“Five kinds of people end up in a place like this, the saying goes. The five M’s: Medics, Missionaries, Mercenaries, Misfits, and Madmen- sometimes even a few categories in the same person. Me? I’ll take medic, if only by exclusion. As for mad, not yet, but we’ll see.” - Damien Brown.
Holy cow! I can’t believe I have been living in Kenya for eight months!!! Part of me wants to know where the time has gone, but, I know exactly where it went! It’s been eight months dedicated to serving the sick alongside the Camillan brothers and sisters of Kenya. In no way can I say this experience has been easy, for it has been filled with defeat, triumph, tears and joy. I like to describe my life in Kenya as beautiful chaos… because that is exactly what it is.
A few of the Camillan brothers.
Always joking around in front of a camera.
There we go, finally got a good picture!
When I first came to Tabaka, I thought I had lost my mind! My mission seemed like an impossible task almost comparable to emptying an ocean with an eye dropper. How would I work in an environment that is so physically and emotionally demanding? Not to mention the extreme isolation! It took me a very long time to become content with this slow and simple life style, but within the last three months something has changed. Or maybe it is me who has changed? Somehow I have managed to adapt and even embrace a life so different than my own. With this new found perspective I feel like work and life are becoming less of a challenge.
Cows blocking the "road".
Hauling water and laundry from Lake Victoria.
The brothers and I at Lake Victoria.
A day out with some of the nursing students.
I am still working on Tabaka’s pediatric ward. Although this is the most emotionally demanding ward I have worked on, I love it. I am hoping to spend the remainder of the year on this ward. In addition to hospital life, I have had the opportunity to work at Maisha’s health camp in Kisumu. I have undertaken a project which includes providing physicals, deworming and testing of each child for malaria and typhoid. This project is now complete! However, it was no simple task to get 600 plus children to cooperate with my personal health agenda.
Attending to a patient at Maishas health camp.
Patient at Tabaka.
Not quite sure why he has a plastic bag on his head.
However, he seems happy with a big thumbs up.
Click on the link above. This is Risper. She has been a discharge in since February. We are practicing counting. Turn up the volume to hear her.
I have also been a guest speaker on several occasions to numerous HIV and Sickle Cell support groups. You might ask what the heck do I know about HIV or Sickle Cell? In fact, I thought the same thing! However, from these talks I am realizing that patients are almost always lacking a basic understanding of the disease. Usually we discuss the very very basics!!!! Most talks center on the pathophysiology of the disease. In true African fashion I am usually given about five minutes’ notice before I speak. Although I always wish I had more time to prepare, I am ok with the short notice; it keeps me on my toes.
One of the support groups.
Recently I have had some time to squeeze in a little fun! I ran in the first annual Run For Life Race in Kisumu. Professional runners from Kenya even showed up to attend the event. I can officially say I have ran with Kenyans. However, not for long! I was crossing the start line when they were making the first turn of the trail. This was definitely a blow to my athletic ego.
Run For Life
Stretching, mostly goofing off with some of the runners.
Moment of truth, running with Kenyans.
Met a missionary from the States. My new friend named Lauren.
The start and finish line.
Post race love!
Male and female winners.
I may not be Bolt, but, I can still do his pose.
Amidst ward work, health camps, and making a fool out of myself in competitive races, there is the never ending battle of my language skills. Like I predicted my Kiswahili lessons were short lived. However, my Kiswahili continues to improve. But, I still struggle! Even when I think I understand I continuously prove my ignorance time and time again. For example, for the past several months I have been saying “nimelewa” thinking it meant I understand. I have recently come to learn that I understand is actually “nimeelewa”. Please note the only difference is one e and when pronounced it sounds almost identical. It took several months, lots of giggles, and a smartass nursing student to finally point out “nimelewa” actually means “I’m drunk”. I’m sure you can imagine the confused and then humiliated look on my face when a nursing student replied “how many bottles did you take?” Fortunately I am a good sport and it is now one of my favorite stories from living in Kenya.
One of my beautiful nursing students.
Also unofficial language teacher.
As the time gets closer to my eventual departure I have been changing my focus here. I am currently in a legal battle with what would be considered Child Protective Services over Tyson (the young boy who has been abandoned in my ward since January). Because he has been abandoned I am trying to have his guardianship transferred to a school and orphanage I work very closely with. In addition, I am starting a new project concerning pediatric cardiac conditions. My hope is to create a curriculum for our Maternal Child Health department focusing on preventive care. Once the project is in full swing I will fill all my readers in.
Once again, I would like to thank all my readers, family and friends for all their love and support. You continuously encourage me and keep me sane. Like I have said I never thought I would make it eight months in a world so different than my own. Because of you, all this is possible!
My sponsor family from Kisumu. We went out for Milkshakes.
I think I enjoyed it more than them. They kept telling me "this is not milk."
