has it really only been a week?

Day 4:

I think the best and easiest way to keeo track of things will be to (try to) write a little blurb about each day, and then just upload it when I have a chance... I'll be doing my best to post something at least every week, but honestly... I can't make any promises. I feel like a bit of a mooch heading up the hill to the Halestrap's and definitely don't want to take advantage of their generosity. That being said - I definitely am today.

This morning I walked up the hill to their house and sat on the front porch using their wifi while Libby was (I assume) dropping Finn off at school, and Pete was at a meeting at the hospital. When Libbygot home she invited me in and made me a cup of tea while I waited for Pete. He was so appologetic for being late, but I really didn't mind. It gave me an opportunity to post my previous blog post and spend a few minutes chatting with my parents and friends before they crawled into bed.

Soon we headed down into the valley... on our way to Naivasha medical center. The road was... less of a road and obviously what had been functioning as a stream bed over the past few days (as a result of the crazy rain Kijabe has been having) and it was either slick, wet red clay or exposed rocky wash out. Pete appologized for the rough road, but I assured him that these are the kinds of roads we used to go looking for when the guys would take us out in the jeeps and 4x4's looking for mud.

The land rover made it through the terrain with no difficulty, and big smiles on both of our faces. It took us a while to pick our way down the mountainside, then when we hit the "motorway" we picked up speed. Pete informed me that one of the rules of the road is that, whoever is biggest has the right of way. Therefore, if two trucks are roaring down the highway towards you and road space is running out... You pull off the road and let them pass. Not 5 minutes after he told me this... We ran into that exact situation.

When we arrived at Naivasha clinic Pete gave me a quick tour of the clinic and the maternity center that is dedicated to my grandparents. Earlier this week Pete told me about some changes that are going to be made at this facility. Currently the maternity facility is not being effectively utilized... On average they are having less than one birth per day at the clinic, which doesn't even cover costs for the fscility. Recently the Kenyan government is offering free maternity care at public hospitals which has added to the lack of patients at the clinic.

Therefore, they are looking at in addition to offering maternity care, turning the facility into a small inpatient hospital. Pete was there to go over proposed protocol for the new clinic. At first I helped out a little bit in the walk-in clinic part of the center taking vitals and counting pills. Soon I was taken upstairs where I sat in on the meeting. I actually found it very interesting and realized to an even greater extent how desperate the need is for healthcare providors here... both nurses and doctors.

The Naivasha center is small, and would have space for probably about 22 patients. Already I have been asked by the nurses and the director if I am going to be a missionary and come back to work there. In all honesty, I think I would... when the time is right, and if God opens the doors to make it happen. It is something that will continue to be on my heart and in my prayers as I look towards the future.

After our little road trip I went for a run... and did about 12km, which was up to RVA, 4 times around the guard's trail and then a little extra loop on my way back down. I can already tell you that I am going to get bored of running that little circle. I'm going to have to find someone to take me out on some trails SOON!

And now, I'm going to head off to the Halestrap's for supper. I am so looking forward to spending time with people this evening. The guesthouse is full of rowdy young families who are more than a little overwhelming... So most evenings so far have been spent in the "safety" of my room.

It is late and I just got home from supper at the Halestrap's. What a marvelously wonderful evening with them and another couple (Jeff and Nicky who are here from Baltimore and will be leaving next week). It felt like family. It felt like being home... Ok maybe not being home, but I felt totally at home there. What a wonderful blessing to have made such beautiful, kind hearted new friends. And mom and Gramma... I didn't walk home alone in the dark. It is Libby's rule that Pete walks the girls home. So rest easy.

And now I am crawling into bed to the sound of rain falling heavily on the tin roof. Another familiar sound that I am so thankful for.

Day 5

Another day of challenges and lessons. I'm learning so much from being in the hospital here. I think I had expected to be DOING more while I am here, but instead it is a lot of observation and asking questions. Today I spent the day in MCH (Maternal Child Health) which is somewhat similar to what takes place in our public health centers. At the family clinic they see sick kids under 2 years old, antenatal and post natal women, and assist with family planning. And they also di immunizations for infants. There are a lot of nursing students working in MCH and I spent the day with them.

When I arrived this morning a group of nurses and students were just sitting down for morning devotions before opening the clinic. What an incredible thing to do. I don't think the novelty of morning devotions at morning report will ever cease to bring a smile to my face. What a privilege to be able to spend time in the word with your co-workers every morning. After that we went around the entire clinic and waiting room wiping off anything where dust could gather. Then it was time for things to get rolling.

I spent the first part of my morning with Miriam a 4th year student at the hospital. We counted out vaccinations and charted what we had. Then she did one immunization on a 6 week old baby. Here, at 6 weeks the babies get a dose of an oral polio, roto virus (for diarrhea and vomitting), what they call "penta" which is a combination of 5 vaccinations (I think it was tetanus, hep B, pneumococal, meseals and... crap, I thought I knew them all) and then one other vaccine... which I also can't remember at the moment.

After that one immunization we went to triage to check people in... which is a highly disorganized/chotic system. First the patients go to the main enterance of the hospital where they present this little red paper card, which contains in hand written print their hospital number, name and date of birth. At that point they also inform the people at the front desk what their reason for visiting the hospital is. Then the unit clerk goes into a back room to find a folder containing that persons health folder (which is most often a super messy, crinkled paper folder and is found using the patient's hospital number. From here the unit clerk puts the file into a slot for whatever department the patient will be going to. The patient then goes go that department... but the file doesn't get to the department until someone from that area walks to the front desk to pick it up.

When the file arrived at MCH triage (who knows what the "right order" is at this point... ths nurse calls the patient's name, gets a little bit more information from them about the specific purpose of the visit, the patient goes back to the waiting room and the file will eventually make it to the cashier. When the cashier calls the patient they go and pay for the service they're there for (and again... no consistency with maintaining order the files are processed). The patient then goes back to the waiting room. The next time their name is called they go to a room where theuir vital signs are taken, filled in on their file, and also in a GIANT book kept for government records. Then its back to the waiting room again. The next time their name is called they are finally seen for whatever brought them into hospital that day. Definitely not a time efficient system. I spent most of my morning in triage.

Then around noon we took the newborn immunizations (polio dose #1 and GCB - the vaccine for TB) to the maternity ward. Everyone was SHOCKED to hear that we don't get a TB vaccine in Canada. Everyone here has a scar on their left forearm close to their elbow from getting it as a kid. It is a sub-dermal vaccination, and oh boy, do those little ones scream. I got to do my first sub-dermal vaccination today... That was pretty exciting.

After that I spent most of my time weighing and taking vital signs... And also talking with the other student nurses. I think almost everyone I talked to is hoping yo work in either the ICU or casualty (ER).

Overall it was a good, but slightly slow day. Because it was slow, and it was actually sunny today I decided to cut my day short, and leave early so I could run in the sunshine. I am pretty sure I am going to get very tired of running the guard's trail... but seeing as I haven't been able to find anyone to take me on any trails, that is really the only safe option for me. So round and round I go. At each of the main gates that I pass the guards look at me like I'm nuts as I pass for the third, fourth... fifth time. I'm still kinda frustrated witg how slow I am here... but that'll change, I think. And even if it doesn't, I guess its good that I am even running at all. I am training for a big trail race in September, so I will have some time when I get home... but I'll also be doing shift work when I get back, so there will be lots of adjusting to do!!

Now... I REALLY think I need to go make myself some supper. I meant to go out and get some more food today, and totally forgot/lost track of time... Oh well, that will give me something to do tomorrow. I am only in the hospital Monday-Friday, so I need to start figuring out things to do on weekends.

One last thing before I go to bed... I know I have mentioned thst the young families at the guest house are a little out of control at times... But I will miss some of them when they leave tomorrow, especially Savannah and Melinda (no clue if I spelt either of their nsmes right), what lovely girls. We just spent the evening chatting and I so wish that I had spent more time getting to know them over the past few days. But I do know now that if ever I go to Australia or Norway I will have a place to stay :)

Ok, now it is really time for bed...

Day 6

Well its Saturday here, and when I woke upthis morning I wasn't really too sure what to do with myself. It ended up being a pretty good day though. I was up early enough to say goodbye to everyone, then talked on the phone with mom and dad, went for a 3 hour run (which only worked out to 20km hmmmm... still not super stoked on that, but it is what it is).

On my way back home I stopped at a little market where I got some more fruits and veggies, and at the SuperDuka to get some tea, spices and some meat. Protein is not cheap here, but with long training runs, it is important to be keeping at least some protein in my diet. After a week of not much (ok honestly.... practically none) I can definitely tell I'm not as strong as I could be. That being said, I did feel pretty great after my run today. Tired, thirsty, but so good!

When I got back home I heated myself up some lunch and met Dorothy, a very sweet Kenyan woman who lives at Moffat and who's husband works for the college. She invited me to join them for church tomorrow morning. No sleeping in here... church starts at 8:30 and is a bit of a hike up the hill. So I'll be meeting them at 8 to begin our journey to church.

Pretty much that has been my day. I am sitting up at RVA adding todays adventure. It is sunny and warm (and of course windy) so I am trying to take advantage of it while I can. There has been distant thunder most of the afternoon, so who knows when the rain will come rolling in. I am prepared with a rain jacket... just in case

Seeing as today has been pretty uneventful, I don't really have much else to say. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Miss you!