An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

I don't even know how to explain what happened today. It was way overwhelming and crazy. God has definitely been working in me big time. He is using me like never before. I don't even know.

Today, I went to the hospital in Kitale. As I walked down to catch a boda with Daniel, I was thinking of what to expect when I get there. I had no idea what to expect. For once, my girl mind had no expectations except for what the front of the place looked like because I've seen it from afar. We walked in waiting for Anne to show up so we could see the first of 2 sisters that came in the night before. She was in the woman's ward so we walked to the back of the hospital and try to get into the ward. After about 8 minutes standing there while Ann talked and with a security man shooing all the Kenyans away and leaving Daniel, Ann, and I alone, we finally got in. When we walked in, I saw that, to my amazement, there were 3-4 people to every bed, and more women waiting to jump on in with the other women.

Ann went to a younger girl and her mother on one of the full beds. She was laying there without much movement. Ann chatted with her and the mother as Daniel and I stood back. I just took everything in. I looked at the price chart that was painted on the wall. Used bed sheet were free. Patient discharge is too, or so it says. Ann and the doctor walked away for a second and Daniel had a phone call, so I introduced myself to the 14 year old girl. Her mom translated. Her name is also Ann. She is beautiful. As Ann and the doctor came back, I stepped back and watched. Appearently she was showing signs of paralisis. They started treating her for malaria. As we walked away, I waved and she raised her eyebrows, sort of saying bye.

We started walking through the grass, up a slight hill, over a water ditch, and up toward the other wards. We walked up to the children's ward with the mother to see her other daughter, but I had no idea what was going on. Neither did Daniel, so he couldn't warn me. As we walked into "Ward X", Daniel whispered "This is the children's ward." I've never been here before, so he explained what was going on. We walked to the last little cubby room on the left and, as I turned in to follow Ann and Daniel, I noticed that there was a person covered with 2 small blankets to the left of me, when everyone was standing. I hestitate for a split second and just continue walking in. Daniel turns to me and asks "Are you ok?" I think I said "Yeah" or I just nodded. I'm not so sure. I, then, stood there, watching as the mother uncovered the head and started rubbing the eyes and mouth. She reminded me of my own mother if the same thing were to happen, trying to keep busy so she wouldn't have to stop and think about things.

We, then, stepped outside of the cubby hole and Ann and Daniel chatted and I stood there and half listened, but the mother was standing off to the side, emotionless. I asked, just to make sure, if the woman was, indeed the mother. Ann said yes, so I thought about what to do. In Kenya, physical touch isn't a common thing, so I was debating whether I shold go over and do what I was thinking about doing, which was hugging her. Then, I realized that, just because this is Kenya, doesn't mean she doesn't need the comfort. So I then continued to walk toward her and then, just put my arm around her. She started to tear up. She wiped her eyes. I told her it is ok to cry as I rubbed her back and she cried some more. For more on what Daniel saw check out this blog.

Then we walked out and Daniel, Ann and I stood there for a second and then Ann started taking care of MORE people. Daniel followed up with me and warned me that I will probably see the body again, but with more confusion and mourning. I said something back, but I don't remember anymore.

So for a couple hours, I helped Ann take care of some people with their medicine and whatnot. They were easy and fun. After everyone was taken care of, Ann called a pick-up truck so they could take the body to her home. Yes, a pick-up truck. We went back to the children's ward and stood around for a while just looking at the girl. Then there was tons of confusion about why they couldn't take the girl to her home. So, when I left, they weren't allowed to take the girl home yet, and it was 12:30 in the afternoon. She had been dead for almost 12 hours already, and she was just lying there in the bed.

Craziness.
Great experience.
I love Kenya.

Jenn