I've already been on the front page once, but the paparazzi just can't get enough. Here is another picture and article about yours truly! My friend from Vermont, Tricia Dalglish, is also featured!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Famous Again!
I've already been on the front page once, but the paparazzi just can't get enough. Here is another picture and article about yours truly! My friend from Vermont, Tricia Dalglish, is also featured!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Teddy Bears!
This past week we had a blast delivering the food to the families in the valley. We were given a huge bag of "Teddy Bears for Africa" to distribute to the children on the food parcel route. Here are some of the happy faces...
"Jenny, this is your friend Mpumelelo..."
During one of my first weeks working at the Respite Unit, I walked in and saw a large crib set up. I was worried to look inside. The first few weeks working at the Respite were very challenging and I wasn't sure I was up for yet another SHOCK. I was called over and found a very sick, severely wasted (thin) young little boy. I was absolutely floored when I found out that he was 14 years old. He looked about 7 or 8.
I found out that his name was Mpumelelo and that he had virtually no family taking care of him. He was in such bad shape and was in extreme pain. I spent the next days with him and I think I actually wrote about him in an earlier (much earlier) blog. In any case, I have kept tabs on him because we transferred him to Don McKenzie Tuberculosis Hospital. I have to drive there at least 200,000 times a week so I would always go visit him and give him "sweets." He ended up being there for months.
As a nice little incentive, I told him that when he was released, I'd take him to Wimpy (a local fast food chain). I wrote down my phone number and told him to call when he was out of the hospital. He finally called and we made a plan. My roommate Katie and I took him a couple of weeks ago. He was so happy to be out and have a fun day. It was a great day and a great reminder that not everyone here dies. Many of my patients use every ounce of courage they can muster and they fight back. "Lelo" is definitly a SUCCESS story.
I found out that his name was Mpumelelo and that he had virtually no family taking care of him. He was in such bad shape and was in extreme pain. I spent the next days with him and I think I actually wrote about him in an earlier (much earlier) blog. In any case, I have kept tabs on him because we transferred him to Don McKenzie Tuberculosis Hospital. I have to drive there at least 200,000 times a week so I would always go visit him and give him "sweets." He ended up being there for months.
As a nice little incentive, I told him that when he was released, I'd take him to Wimpy (a local fast food chain). I wrote down my phone number and told him to call when he was out of the hospital. He finally called and we made a plan. My roommate Katie and I took him a couple of weeks ago. He was so happy to be out and have a fun day. It was a great day and a great reminder that not everyone here dies. Many of my patients use every ounce of courage they can muster and they fight back. "Lelo" is definitly a SUCCESS story.
My favorite boys...
Now that the chill of the African Winter (it's true!) is fading, the boys and I have had lots of fun at St. Theresa's. They are the apples of my eye here...
The youngest patients...
I drive a lot for the Respite Unit. Many times my patients have to go to xrays, doctor's appointments, clinic pick-ups, and the list goes on. I drive to the local TB hospital numerous times a week. I always enjoy going there because I see ex-patients that are picking up their treatment or people I know that are in-patients there. I always find someone to visit with.
A few weeks ago, I was waiting for something (SOMETHING I DO A LOT OF HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA). I saw these two little girls walking around the hospital grounds. It is a government hospital, therefore, all the patients wear the same outfits and have the same bathrobes. These two little ones were decked out in the hospital baby blue and looking very adorable. I called them over and in my "broken" Zulu tried to talk to them.
They told me that they lived nearby and they both had TB. They had just been admitted to the hospital. Luckily, I always have "sweets" in my bag. I gave them each a bunch of candy and then showed them my camera. Zulu children absolutely adore having their pictures taken. They thought it was pretty cool to get some pictures taken. Too cute...
A few weeks ago, I was waiting for something (SOMETHING I DO A LOT OF HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA). I saw these two little girls walking around the hospital grounds. It is a government hospital, therefore, all the patients wear the same outfits and have the same bathrobes. These two little ones were decked out in the hospital baby blue and looking very adorable. I called them over and in my "broken" Zulu tried to talk to them.
They told me that they lived nearby and they both had TB. They had just been admitted to the hospital. Luckily, I always have "sweets" in my bag. I gave them each a bunch of candy and then showed them my camera. Zulu children absolutely adore having their pictures taken. They thought it was pretty cool to get some pictures taken. Too cute...
Look over here baby...
It's quite obvious that I am obsessed with Baby Andile, the son of my friend Nonduduzo who passed away in April. He is the sweetest little guy on earth. I cannot even bear leaving him at the end of the year. Here are some recent pictures of he and his cousin Zinhle. It was not very easy to get him to actually look at me while I was taking the pictures...
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Siyabonga!
Each day for about 2 weeks in June I was told that a little boy would be coming to the Respite Unit after he was discharged from a local hospital. The "rumor" was that he was Stage 4 AIDS and needed our palliative care. I waited. I asked where he was and when he was coming. Still...no young boy arrived.
Finally, at the beginning of July, Siyabonga arrived. I don't think any of us were prepared for how he changed us. I certainly was not. He was a young, 14 year old boy battling for his life after defaulting on his ARV treatment. His family was not taking care of him or helping him to take his life-saving drugs. He came to us in absolutely heart-breaking condition.
From the moment he got to the Respite Unit, he had everyone wrapped around his tiny fingers. His bedside table was full of soda, candy, snacks, toys, and books. However, he could barely see or hold things because of how sick and weak he was. We all took turns reading to him or playing memory or just talking to him. He enjoyed using my camera, but I usually had to help him hold it. He loved seeing the pictures and tried his best to smile.
He spent every day reminding us all that his 15th Birthday was coming up. On his special day, we showered him with gifts, balloons, and a huge Birthday cake. As you can see in the pictures below, he was very ill at the time of his birthday but did try to enjoy the festivities.
Siyabonga passed away shortly after his 15th Birthday. It was just a cruel reminder of the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. This young boy suffered so much in his young life. It is really hard for me to put this situation into words. I pray he is in a better place and I'm thankful that he's free of pain. I feel blessed to have been able to spend some time with this amazing young boy. In Zulu, Siyabonga means "we are thankful." This young angel was certainly named appropriately. Rest in Peace Siyabonga!
Finally, at the beginning of July, Siyabonga arrived. I don't think any of us were prepared for how he changed us. I certainly was not. He was a young, 14 year old boy battling for his life after defaulting on his ARV treatment. His family was not taking care of him or helping him to take his life-saving drugs. He came to us in absolutely heart-breaking condition.
From the moment he got to the Respite Unit, he had everyone wrapped around his tiny fingers. His bedside table was full of soda, candy, snacks, toys, and books. However, he could barely see or hold things because of how sick and weak he was. We all took turns reading to him or playing memory or just talking to him. He enjoyed using my camera, but I usually had to help him hold it. He loved seeing the pictures and tried his best to smile.
He spent every day reminding us all that his 15th Birthday was coming up. On his special day, we showered him with gifts, balloons, and a huge Birthday cake. As you can see in the pictures below, he was very ill at the time of his birthday but did try to enjoy the festivities.
Siyabonga passed away shortly after his 15th Birthday. It was just a cruel reminder of the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. This young boy suffered so much in his young life. It is really hard for me to put this situation into words. I pray he is in a better place and I'm thankful that he's free of pain. I feel blessed to have been able to spend some time with this amazing young boy. In Zulu, Siyabonga means "we are thankful." This young angel was certainly named appropriately. Rest in Peace Siyabonga!
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