Day 26 visiting the hospital

Day 26--Siku Ishirini na sita

We took 5 kids for a hospital visit today. Christian and Sarah got a taxi to pick up Janette, a paralyzed girl living one dalla dalla stop away from the orphanage. We then took her, Samson, Witness, Deborah, and Baracka to the Arusha hospital (the most legit one around, but you pay a higher price).

In the hospital waiting room the kids played with markers and cards. Janette seemed afraid and had a look of concern on her face the whole time. She barely ever said a word in English or Swahili; just nodded or gave a look of alarm for "no" or "I don't know."

My heart goes out to her. She doesn't know how old she is. We guessed about 12 but we could be way off. The doctor originally thougth when she came in that she had cerebral palsy, but after a few minutes admitted that he was wrong. She is not paralyzed and only has a deformation in her foot. This is curable. The surgeon is not in today so we will take Janette back next saturday for x-rays and a consultation.

She is also very, very weak. Apparently she only drinks one cup of tea a day. That's it. We can't even imagine that.

I sat with my arm around her shoulders and tried to make her feel comfortable. Her sleeves around her wrists were SO dirty, even by African standards. I can't stop thinking about her now.

Next Christian said we needed to switch jobs--they need a urine sample from Witness. Oh dear. That was interesting trying to help her--especially with the language barrier. I wished her mother could have been there instead, she looked so confused! But eventually she did it. Nzuri sana Witness! Good job!

We watched them dress Samson's wound again. It's awful and infected. The doctor thinks we should test him for HIV.

These kids were such champs. We bought them chips (fries) in the hospital kitchen afterward. Christian carried Janette back to the taxi. When we finally drove up to her house she let out an audible and adorable sigh of relief accompanied by the first legitimate smile I'd seen on her face. I'm sure I'd feel the same way if I'd almost never left my home and had been taken to a hospital by four near strangers.

While Christian carried her inside, Witness started playing with the side view mirror... smiling at herself and watching her finger move in the reflection.

I love these kids. It's goign to be so hard to leave next week.