Hot!

The last few weeks have been very hot, as you know, all over the nation.  But it has been hard to do the work here in Garden City, Kansas.  It is necessary for Sister Howlett to wear a “Cooling Vest” in this weather so she doesn’t get too hot.  She has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and getting too hot can cause a flare up of the MS disease.  Last year here in Garden City she didn’t have one of those vests and in September, after the heat of the summer was cooling down, she began to have a flare up of dizzy spells.  She finally got it under control by using some steroid medication.  But, she doesn’t want to have to take those heavy dose medicines if she doesn’t have to, so she is trying to prevent it this summer. 

Here is Sister Howlett wearing her cooling vest while holding the new baby girl of Dinora and Roberto Becerril.  They are active members here in the Garden City ward.  Dinora used to attend the English Class.

Dr. Aparna Komatenini, her neurologist in Colorado Springs, suggested she get one of these cooling vests.  So, Elder Howlett went surfing on the internet and found the right thing.  A “phase change” chemical solution in four pocket packs to put in the vest.  These only have to be put in the refrigerator to make them solidify.  Having bought two sets has made it possible to get through a whole day of work out in the heat by coming home mid-day to change packs.  However, we try to get into air-conditioned buildings, homes, stores and our car as often as we can.  Three weeks ago it got up to 112 degrees Fahrenheit with a hot wind blowing.  We could feel ourselves wilting in just a few minutes out in that heat.  Needless to say, we stayed home as much as we could that day.  Thankfully it has not been very high in humidity, so it is bearable, and we’ve had a cooling trend lately.  It’s down to 99 degrees F today - quite cool - and was only 103 degrees for five days during the past week !