Children recovering from Malaria, maybe?

To my relief, when I come back to the hospital room the next day, Costa and Justina are still alive. Over the next two days. I meet their mothers, their aunts, their siblings. My presence becomes more welcome, their grief and concern less guarded.

When I arrive on the third day, I see a young boy sitting up outside the hospital room. To my delightful surprise, it is Costa! His fever has broken and strength has returned to his body. He still looks ill and can’t smile, but his father is ecstatic. I feel so relieved and so happy for this young boy and his family.Sadly, I walk inside the hospital room and Justina still lies there surrounded by both her parents. Her mother’s distraught face immediately tells me that everything is not well. Justina looks the same as when I met her three days earlier. Malaria had invaded her brain, inducing a coma. She is now out of the coma, but the effects of cerebral malaria are relentless.

I say goodbye to Justina and Costa and their families, wishing them well, trusting they are on the road to recovery.