotel room with air conditioning for the night.

By Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Mom (Rachel) had determined that the symptoms all pointed to a very serious case of influenza and had called the Royal Angkor Hospital to prepare them for an evening admission. Joseph arranged for our company to return home and he joined the family at the hospital on Wednesday night. After considerable poking prodding and culturing, Rachel, Beth, Emily, and William were all diagnosed with a Type A strain of the flu. The samples were dispatched to Phnom Penh for confirmation of the suspected H1N1 strain. Jeremiah and Joseph were both immediately given a course of Tamiflu. Rachel had developed pneumonia in both lungs by this time and was in for a long recovery period.

Our entire family remained hospitalized for a total of 5 days after which we were remanded to a home quarantine for another 4 days. During this time, we were especially thankful for the kind assistance of the staff at Royal Angkor Hospital, the Doctors of the Cambodia Ministry of Health (in cooperation with the World Health Organization) and the staff at the United States Embassy in Phnom Penh.

We are also ever thankful to each of our friends and loved ones in the USnA who have devoted their time to praying for our health and efforts over here. We are thankful to report that since our recovery almost 9 weeks ago we have been spared any significant or lastng illnesses which has finally opened the door for us to begin actively ministering to others.

In love,

Joseph and Rachel Weyel

About jweyel

Elder Joseph Weyel is a Pastor and Minister of the Gospel. He is originally from San Antonio, Texas, USA where he has lived until May of 2009. Joseph and Rachel were married in 1999 and have been blessed with four children born in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2005 respectively. A second generation home educating family, each of the children is pursuing a customized course of study based upon primary source materials and traditional educational resources. Joseph began serving as pastor of Luling Primitive Baptist Church in January of 2007 during which time the Lord opened the door of ministry to Vietnam, and later to Cambodia. Elder Weyel is has also been employed as a design consultant/project manager, and estimator for CDI Technology Services (a San Antonio based Information Transport Services and Electrical contractor) since 1998. In January 2009, Joseph and Rachel committed to relocate their family to Siem Reap, Cambodia in an effort to assist in the ministry of the Word among the native Khmer Christians and to coordinate the supply of materials and finances for orphanages and humanitarian projects around Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces.
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