My Ear

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me. Since we get lots of e-mails asking how I am, I thought I'd take some time to write a post for you. Here's the story:
Last June I got an ear infection after swimming in a not-too-clean pool. I went to the doctor and got antibiotics and I thought I was all better. However, from that time til now, my ear didn't feel quite right. It sounded like something was dripping inside my ear. Anyway, 7 weeks ago, my ear became pretty painful. I went to the doctor and they said there was nothing wrong with it. I'll spare you the details, but I went to three different doctors at the same practice for a couple of weeks and they thought it was an abscess. They prescribed antibiotics and eventually said I was better, but I still couldn't hear very well. I knew it wasn't better, but wasn't sure what to do as doctors here tend to dislike following up vague symptoms aggressively. Anyway, I continued to take antibiotics and that seemed to help, especially when my family was here in Thailand, for which I'm very thankful. The day after they left, I was having problems again with lots of pain. This went on until last week it was unbearable and I asked for help from the only American doctor I know who is legally able to practice in Thailand. Eric had taught his son in a previous year. He referred me to a friend of his and after two days of futile treatment they put me in the hospital. They still thought it was an abscess, but after a CT-scan they found that it was just a very bad infection that was in the skin, the soft tissue, the cartilage and in the mastoid bone around the ear. Apparently, such an involved infection is quite rare. Apparently, it will take some time to get rid of the infection, so even though I was released on Saturday I have slept most of that time til now. I'm still pretty weak, but I feel much better and the pain is gone. Please pray that the infection will clear up entirely as they would have to surgically remove any cartilage or bone that does not heal.

I just want to say thanks again for your prayers for me and the encouraging e-mails. I'm sorry that I haven't been great with e-mails in the past little while. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all soon.