3 Weeks Home -- 11/22/15

This is the end of my third week home now, and my eye is gradually getting better every single day. We were able to find the cause of the infection. It is a bacteria called pseudomonas. I was lucky because the medicine that I was given in Costa Rica was already treating for pseudomonas, so from the start the infection was being controlled.

 I am now able to sleep too! Instead of taking eye drops every half an hour around the clock (through the night), I am able to get 9 hours of sleep without any medication.  With the results from the tests confirming pseudomonas though, we hyped up the antibiotic that was most effective to the bacteria and took down the others. So now I am on two eye drops every two hours throughout the day and resting at night.

So basically I am on the right track to recovery and with a little more time and help from medicine, the infection should be eliminated and we can then assess the damage to my cornea. The doctors, because of the infection being right in the center of my eye, cannot see clearly any damage, but hopefully whatever scarring that there is can heal with time and my vision will be restored sufficiently. But we don't have to think about that now!

In other news, if you all were wondering, my Spain trip is still on! My vision in my left eye will still probably be healing when I leave, but  I was told that I should not worry. The doctor that I am seeing told me he'll find an eye doctor near where I will be staying and give him or her a full report of me and my status, just in case of an emergency.

So I'm keeping up with my Spanish doing all I can to make sure I am ready for the next part of my year!

There's for an update, I don't have any new pictures but here is a picture of me washing a bull at an integrated animal farm at EARTH University in Costa Rica! #sorustic

Day 45 - 54: San Jose, CR to Connecticut, USA -- 10/29 to 11/7/15

So this past week has been pretty hectic. I made apple crisp with my host mom, we did projects in Spanish class, and our group had a halloween party at our leader's house. After the many good times with "la familia gap" I unfortunately had to say a quick goodbye. 

Some of you may know, but I had some problems with an eye infection a couple of weeks ago. It was diagnosed as pink eye and I was put on medication which helped heal it fast. However, a couple days after it was healed completely, the infection came back much worse. The pain was unbearable and I could not sleep Halloween night because of the pain. There was a white-green film over my iris which made me look like a zombie or something out of a sci-fi movie. I'll spare you guys any further details as it was pretty disgusting and scary. 

Anyway, I got through the night and the next day, but then had to head to San Jose to get my eye checked out by an eye doctor. I went with one of my leaders Sunday night, and then saw the eye doctor at around 1030 pm. She diagnosed a severely ulcerated cornea and told me I needed to start an aggressive antibiotic treatment immediately in order to control the infection and any damage.  She said I would need to travel back home to the United States as soon as possible for further treatment and to have a corneal specialist take a look. For the antibiotic treatment I had to take eye drops every half an hour (I could not sleep) until I landed in the United States and was seen by a doctor. So, with the help of my parents and International SOS service I was on a 730 am flight out of San Jose and landed in Newark and went to the nearest eye clinic and was seen by a doctor. 

As of right now, I am on the right track for recovery. First we need to identify and then get rid of the infection--what caused the ulcerations--and then we need to assess the damage to my cornea and see what the next step will be. 

So this whole week has comprised of little sleep, a lot of doctors visits, and way too many eye drops. However I am lucky and glad to be in a place where I can access top-notch treatment and high quality medication to allow me to recover fully. 

As for my Rustic Pathways group still in Costa Rica, I miss them a ton and am hoping to see them again soon (maybe in Peru....?). 

On my trip I gained 3 new brothers: Mike, Tom, and Matt. Apart we were just four random guys on a trip in Central America trying to speak Spanish. Together we were a unit of strength, taking on any challenge head first and always working hard during service, class, and adventure activities. We are brothers and will always be. I'm already missing you all and will continue to hit you guys up everyday with updates. 

I also gained 12 new sisters--yes that was right 12 sisters. Ellen, Esther, Erin, Sarah, Julia, Saarah, Annika, Vanessa, Matilde, Lilly, Christine, and Kailey. From all the conversations I've had with each one of these girls, to the laughs shared, the glares I received from making a joke that might have been "over the line," and the connections made, I can't help but smile and laugh when I think about you all. Again we are family and will always be. 

I was also lucky enough to receive 2 awesome/crazy uncles and 1 amazing mom! Louis, Rolo, and Shannon I love you guys so much. Whenever I needed something or just felt like talking about whatever, I could always turn to you guys and expect a genuine response. Louis I love your poetry too and I hope that we can collaborate sometime in the future with my guitar and maybe do some open mic stuff! Rolo-- I am already planning my visit back to Costa Rica to surf with you and of course to mix more cement (the right way :D). Shannon I feel like we are always on the same wavelength. Every time I feel like something is going wrong and I have "genuine fear", and I hear your laugh behind me, I know that everything is going to be okay. Also, be ready to be buffalo-ed. Not now, maybe not later, but it will happen. Anyway you guys were the best leaders ever and really facilitated the creation of a family between everyone. 

So as I go through my recovery, I will try to post a little bit here and there with some reflections about my trip and my gap year so far. Looking at the computer screen is a little straining for my one eye right now, but its bearable! Anyway, thank you for tuning in and following, and I'll post in the next couple of days!