Another Week Flying On By

So after typing for a while...I realize that I have an awful lot to say in this posting! So I am going to post a couple to break it up a little bit. This lengthy one, one with pictures, and some extra stories and happenings I want to tell you guys about! Here we go!

The sun was high in the sky today in Kampala! Which I guess is a blessing since it rained most of the day yesterday. It seems to be either blazing hot or raining and I can't decide which I like better...when it rains, all of Kampala turns to mud; muddy streets, muddy sidewalks. When it's sunny, I am pretty sure I start melting. Plus I think the locals get a kick out of the fact the skin of a mzungu starts turning a lovely shade of pink to red. They are always asking me, "How are you enjoying the sun today, madam?"

I can't believe it was last Saturday that I last made a post. As I settle into my routine, I find that the time is flying by faster. And yet, at the same time its not haha...I know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am having a hard time keeping track of the days because a day feels like a hundred days here. But at the same time I know that I will be home sooner than I know it!


Things are going really well right now! I think I have finally gotten through some homesickness I was feeling last week. I also, thanks to the help of my dear friend Cipro, got through some lovely traveler's sickness as well :-) God bless a change in food and water. Let's just say wandering and a lack of public toilets just do not go well hand in hand with digestive issues! I just pray I stay healthy once the Cipro leaves my system.


Baby Watoto took me on as a volunteer and I am working there every Monday and Wednesday from 8am-5pm. I absolutely LOVE that place...it truly is an amazing organization! I don't remember how much I have told you guys about it so I shall just give it to you all right here. It is a Christian international organization that takes in orphaned infants and toddlers. They have locations all over the world and the one I am at is currently housing more than 90 orphaned babies. Most of the children get dropped off by the police after being found or are picked up from the hospital. After the children reach a certain age, usually 2 years of age, they are sent to live in "the village." I am not sure where the village is exactly, but once they get there, they are set for life! They attend school there, are fed there, and get to experience life the way it should be!


This past week I have been working in the office taking care of three premies: Esther, Chris, and Joe and I really have fallen in love them each and every single one of them. I have to say I was a bit nervous at first to work with them at first because they are only 1.88, 1.77, and 1.12 kg each and I just have never worked with babies that small before! I help feed them every two hours, give baths, take vital signs, and change diapers. I even got to place two NG tubes last week. It is really exciting because Esther is no longer on her NG tube and is feeding by mouth and Chris was removed from CPAP and has amazing oxidation while only on a nasal cannula!


For the last hour or so of my time there each day, I have been able to go outside and play with the toddlers. They are CRAZY! You sit on the ground, and suddenly you have 5 and 6 children trying to use you as a climbing post. Or you take your eyes off of one for two seconds and one has either climbed up onto something you thought for sure could never be done, or he or she has gotten stuck somewhere and is in need of help. There are usually about 50 toddlers running around at once. I have to admit that I wish I could bring one home with me. What would you guys do if I got off the plane in August with a toddler? haha.


There is this one particular toddler, David, who I really have fallen in love with. He was found on, are you ready for this, on top of a trash heap, extremely burnt! But he is a fighter and refused to die! And now he is a healthy, running around like crazy, adventurous toddler at Watoto.


This place really is a light in Kampala. All of the children are loved with Christ's love. They are held, played with, cared for, and shown a life that a child should have. If any of you ever has the opportunity to travel to Kampala, you have to stop by this organization! On a side note, I have to say this is the first time in my life I have been thrown up on, peed on, and given a wet willy all in the span of a couple of hours and been extremely ok with it haha..in fact really amused by it!


On Tuesdays and Thursdays I continue to work at Mulago Hospital. It is almost like Monday's and Wednesdays are my pick me up days after my Tuesdays and Thursdays. I began on 4A, the infectious disease unit this week after finishing up last week on the Special Care Unit. 4A...where to begin? Most of the patients have HIV or malaria, but there are plenty of cases of meningitis and sepsis. The unit is divided into three huge rooms, each holding about 20 patients. I have to admit that I have been a little bit afraid while on that unit. I never really know what each patient has and therefore how contagious it is because all of the patients are just mixed together. So it would seem that if you came in with HIV, you might contract everything that your neighbor has as well. On top of that, patients usually have to provide their own gloves to the doctor for their daily assessment, and honestly, I often question where those gloves came from and how new they actually are. I was reading that in order to prevent infection, you should isolate patients and keep things as sanitary as possible...neither of which exist on this unit.

For the first hour or so, I followed a doctor around as we went from patient to patient. It broke my heart because some of the patients just looked as if they were so miserable and in so much pain. One guy was shaking, definitely not in his senses, and maybe even convulsing a bit. The doctor still wouldn't prescribe him a stronger antibiotic!


I get so frustrated when I am at Mulago because I just want to be able to run from patient to patient and give them the magical healing touch. But end up feeling so hopeless because there just isn't medical supplies or medications to help these patients and I also am realizing just how much knowledge in the medical field I lack. I feel so motivated to learn as much as possible and to absorb as much as possible once I get back to school so that I can start making a difference. For now, I am just trying to do the best I can to love these patients, to give them the compassion and empathy they deserve; to show them I am there to serve them and that they deserve to be cared for. It definitely is a lot easier to say than to do; each day is a battle to wake up and motivate myself to walk to the hospital and do just that.


A part of the problem rests in a language barrier. I have found that English really is a language of the upper class here in Uganda. The doctors may know English and some of the head nurses, but the patients often do not know English at all. That gets frustrating in its own when not only do I feel like I can't help the patient medically, but I can't even sit down and hold a conversation with them - to acknowledge the patient and let them know I am there.


I spoke with this one man for a little bit today. He called me over because he was having difficulty getting the doctors attention. His feet were swollen to about 5 times their normal size, and I am afraid that ultimately they will just cut both of his feet off. He also hadn't eaten in 3 days because he lacked an appetite due to pain he was having in his throat and chest. I tried to get him a cup of water only to find that the hospital doesn't have cups or water (the patients are supposed to provide their own if they want some...). I promised him that I would bring him food on Tuesday if he is still there. I might try and at least stop by tomorrow or Monday to say hello to him. My heart just cries out for patients like that...I just wish they could come to America with me and be seen by a good, knowledgeable physician! I just can't imagine what life is going to be like for that man if he doesn't have either of his feet.

As a random thought on the moment, every time I get worried or anxious about going, or when I can't motivate myself to go, I keep on picturing in my mind Jesus charging in to the place, pulling all of the beds together, and laying right down next to someone without a care of what he is infected with or why he is there. (Now given, I won't take it to that extent because I know I am not invincible...so don't start getting worried on me mom :-) ).

Yesterday, after I left Mulago, I walked over to one of the craft villages in Kampala off of Buganda Rd. I had a lot of fun walking from shop to shop, meeting the different owners. (Plus, I think I am finally starting to get a hang of this bargaining for prices.) Traveling around the craft village is the moments that have me liking Uganda - everyone is so welcoming and friendly (given it could be because I have money and they want me to buy something, but I like to think otherwise.) I love connecting with people, meeting people.

I think the thing with money here is that it is kind of like a disease. It is what people have known from childhood; that money makes the world go 'round, and that you must fight to survive. It's an instinct to move towards money, but if you can move past that and learn not to hold it against someone, then people really are amazing, humble, and caring individuals here. (Minus those boda boda and taxi drivers..they just scare me. Plus, I think we can all admit that outside of Africa money seems to be a big driving force.)

On Tuesday I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Mbale with Emily and her uncle. What a beautiful place and a much needed break from the city! Mbale is about 3 hours away from Kampala; given we were probably driving an average of 115mph (yes, I pretty much kissed the ground once we got there.)

Mbale is a good size - a very mini Kampala with its own traffic, own hustle of people, shops, and restaurants. Aw, but when you move away from the city portion, towards the village, it becomes the picture perfect Africa that I have always imagined. Mountains in the background, winding dirt roads surrounded by vegetation and crops, scattered huts.

I walked next door to meet a family after we parked because I wanted to see where this family lived, talk to them, get to know them. It was a compound of about four huts - there were four women doing chores and cooking, and many, many children. I took tons of pictures - the children never grow tried of it and I could take pictures of their beautiful, smiling faces all day long. Their homes were so scarce with no electricity or running water. Mostly one room homes with minimal furniture. It was difficult to ask questions because no one really spoke English - even more motivation to learn Swahili wen I get home. I just kind of slowly wandered around hoping that no one would mind my curiosity.

Going to that village really did make my week and I am so glad I made the journey. As we were driving back, it was amazing just taking in the view, trying to absorb it all. Uganda really is a beautiful place!

Alright I think it is time for me to wrap this one up! As always, I hope all is well with everyone! Much love!