Starvation

As if walking thousands of miles wouldn’t be hard enough, imagine trying to do it with minimal to no food or water. That is exactly what Benson, Alepho, and Benjamin had to do during their years traveling across Africa during the war just two decades ago. These boys were still so young I cannot imagine how they survived. In their memoir, They Poured Fire on us From the Sky, they describe instances of starvation. While the boys were moving between Juol, Yirol, Natinga, Palataka, and many other places, they had to survive with almost no water or food. It is not surprise that many boys developed serious side effects to starvation.

According to the article The Side Effects of Starvation by Julie Boehlke on www.livestrong.com, weight loss, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, muscle atrophy, and hypotension are several major side effects. Weight loss and dehydration are two of the most obvious ones in They Poured Fire on us From the Sky. Although not explicitly described, electrolyte imbalance and hypotension are two other side effects portrayed in the book. Low blood sugar levels and low blood pressure characterize these side effects that ultimately lead to the death of many boys and young men during their treks through Africa. Muscle atrophy is another side effect that led to many deaths. Intense weakness and paralysis cause muscles to not function properly. This is seen in the story when boys lay down underneath trees for shade and are never able to get back up, leading to their death.

It’s impossible to understand how Benson, Alepho, and Benjamin survived. They each experienced starvation but were fortunate enough to survive, unlike many of their friends and family.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/35040-side-effects-starvation/