What. A. Day.
Could have slept in, but didn't. Church at RVA doesn't start until 11, so I could have done some serious sleeping in... But I have a 6am internal alarm. Oh well... It gave me another morning of JJ solo breaky time - which I greatly appreciate!
AND I had a hot shower this morning, absolutely glorious. I never realized just how much I love hot showers. And honestly.... It's not even really that hot, but it's warm, and I'm thankful.
Church at RVA was good, felt like being at home. And since I don't really have an opportunity to attend a traditional Kenyan church, I might just attend there from now on. My other church option is not really my thing, and I feel like falling asleep during every services.
After church I plucked up the courage to introduce myself again to the Birds. I had met Sue a few weeks ago, but hadn't met Dr. Bird yet. He had worked with my grandpa back in 2001 and had stitched up my sisters thumb when we were here. (Dad - you assured me he would remember... He didn't - not even a vague memory).
I was introduced to Brittney and David (a couple who recently moved here from the states and who plan to be here for at least 2 years) and Anup (a fellow Canadian who is unfortunately leaving on Tuesday). It was great to connect with people who are a little more my age, and they even took me out for lunch at the RVA cafeteria... What a treat! Seriously... Like a turkey dinner. It was delicious!
I had to "rush off" from that because I was meeting Fidel for a run. Now THAT was an adventure. (But don't be nervous gramma! I made it out with only a little cut on one finger) We started by running down the hill into the valley, took a right, went through some farm land... And then the adventure really began. Scrambling up through the Kenyan forest (jungle? Haha... Not too sure what to call it). Climbing rocks and trees. Running into cacti and other prickly things. But the view was amazing!
Once we got to the top of this hill, we started heading across the top, trying to get down the other side. We followed cow trails through the bush, crouching down almost to our hands and knees to get through in some places. A slow decent into a deep valley with a little creek running through it, some more rock climbing up the other side... And then we made it back to a trail that led back to Kijabe.
I quickly got changed and headed up the hill to RVA to try to FaceTime with David (happy birthday "little" bro!!). Unfortunately when I got there it started pouring rain and the Internet was being kinda crummy. We didn't get to FaceTime for long... But I tried.
Then it was back to the guesthouse for supper, and then Brittney invited me over to watch a movie at their place with some other people. I SO wish I had connect with these people earlier - the challenge of being an introvert in a new place! But hey, I'll just make the most of the next 2 weeks!!
Now it's late, already midnight and I have to be up for the hospital tomorrow. I'm spending this whole week in the paediatrics ward (Bethany Kids) and I am so looking forward to it. It'll be challenging for sure, but so good. Ok. I'm off to bed. Gnight!
Day 22 (Monday June 1, 2015)
There's something about rainy Monday's that just feels fitting sometimes. It's been a long, slow, dreary-ish day here in Kijabe.
It was so dark this morning that, even though I woke up at 6, it was hard for me to get out of bed and out the door on time. I probably could have stayed in bed all day. Haha. But instead I went to work on the paediatric ward... It's called Bethany Kids.
I was working in the HDU today and mainly work led with a little 11mo. old little boy with hydrocephalus, anemia, some kind of infection, severe acute malnutrition and pretty extreme ascites. The poor guy. The other two children in the HDU have Down syndrome and a whole list of other complications including severe acute malnutrition.
I was so impressed with the organization and structure of the nursing care in the BK HDU. They did vital every two hours, and charted them... They did thorough head to toe assessments, and charted them... They were much more careful and precise with meds. Felt just a little more like home.
Meds are really tough for paediatrics here. Because they have limited resources, they don't have peds doses for meds. For example, one of the kids was getting 3mg of a med that is only supplied in a 40mg tab here. So how do you determine what 3mg is?!! What size of a crumb equals the right dose? I can't imagine how challenging and nerve wracking it could be sometimes with meds for these little guys.
One little girl on the ward totally stole my heart today. Natalia. She fell into a pit of boiling water, and her whole face and neck are scarred, and she is missing her right ear. BUT, that doesn't stop her from being an extremely intelligent, goofy and loveable little girl. She is here for plastic surgery, and has to wear a neck brace because of contractures that were occurring.
Halfway through the morning I realized that I had an audience. She was standing outside the HDU staring at me. So I went and stood in the door way. She was a little shy at first... Walked over to me and timidly reached up and grabbed my hand. And that was it. She had my heart. She doesn't speak English so we just play hand games, high-five and I twirled her around like a ballerina. She giggled and smiled. I'm really looking forward to seeing her throughout the week - but I also know she is going to be quite a distraction!
After the hospital today I came home, had a little snack and then made my way up to RVA to try to post this blog. Never got around to it though. So many people to talk to and arrangements to make for how I'm getting to Nairobi, and then also my trip home. It's coming up so soon!!
Then on my way back down the hill I realized I had lost my phone, my Kijabe phone, the one the hospital was lending me for the time I am here. Silly me, I'd had the phone in my back pocket... And had taken a ride up to RVA on the back of a piki (motorcycle). Roads here are pretty rough, so it must have bounced out of my pocket. I retraced my steps twice, and couldn't find it. Darn. So it looks like I'll be buying the hospital a new phone.
Slightly discouraged I made my way down to Anup's house were there was a farewell feast made by Brittney and David. It was amazing! I met a bunch more people who live here in Kijabe, and made arrangements with one of the surgeons, Rich Davis, to watch a pretty crazy sounding surgery on Thursday. I'll be skipping out on a day in peds, but it'll be an amazing day.
Alright, I've gotta get to sleep. I have a bit of a head ache and am hoping that sleep will help it go away. Another late night, so not a lot of time for sleeping tonight! Hopefully I'll get this posted for you all tomorrow.
Day 23 (Tuesday June 2, 2015)
Another good day on the paediatric ward today. I'm learning so much and really enjoying the ward. I got to be in the HDU again today, and had a great time working with Muthoni. I'm realizing more and more how my presence here has an impact on the staff. And how maybe the purpose of this trip was to come along side to encourage and support the nurses who work here.
I'm trying my best to be out-going. The struggle is real people. But it hit me today that although there are times when I have take a "big step" but really... I don't have to change who I am to reach people. I mean, I did have to step out of my comfort zone to get here, and there are moments when I have to push and challenge myself to take advantage of the opportunities, but while I'm here... I really can just be me.
The nurse I was working with today commented just before I left today "this has been a wonderful day for me. I don't make friends easily". And she is without doubt one of the sweetest nurses I have worked with here. And it got me thinking - how to I continue to carry this forward? How do I make these relationships last and continue to be an encouragement to the people I've met here. And what I've come to is this: just continue to be me. Keep in touch, write emails, letters, text... And don't forget them.
I feel like it would be so easy to go back home and "forget" about this trip. But a question that comes to mind is how do I make this "sustainable"? How do I make this have a lasting impact? It will take work, it will take time and energy... But if I can be of some kind of encouragement and support and a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour... If I can bring glory to his name and encourage others to a closer walk with him... Then that is what I want to do.
I think that that doesn't necessarily come from preaching the gospel and it definitely doesn't come from acting superior or from friendships that last a day. It comes from meeting people where they are at, it comes from understanding their circumstances and walking along side them, and discovering HOW I can be a support and witness to them.
Sorry that my update on today doesn't have any interesting hospital/patient stories... It was a good full day. I've decided that, at the point, I am really not comfortable with administering meds here - all the names are different and I'll be honest that the paediatric doses here freak me out. So I just inform everyone that I will NOT be giving meds on this ward. I can do everything else though. So lots of assessments, vitals, charting.... Stuff I'm familiar with and confident in.
It's super rainy here, and I can't wait to come home to warmth and sunshine. I bundle up every evening and people laugh at me saying "but you're Canadian, aren't you used to the cold?!" I can handle the cold, I just wasn't prepared for it here! And everything in the hospital is very open, so it's pretty cold everywhere in the hospital. I wore tights under my scrubs today!
Alright. It's getting dark and looks like it's gonna rain again, so I should probably get back home before it starts!
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