Church member dies from malaria after trip to Ghana

The Huntsville (Ala.) Times reports today on the death of Peggy Good, a schoolteacher who made regular mission trips to Ghana.
She was a member of The Light, a Church of Christ in Huntsville. (I haven’t been able to find a church website for more information.) A memorial service is scheduled Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. at Monrovia Church of Christ in Madison, Ala.
She made regular trips to Eugemot Orphanage in Hohoe, a town in eastern Ghana near the Togo border. I regret that I am not familiar with this work. The Times reports:

A large chunk of that joy came from Good’s work in Africa, said her friend, Janet Yeager, who accompanied Good on her first trip to Ghana in 2005. Both are members of The Light, a Church of Christ congregation that supports the Eugemot Orphanage there.
“That was such a turning point in her life,” Yeager said. “She’d become discouraged with teaching. She was doubting herself, doubting her effectiveness. It was a very difficult time for her. She really didn’t know what her purpose would be.”
The children crowded around the tall, blonde American, magnetized by the love she radiated. Yeager watched her friend, encircled by the adoring children, remember her own.gif?Action=thumbnail&Width=460&algorithm=proportionalts.
“She just blossomed,” Yeager said. “It was like she was being re-born into teaching. What they gave to her, they’ll just never know.”

Good contracted a dangerous form of malaria in Africa about five years ago. The illness resurfaced recently and resulted in organ failure.
One lesson from this tragedy for all of us who make trips to Africa is to not ignore symptoms — even after we’ve returned home. The Times reports:

Part of the maliciousness of malaria, particularly of plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal form that Good had, is that those with it often don’t feel so bad at first, said Dr. Mohamad Abbas, the local infectious disease specialist who treated Good.
“If there is a lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it is that malaria can be a fatal disease,” Abbas said. “After traveling back home, if people feel ill, they should not delay seeking medical treatment. Most tropical diseases present (begin) with very non-specific symptoms – like just feeling tired, running a low fever.”

• Feedback
  I am shocked at Ms. Good’s death and mindful of the warning.
  Bruce and I leave for Zambia August 13 to be with Brian and Sondra Davis and to teach for two weeks. We will be taking anti-malarial drugs. I am asking for prayers for the work there and for our health and safety.

  Becky Wooley

  July, 27 2010

  Helllo,
  We offer our condolences. Ghanaian Local Congregations were very sorry to hear this sudden death of Ms.Peggy Good me too I’m sorry for this sad news. All things being equal let’s thank God that she died in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We hope to meet her soul in the near future in PARADISE.
  May His Grace be with the entire family in the Church.
  Maxwell K.W. Agyarko
  (Cumpus Ministry Evangelist)
  Church of Christ-Oforikrom
  Ghana

  Maxwell K.W. Agyarko

  July, 28 2010

  We offer our condolences. We pray that the Lord will bless her spirit,and sorry to his family and all that Love him. We shall meet her again in the Lord.

  Ms. Peggy Good, the good work will keep her in the Lord. With best respect we end that our hope is the Lord. Thanks for the mission.
  fellow worker in the Gospel.
  brother eric asante obeng

  eri asante obeng

  July, 28 2010

  please am the lady who sculptered peggy at hohoi in ghana infront of the ophanage school.hope u all fine we still praying that God keeps Peggy till we mmet again.We love you Peggy

  margaret

  July, 24 2012