It has been the most stressful and emotional couple of weeks for me since being here. As always, there have been some positives, but unfortunately they have been a little outweighed by the negatives...
I saw my first dead child last week.
Just lying there in the middle of their family’s land, uncovered, with their mother wailing, (a sound that will never leave my head) next to them. I don’t know how they died. Probably something preventable like malaria or meningitis. Something that, for the average family out here, can’t be treated due to the lack of money to even get to a hospital on time.
I was on my way to visit Steward (16 year old lad with severe brain damage due to untreated convulsions he had when he was 3 years old...) when I came across the deceased child. When we rang to see if it was still ok for us to do the home visit Steward’s mother said it was fine, but that she had a funeral to attend to that afternoon. I found out the funeral was for her daughter who had died the day before...
Unfortunately doing the ‘right’ thing out here can mean you put yourself in danger. I witnessed some complete unprofessionalism and bullying at work the other week, and did what I would have done anywhere in the world and reported it. Turns out that wasn’t the wisest of ideas as that person ‘knows’ people and the charity organiser was worried I had put myself at risk. So, I had to go to them with my tail between my legs and apologise. Although not what I believed in, the bigger picture is that I want to stay here, I love working and living here and a lot of positive work is being done from me being here. So, all’s well. I am safe.
WE FOUND TONY!!!!
My heart literally melted when I saw him. He’s in school. He’s put on weight. He was wearing the shoes I gave him. He looked like a different child.
We tracked down Grandma again and children’s services asked her to come and see us. Not only did she come, but she came with the good news that Tony had started school in September. Even though she couldn’t afford the school fees, the school accepted him on good faith from the chief of the village. I found out the total cost for sending little Tony to a boarding school that’s specifically for children who are deaf and have special needs - £90. That includes all his clothes, toiletries, towels and bedding for the year. School books and medical care. Madness that something so precious, is so cheap. Yet also, so expensive.
I went to Chekombero school where he is now boarding and met him. Like I said, I could not believe the difference in him. His smile is enough to melt even the hardest of hearts (corny, but true), and that was something I was not blessed to see when I first met him.
I met with the headmistress who is a really lovely lady. Unfortunately we found out through her that when he arrived and she washed him (for the first time in weeks) she found his body was covered in bruises and lashing wounds/scars. He would cry all the time, shy away from any interaction with adults and fight with all his classmates. Now, he laughs, plays and hugs the staff who care and teach him. All this in 6 weeks. Imagine what his life will be like after 6 years of being there...
As a result of the beatings he has received by his Grandmother the headmistress is very concerned about allowing him home for the month of Christmas. I am too. Not only due to that, but because there is no food for him at home. There’s no one who really cares for him at home.
So, there’s a member of staff who has offered to have him come home for Christmas with him and his family. Giving Tony the family life he so desperately deserves.
Thankfully through the generosity of a friend in the UK Tony is now able to attend school for the rest of his life. I can’t wait to watch this boy develop over the next year..
It’s been a good week for appointments, new referrals, assessments and general working fun. I keep having gushing moments where I realise how happy I am here and how sad I am that one day I won’t be working here anymore...
However:
I’m taking a beautiful little girl called Maurine to hospital tomorrow. She’s 9 and when she was 5 she complained of severe headaches and back pain. Got taken to hospital where she was admitted for 2 months. Treated for malaria. No difference made. Over the next 2 years she lost the ability to walk, talk, feed independently, sit, communicate... be. She’s in the worst state I have seen a child out here. Unresponsive to anything. Complete negligence on behalf of all of the medical staff that she has seen over the past 4 years.
David and I are taking her to the hospital in Kisumu in the hope that she can be diagnosed with something. I’ve 2 ideas: meningitis or a progressive brain tumour. But no scan has ever been carried out. What’s maddening is that we know her life could have been completely different if the medical staff had investigated, rather than treated the symptoms. What child loses their ability to speak and walk without alarm bells ringing???
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