Nuku Hiva 5-20-2017--David in hospital

Life has gotten complicated.  What follows is a brief explanation of what has happened since we sailed to Nuku Hiva on May 3.

The day after we arrived David felt lethargic and then developed headache, a fever of over 103F and pain and tenderness in his right knee and right bicep.  The next day he was feeling worse and by Saturday we got him to the hospital, which was only a couple blocks from the bay.

He spent the next week there as the wonderful staff worked hard to find the cause of his illness.  It was finally narrowed down to a blood infection, but mysterious in showing atypical symptoms and no apparent source of infection.

His right knee, right arm from shoulder to mid-forearm and left shin were swollen to about twice their normal size and were red, hot and painful.  The fever kept coming and going.  He developed an almost unstoppable bout of hiccups, day and night.

The doctors at Nuku Hiva, in consultation with a specialist in Tahiti, realized it could be life-threatening and that he needed to fly to Tahiti for more advanced testing.  We left Minimus behind and arrived here in Tahiti on May 14.

Testing began the following day.  One concern was that the infection may have gone to his heart, but fortunately tests revealed that the heart wasn't involved.  Then a CT scan showed that neither his chest nor abdomen appeared to be involved.

It's now May 20 and we're still in Tahiti, staying at a pension.  He has been on intravenous antibiotics since May 5.  The swelling has reduced in his arm and shin considerably, though the knee continues to be swollen and painful.    

Given the situation, which is far too complex to go into here, but involves his insurance, medical concerns, the cost of medical care in Tahiti, the status of the boat in the eyes of the French immigration service and many other variables, we have decided it's best for him to return to Arizona for more testing.

He leaves tonight.  I will remain here in Tahiti, trying  on Monday to resolve the situation with the boat and French immigration.  I hope to fly back to Nuku Hiva on Tuesday and await David's return.

Part of the complexity of the situation is how and why the blood infection occurred.  So far it has all the doctors stumped.  This is worrying, especially given the next leg of our voyage.

Assuming David recovers soon and joins me again on Minimus, the next leg of our voyage is sailing almost 1000 miles from Nuku Hiva to Tahiti.  This involves sailing through the Tuamotu Archipelago, a low-lying group of coral atolls covering an area nearly the size of western Europe.

Historically, the Tuamotus were known as the "Dangerous Archipelago".  Many vessels have been lost there due to currents, reefs and sometimes unpredictable weather.  We absolutely need to be on our A-game during that transit.

A major concern is that because the source of David's illness remains a mystery, it's hard to predict if it will return.  If it did in the Tuamotus... well, we're trying not to think about that.  Insstead, we'd like to get to the bottom of this.  Hence, his return to Arizona for more testing.  Hopefully he will join me  back on Minimus soon.

Since this saga began, the stories of generosity, kindness and support we've received are overwhelming.  The love we've felt has had both of us in tears too many times to tell.

Tiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva

David, not in the best of times

David's precious sleeping bag.  His only protection from shivering while running a fever in the cold air-conditioned hospital room. It was soon discovered and taken away to bring his fever down. 

Swollen right knee

62 going on 92?

(L-R) My wonderful French doctors.Marie and Anais in Nuku Hiva

David propped up on antibiotics, painkillers and anti-psychotic medication (to prevent uncontrollable hiccups) joking with Marquesan nurses.

Pearl communicating with staff member Tiare using google translate app.  Even before we arrived in Polynesia, I (Pearl) had wanted a pearl.  Tiarae just gave me hers.  It's the first piece of jewelry I've ever had.  I'll never let go of it.

As David says, he now has two pearls

Aline, a French speaking American boat friend who just happened to come to the  hospital as we were trying to make countless arrangements with the nurses prior to flying to Tahiti.  We were in critical need of a translator and suddenly there you were.  Everyone felt the tension just drain out of the room.  Aline, you saved our day!

I need to walk back my earlier critique of French coffee. A hearty quantity served in a bowl is more the norm. Yeah! 

An atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago from the plane to Tahiti.

After 3-1/2 hours, Tahiti comes into view.