Alongside Hope diocesan rep hospitalized in Kenya

When Debbie Edwards, diocesan representative for Alongside Hope (formerly PWRDF) left Canada Feb. 6 for Kenya, she eagerly anticipated what lay ahead: a great delegation of Alongside Hope staff, getting to know fellow diocesan reps, meeting truly dedicated people working to lift up others, and wonderful visits to Alongside Hope projects. 

But she did not anticipate illness, hospitalization, a diagnosis of E. coli, and the news of her father’s death. It was quite a trip, but one Debbie nevertheless described as “fabulous” overall.

“I had an amazing time and nothing has taken away from that,” she said, at home in Fredericton. 

Alongside Hope gathers a delegation every few years to visit various parts of the world where they have both projects and partners. The pandemic had put a stop to these visits and it’s been at least six years since the last one.

“The reason they do that is so we are able to speak and write first-hand about our experiences,” she said.
In the coming months, you can read about Debbie’s trip through her column in the NB Anglican.

FALLING ILL
In hindsight, Debbie realized she was getting sick long before the illness brought her to a standstill. Every night when she talked to her husband, Archbishop David Edwards, she complained of being tired. Mind you, they had long, full days of travel, so she didn’t think too much of it.

Then by Sunday evening, Feb. 16 she began to feel ill. The next morning, the day before the delegation was to fly home, she visited a clinic.

“They thought I’d picked up a waterborne illness and gave me medication,” she said, adding they didn’t test for E. coli.

She missed all the activities of the day, opting instead to sleep. When she called David that evening, he had to break the news of her father’s passing in New Brunswick. 

“I went to bed so sick,” she said. “It was horrible.”

Someone in the delegation messaged her the next morning, expecting to hear she had improved, but she was much worse. Fellow delegates summoned Bishop Helen Kennedy, part of the delegation, to her room for prayer.

“They told me, ‘Debbie, you were so white, so grey. We were afraid,’” she said. “I started to cry. I said I don’t know how I can get on an airplane.

“They told me they were calling an ambulance. I never went back to my room.”

HOSPITALIZATION
Debbie was in terrible pain from the spasms in her intestines. She was taken to the ER.

“They said I was to be admitted,” she said. “I just wanted to curl in a ball. I was too sick to protest.”

While the delegation prepared to leave for the airport, Alongside Hope staff member Jackie Koster stayed behind with Debbie.

“Part of planning the delegation meant developing contingency plans,” said Jackie. “We had agreed ahead of time who would remain back from the group, if needed.  It was simply the plan for me to stay behind as I had lived in Nairobi for a few years so I know the city quite well, including the health care facilities.”

Changes were made to their airline tickets. Debbie learned Alongside Hope always buys flexible tickets for just such eventualities. Someone cleaned out her hotel room. And for the next 24 hours, Debbie continued to be violently ill while tests were conducted and the culprit was isolated.

By Wednesday, the diagnosis was made and Debbie was taking the appropriate medication. She was even beginning to feel better. And while Jackie was busy contacting Debbie’s travel insurance company and organizing their return, Mary, an employee of Church World Services-Kenya, a partner of Alongside Hope, kept Debbie company. 

Debbie’s doctor told her that as long as she continued to improve, she could be discharged on Thursday. John, another CWS-Kenya staffer, oversaw the complicated and time-consuming discharge process so that nothing was missed. 

Debbie had been impressed with the staff of CWS-Kenya throughout the visit, but they proved their worth many times over in caring for her in her illness, she said. 

“They went above and beyond to make sure we were both well taken care of for those unexpected extra days,” said Jackie.

Jackie knows first-hand all that Debbie went through.

“I have had the extraordinary privilege of working internationally for almost 20 years” she said.  “Along the way I have had my share of bugs as well. It can happen to anyone, and I am always thankful when there is a quick and good resolution. Though this was my first ambulance ride!”

The ambulance ride, tests and 48-hour hospital stay cost 260,000 Kenyan shillings, equal to $2,600 Canadian. Alongside Hope paid the bill and will be reimbursed when Debbie’s claim is processed. It was a bargain, said Debbie. 

“The staff were so kind and caring and I was treated so well,” she said, adding her doctor left her with his personal phone number and an offer to call him should she have any questions about her illness after she got home. 

She and Jackie left for the airport late Thursday and caught an overnight flight to Frankfurt, then another to Montreal.

“Jackie never left my side,” said Debbie. “She travelled home with me to Montreal.”

Jackie described the flights as, “Entirely uneventful - the best kind!”

By Friday evening, both were back home — Jackie to Toronto, Debbie to Fredericton. Then Debbie had one day to prepare for the visitation and funeral of her father. 

PRAYERS FOR DEBBIE
By Wednesday, as Debbie began to feel better, she was able to see the Facebook posts asking for prayer, and the hundreds of responses.

“They meant the world to me,” she said. “I had a bit of a revelation. I was never afraid, never anxious. I knew I was being prayed for by hundreds of people.

“I felt I was enveloped in love and care. Because of that, I never had a moment of doubt.”

Still, she realizes it could have turned out much differently.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place where I couldn’t look after myself. I was totally, 100 per cent dependent on others, like a baby. Anything could have happened to me. I was so sick.

“I had no choice, but I had no fear. I’m very grateful to everyone.”

Photo caption:
The Alongside Hope delegation at the National Museum in Kenya. Debbie Edwards is at the extreme right, with Jackie Koster next to her.  Photo courtesy of Jackie Koster.