Peace Corps is said to be the toughest job you’ll ever love. We do love the job, but this past week has been rough.

Last Saturday, a Peace Corps land cruiser brought us from Kita to Bamako. The night prior, Ashley had started running a high temperature and was experiencing pain in her lower back. The symptoms worsened over the night.

When we arrived at the medical office in Bamako, the doctors determined that Ashley had a bacterial infection in both her kidneys. For most of the week, the antibiotic regime seemed to have little affect. The bacteria was refusing to die, and she was having a tough time keeping the pain medications down. Then on the fifth day they brought her to the hospital and put her on an iv to deliver both pain meds and antibiotics.

I’m happy to say she is feeling a lot better. She is still running a slight fever, and has mild soreness, but nothing compared to the pain she was in. Next week they are bringing her back in for followup exams and to have a closer look at some anomalies that came up during a few of her tests. But as of this moment, she is walking around, smiling, laughing, and eating solid foods again. Not 100%, but close.

I’ve always been told that I am not invincible, but one never ‘truly’ thinks that they will be harmed–and that applies to their loved ones too. This week was rough both for Ashley, physically, and me emotionally. The Peace Corps doctors are great, checking in every few hours to make sure we were doing alright–and even driving back to the office in the middle of the night when we needed them.

I would hate to think what the monetary cost of this week would have been for us if we were in America, instead of with the Peace Corps in a developing country. Not to mention the level of service we received. The cause of Ashley’s infection is not Mali specific, one can easily contract the same bacteria in Kansas–or any other place.

It was a tough week, an emotional week, but a week of spiritual and personal growth.

For those wondering, the facility we’re staying in has electricity, A/C, orthopedic beds, bath tub with hot water, and pizza delivery. Now that Ashley is feeling better and able to eat solid foods again, we made sure to make use of the delivery service–we had olive mushroom pizza last night!