Sindi!

This is my friend Sindisiwe. She is the Mother of the baby, Siyamukela, that died at the Respite Unit a couple of weeks ago. I had taken a couple of pictures of him the day before he died and I wanted to give them to her. I brought them to her in Molweni and she was elated. They are the only two photos she has to remember her little angel.

Lucky...

These pictures are of one of my favorite patients, Lucky. He is on the left in the top picture. He's in photos with his Mom and Brother. Also, his brother and his niece are pictured! He used to be a marathon runner before he became very sick with HIV. When he got to the Respite Unit, he could not move his legs at all. He laid in bed constantly and was very down. Over time, he regained strength and was finally put onto ARV's. He recently went home and is doing very well! What a great man!

Employment!

As you all know, my friend Nonduduzo died about 2 weeks ago at the Respite Unit. Over the past few months, I had become very close with her family and boyfriend as well. Lucky (see previous blogs), her boyfriend, has been through hell as of late. He stood by Nonduduzo as she fell sick and was even with her the moment she passed. Here in Africa, it is NOT the norm for men to stick around, to tend to their children or to be faithful to their partners. Lucky is a wonderful man. Nonduduzo left baby Andile behind and Lucky has fought hard recently to keep him. Nonduduzo’s Mom threatened that she wanted to put the baby in an orphanage and take him from Lucky.

After she took the baby from Lucky, he phoned me and asked for my help. I helped him figure out the best way to address Nonduduzo’s Mom about keeping the baby. He wanted nothing more than to keep Andile with him. Lucky is HIV+ and does not have a job following major surgery and being “let go” at his job. Raising a baby on top of his current struggles will not be easy, but Lucky is absolutely determined to do the right thing.

After a family meeting, Nonduduzo’s Mom agreed to give the baby over to his Daddy. Of course, both Lucky and I were ecstatic, but we also knew that now he needed a job to take care of Andile. I began asking around the Respite Unit and was prepared to really “spread the word.” In the back of my head, I realized the poverty here and the thousands of Zulus who are desperately looking for employment. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Well, prayers do get answered…that is for sure. I spoke with one of our nurses whose fiancé owns a local factory. She said she’d go home that evening and speak to him about any openings. That same night, I received a text from her saying that her fiancé would be glad to give Lucky a job effective immediately. Wow!!!

Today, I am proud to say, I took Lucky to meet his new boss at the factory. He was smiling ear to ear all day. The meeting went really well and Lucky cannot wait to begin work on Monday morning. He has also worked really hard to set-up a spot in the local crèche (daycare) for Andile. Lucky has had a rough go of things, but this is truly a fresh start for him. I’ll let you know how his first week goes!

Coloring in Cottage 3...

This past Monday (June 1) I was doing my usual "thing" with the boys at St. Theresa's. The boys didn't have much in the way of homework, so I broke out my lovely Crayola markers and we went to town. The boys started asking for more paper after only writing a tiny bit and it was becoming excessive. I decided to use this as a teaching moment because they are usually pretty receptive. Before my talk about recycling and conservation, I asked the boys "do you know where paper actually comes from?"

These were the answers: 1) trees 2) America

Bongani...

There are two new boys in Cottage 3 at St. Theresa’s! Now, the grand total is 11 little rugrats! Mazwui is the first new boy. He has lived at the home, but was too old for his cottage and switched. The second new arrival is Bongani, an adorable child with a story that shocked me. I was chatting with him on the side while the other boys were running around like crazy. During our chat, this 9 year old little boy told me that he was just taken to the police station because his Mommy died and his sister didn’t know what to do. His chatter was fast and often did not make sense. This boy is so young and yet has already seen and experienced so many horrible things.

He is very loveable and was excited to meet me. We sat together and read for a while. He is also a great artist and made a beautiful card for me. Meeting him was a very real reminder of the devastation caused here in South Africa by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I am so glad that he is safe and being looked after. Please join me in praying for his safe, healthy, happy future. I am looking forward to spending more time with him as he settles in to St. Theresa’s Family.

Slindokuhle...

We have a patient at the unit currently who has blown me away with her amazing spirit and tremendous courage. Her name is Slindokuhle and she is 18 years old. She is HIV+ and recently was admitted after a bout with meningitis. The meningitis not only left her weak and very sick, she also lost her vision completely. It is not known at this time if the vision loss could ever possibly be regained. She has now been blind for about a month. Each time I look at her or speak with her, I realize that she is living in fear. She, understandably, is terrified to take each step, to be by herself or when someone approaches her quickly.

HIV/AIDS is a horrible disease for so many reasons. Not only has Slindokuhle been sick and in pain, now she cannot see the world around her. This wonderful, young, vibrant girl now lays in bed with all her independence taken from her. I have been blessed to get to know her in the recent weeks. She is funny and kind. We are in the process of ordering books on tape for her which I think will be wonderful. Also, she just finished training for her ARV’s. Last week, I asked her if there’s anything she’d like to do to get out and have a little bit of fun. She told me that she’d love to go and walk around the mall. We spoke and we’ve made plans to go next week! Details and maybe a picture to follow…

Baby Siya...

Yesterday, June 4, I got to work as usual at 6:45am just in time for the morning hand-over. I joined the group of care-workers who explain to the day staff everything that is going on with each of our 24 patients. About half way through, I heard a cry. I knew it must be a very new patient, as there were no babies around when I left the day before at 4pm. One of the care-workers walked over to fetch the crying baby and I went over to have a peek. I could not believe my eyes. The baby, Siyamukela, was a 16 month old baby who was the size of a 5 (or so) month old baby. He was emaciated beyond belief, whimpering constantly in pain, and severely dehydrated. The baby had not eaten in quite a long time and was only drinking glucose. Mom brought the baby to us after they'd been recently discharged from a local government hospital.

Maryann and I got paperwork together and I then gave him a bath. The pain this baby was in was absolutely excruciating to watch. After a bath, I drove the Mom and the baby up to the clinic to see the pediatrician. After hours of waiting to see the doctor, we finally were told that Mom could start taking the ARV classes next Monday and they'd re-assess the baby then. Can you believe that? This poor baby is dying and we are told to "wait a little longer." I can't even begin to describe the frustration and sadness I feel for the Zulu people that are pushed aside, ignored, and made to "wait" by the very system that they turn to in their time of need.

We brought this poor, miserable baby back to the Respite Unit. I gave the baby another bath and then fed him glucose through a syringe. I could not bear to put this little guy down. At the same time, I felt completely helpless. I held him tight and walked him around until he finally fell asleep. I sat in a chair just staring at him and hugging him tight for the whole afternoon.

I went out after work and bought a few new outfits for Siya because we didn't have anything that would fit his tiny body. I walked in to work this morning and was told that Siya had passed away a few hours earlier. Words cannot express the sadness I feel about the loss of this innocent little boy.

10 mouths!

Who knows who my favorite man is South Africa is? If you guessed, “the old man,” then you are correct. See previous blogs if you are not sure who my “old man” is…

Anyway, tonight, we delivered food to him and he once again was extremely gracious. I look forward to seeing him each week and we’ve become very close even though I don’t speak much Zulu and his English is very limited. Today, we brought his usual food but also brought a bag of some clothing left by American students that were recently here. He humbly thanked us numerous times and then, in Zulu, said “I wish I had 10 mouths to thank you too much.” Amazing.

Goodbye Friends...

I am beginning to wonder why we call goodbye’s “going away parties?” I have recently begun saying my goodbyes to some great friends. My friends and fellow Respite Unit volunteers are all leaving during the month of June. Hanneke is heading back to Holland, while Viv and Ben are heading back to the UK. I have become good friends with the three of them and I am going to miss them terribly as I continue my year. They have been friends and inspirations to me here in South Africa for so many reasons. I, along with the patients and staff of the Respite Unit, will be forever grateful for all their friendship and service!

Mona and her Dad!

The sweet little girl (MonaLisa) who has stolen the hearts of the Respite Unit left on Tuesday with her Dad Amos for their long trek to Zimbabwe. (For the full story, see previous blog). They were flying up to meet their family, receive Elizabeth’s body and lay their dear wife/mother to rest in her homeland. The bus trip was going to take many days and Amos had really never taken care of MonaLisa because she had always stayed with her Mom. Before they departed, I asked Philisiwe (one of the care workers) to show him how to change Mona’s diaper. Hamba Kahle Amos and Mona…(“go well”).

Living like the locals!

These pictures are from our food parcel route today (Friday June 5th). Of course there are pictures of the adorable kiddies, but today was exciting! The granny in the pink dress is always around when we deliver. Today she was helping her friend carry food to their home. When we pulled up to the house, they both had large bags of rice on their heads. I have always wanted to try so I asked if I could. Let me say just one thing, IT’S HARDER THAN IT LOOKS. It made for great pictures! 

Crazy Boys...

They are screaming and giggling in pain all at the same time...Oh, Boys...



Showing off...



The boys of Cottage 3 sporting their news hats from America :)

Elizabeth and Monalisa...

It is with deep sadness that I report that Elizabeth passed away yesterday. Monalisa, the 20 month old baby, will be staying with us at the Respite Unit until her Grannie can get here from Zimbabwe. Luckily, Mona is still a crazy little toddler and doesn't really know what's going on.

My buddy!

Remember my little buddy from the Respite Unit…Mpumelelo? Well, he’s still in the TB hospital, but he is absolutely thriving there. He is able to go home now, but due to an unstable family situation, he’s being kept at the hospital for a while. I go and visit him a lot and give him lots of sweets! Last week, I was there to say hello. He hugged me and said “you made my day.” Can it get any cuter than that?

Comrades!

This past Sunday (5/24) was the Comrades Marathon here in Durban. This is the world’s oldest and longest ultramarathon (59.9 miles) from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The race goes right past our house and I was lucky enough to hang out and watch for a while. It is an amazing feat for these runners to complete the Comrades. Here are some random pictures of the race…oh, and FYI…the winner finished in 5 hours, 34 minutes. CrAzY!

FRIDAY!

THE FUN NEVER ENDS...

Beauty...

Africa is stunning…enough said.

Hooray for Visitors!!!

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo happy to have some visitors coming soon! Sarah Lang, the athletic trainer at Saints, is coming from June 19-July 1st. Tricia Dalglish, my longtime friend from Rutland, is arriving on July 1st, staying until July 6th, then we’re travelling to Cape Town together until July 11th. Words cannot express how excited I am for both of these visits. The countdown is in full swing!!! 

You decide...

My African Boyfriend...

...Or the really drunk man on our food parcel route! Your choice...

Nosihle...

Sma’s baby, Nosihle, is growing up fast. Here are some pictures of her at 10 days old. Cuteness…

Sizah!

This beautiful young woman really brings out the best in everyone at the Respite Unit. She is such an amazing woman with a heart of gold and a smile that can light up the room. I was taken to her house by her sister about 2 weeks ago. We arrived at a very small concrete room to find her barely able to move due to severe shingles covering her entire torso. Watching Sizah walk to the car was painful for all of us. You could see the fear in her eyes as she took each step and the anxiety about leaving her two children behind. I later came to find out that her students go to St. Leo’s Primary School (where my roommates teach!). This was wonderful news. I talked to her at length about getting her children to come see her and I could see it ease her fears.

My roommates and I arranged to visits for Vuyani and Asanda to come and see their Mom. As you can see from the pictures, they got their Mothers’ beautiful looks/smiles. The visits were great for Mom and children. This past Wednesday, May 27th, I brought Sizah home. Her CD4 count is still high enough for her to be at home and at work. When we drove into her yard, she was met by huge hugs and lots of screams of family and friends. It was a moving experience for her for sure. It was so reassuring for me to hear and see how much she is cared for. In a place where many HIV+ people are shunned or abandoned, this was an instance of hope, family and acceptance.

My Monalisa!

Yes, you heard that right…Monalisa. Our new little baby at the Respite Unit is Monalisa. She and her Mom, both Zimbabwean refugees arrived last week. Elizabeth, the Mom is absolutely miserable. She is very sick, very weak, does not speak Zulu and is in a strange land, alone. Baby Mona is also quite sick, though just tested HIV NEGATIVE…HOORAY!!!

Elizabeth told one of the care givers last week that she is giving up and doesn’t want to deal with this disease any longer. She will not even look at Mona and really wants no part in mothering at the moment. I know, and keep reminding Elizabeth that had to have been a good Mother because Monalisa has a wonderful disposition and is a thriving, clever 20 month old little girl.

Please pray that both Elizabeth and Monalisa adjust to their new surroundings and find healing.

The Old Man!

Each week (as my loyal readers know...wait, do I have any loyal readers???), I deliver food to very destitute families in KwaNgcolosi. Most of the stops involve adorable, naked children running wild. There is one house that has captured my heart this year. I call him my "old man." His name is Tholani and he is an older, fragile man who lives in a tiny mud shack by himself. I have befriended him this year even though I speak little Zulu and he speaks little English.

Our food deliveries include very meager rations...a small bag of rice, a small bag of beans, some spices and some random donations. As the year has progressed I recognized that for this old man, cooking his own meals is probably quite challenging. I was lucky enough to have a friend donate some money here to use for various projects...he seemed like a great recipient. I, with the help of our translator, asked him if he'd like some prepared meals. Of course, he responded YEBO! I have now, for 3 weeks been able to deliver him hot meals, fresh fruit, juice, etc and thrilled him beyond belief. I have never seen something cuter than when Tholani profusely thanks us in Zulu and English. This simple, pre-made food has made his life so much more comfortable. I look forward to many more smiling pictures with my buddy!!!

Tholani and his neighbor outside his home.




My "Old Man!"




He asked for a close-up!

My friend Nonduduzo!

My year here in South Africa has held MANY challenges for me. My work at the Respite Unit brings such extreme emotions to the forefront of my life everyday. One of my favorite patients and best South African friends, Nonduduzo, just passed away on Monday 5/18. This has been one of my most difficult times in my entire life and to be honest, I'm still trying to sort things out and process everything.

Nonduduzo and her (at the time) 2 month old baby Andile were admitted into the Respite Unit about 3 months ago. They stayed for 2 months and Nonduduzo greatly improved (see previous blog if interested). Of course, everyone at the respite loved having Andile around to brighten up our days. I became very close with both of them and cultivated a wonderful friendship with Nonduduzo. We spent many days talking and laughing and crying. She was a wonderful mother even when she felt terribly and was fighting for her life. She was discharged and spent a few weeks at home waiting to begin ARV's at a clinic near her home in Lower Molweni.

I was in touch with her quite a bit to say hello, stop by to visit, deliver formula or just talk on the phone. We worked together to get Andile tested after the government lab had lost his results on three different occasions. I will never forget seeing the results, screaming, then calling her in happy tears to deliver the wonderful news!!!! She was so thankful that her baby was HIV NEGATIVE!!!!

A friend from San Diego, Mary Panish, made a quick stop over from Cape Town in Durban on Sunday May 10th. She was only visiting for 6 or so hours and wanted to see where I worked, etc. I took her down to Lower Molweni to meet some of my friends there. I brought a jar of formula to drop off to Nonduduzo as a Mother's Day gift. She was a little weird sounding on the phone, but I didn't think much of it. I arrived at her home and waited for her at the bottom of the hill. It took her a while but again, I didn't think anything of it. She finally arrived and she looked terrible. I saw "the look" in her eyes and knew she needed to be re-admitted. She told me that she had been vomitting and having diarrhea and that she was sweating a lot. I asked her if I could take her back to the Respite Unit and she said yes. I went back on Monday morning to fetch her. She was not doing well and was terrified.

She left the baby with her boyfriend, Lucky. As the days passed, her condition went down very quickly. The whole week was a blur. I spent a lot of time with Nonduduzo and we spoke a lot about what would happen to her children, her fears and also reminiscing about our great friendship. I told her I loved her and she said the same to me. I brought her wonderful boyfriend and her baby to see her for the last 4 days of her life. She was so in love with her boyfriend and her two sons.

On Monday 5/18, I spent the morning with my friend. I left around 11am to go and get Lucky and Andile to see her. I dropped them at the Respite and went to do a home visit. On the way home, Lucky phoned me to let me know that she had just died. As much as I guess on some level I knew it was happening, I was completely crushed.

To me, Nonduduzo was a friend, an inspiration, a lover of life and a gentle spirit. I cannot even express how much I will miss her. I told her the day she died that I'd do everything in my power to look after Andile, Busani and Lucky.

I was privileged enough to attend her funeral on Saturday. It was a moving celebration of a life cut too short by a horrible disease. Rest in peace my friend Nonduduzo. I love you.


This is my friend Nonduduzo and her youngest child, Andile. This was taken 3 days before she died. I will forever treasure her friendship!





This is her other (and oldest) son Busani aka the cutest boy on earth!




Auntie Jenn and both Nonduduzo's boys!




Brothers. Adorable.




The Villanova nurses holding Andile on the way to visit his Mommy.




Lucky, the proud Daddy.




Nonduduzo and two of her 3 favorite boys.




Auntie Jenn and Andile on the way to test him for HIV. HE'S NEGATIVE!!!! :)

Friday FUNday!

One of my favorite things to do...deliver food to these sweeties! :)

I love this little girl...priceless huh?




The naughty house...always trying to scheme for one more sweet...




The cutest baby and a yummy ice pop!




Footie PJ's in Africa!




Not too sure about the white lady (still...)...




Silly bubble blowing as we drive!




Olwetu is adorable!




This picture has now taken the cake as "the best picture I've ever taken."