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Today I joined the TCHD Maternal Child Health Immunizations team somewhere in the middle of Tanzania. Actually, I really have no idea where we were. I think we were still in Kenya, but we could’ve been in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan or the DRC for all I know (and for the time it took to get there!). A few times the truck got stuck in ditches and behind fifty cows (give or take a few, i didn’t actually count them!). Sarah Baskin, Abby, and I were in the back with four Tenwek nursing students rocking out to my ipod the whole time. Then, we accompanied the team as they gave immunizations to about eighty babies and twenty expectant mothers. The six pictures above are some of my favorites from today! I finally messed around with the manual settings enough to take some decent pictures. Abby took the two of me with the little girl. It’s been so wonderful to have the Champion family here. Today we were out from 9-6, and I’m sure I would’ve burned out if I hadn’t had the girls with me!
On the way back we stopped at a VCT center (Voluntary Counseling and Testing), and Nancy (the woman who works there) was telling me about all the services they offer. Free and confidential testing is the main one, so I, really excited was like, “Awesome! Can I get tested?!” Of course I could. So I followed her into the room and she showed me how the kits worked. I would find out within 15 minutes, and if I tested positive, they would do a second, more accurate (but expensive which is why they don’t do it on everyone) test that only takes 5 minutes. She started taking out the packets and drops of solution. It was all going too fast for me. I started changing my mind, wondering, “Could I be +? What if I do test HIV+? How will I tell my family? Would I wait until I got home? Yes, of course I would wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Doesn’t Greenwich Hospital test for this during routine blood work stuff?!? Wouldn’t they have told me? But I never asked, wouldn’t the still tell me? Maybe not. Maybe they aren’t allowed to automatically test for that without asking. Could I test positive?! What if I do? Well, then, I should know. But how would I tell my family and friends!?” All that I ended up saying was, “Is the equipment sterile?” Nancy patiently explained, “Yes, we open the packets right here, they come sealed in the box, and I open a new packet for every patient so there’s no contamination.” Good (for some weird reason I was still afraid I could get HIV from the test- irrational fear, I know, but I feel like I should be honest). It was such a weird experience that I never actually went through with. Nancy started talking about the finger prick and that did it. My pediatricians who have known me for 15 years still have trouble with that one. No way was I letting a stranger near my thumb. I begged off. On the way out, I thought about how anxious the experience had made me. And if I, who really has almost no chance of testing positive, got so anxious, what must someone who ACTUALLY might test positive feel like going in there?!?! I see now why people might refuse to get tested. I have to think about it more. It would’ve taken five-fifteen minutes to find out my status, and I chose not to. Mmmm….
I’m gonna miss you
I’m gonna miss you when you’re gone
She says I love you
I’m gonna miss hearing your songsAnd I said please don’t talk about the end
Don’t talk about how every living thing
Goes awayShe says friend
All along
Thought I was learning how to take
How to bend not how to break
How to live not how to cry
But really I’ve been learning how to die
I’ve been learning how to die- From Jon Foreman’s Winter EP, Learning How to Die
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIA!!!!
Today was another incredible day. Got a little homesick when I read my sisters e-mail this morning so that was a rough start. I know I was doing so well updating, but I think I’ve hit a block right now. There is just so much happening constantly. It seems like I’m learning a million things a minute. I’m surrounded by doctors, so I’m taking in all the medical stuff, and then there’s the language (there’s TWO of them… well 43 to be exact, but two really common ones- talk about confusing). It can be really difficult to communicate.
Today: 8-1 work at the center getting things ready for the movie. I’m also finally sitting down and learning what social justice is. I know it’s my concentration, but as soon as I sat down they were like. “What is Social Justice? Teach us about social justice.” I was like “ahh, well, um… that’s a really good question and I’m not sure how to answer it.” So one of my assignments is to come up with a lesson plan for how we can implement it into their programs etc. etc. So, I told them that it’s more of an umbrella term and I would consider everything they do to be part of social justice in a way – but Justice is one of their core values. They aren’t sure how it fits in though, so my job is to make it into a lesson. Now, I am working on the definition for social justice, human rights in relation to all their different projects. and THEN when i figure that out (lots of online reading
More exciting, is my ability to teach them how to use computers. I will spend a lot of time showing the staff members how to make power points and movies. Today, Jane was picking up incredibly fast and made one to use for maternal health care stuff. The thing at apple that says “Change the world.” has never rang so true. These powerpoints/movies will save lives- I have no doubt about it.
From 1-2 went to lunch at the Roberts house. Then went back to work at the center.
At 5, I went to the nursery again. I know I already talked about it- but the babies are SO tiny!!!!!! (If they are in the nursery, it means they were too sick/little to go be discharged. their moms stay in the hospital to feed them and take care of them). Little Joseph was found abandoned in a latrine in a plastic bag so he doesn’t have a mom to take care of him. He’s OKAY, but I spent some time just holding him today. At first I was scared to pick him up. Picking up any of the babies is like- WOW for me. I LOVE babies- but when they are newborns- AH, it’s scary!!! They look so fragile! (especially these!! some of them are less than two pounds!!!!!!!!) Many of their lungs are very strained, and you can see when they breathe that it’s hard for them- the same thing for crying. Many survive though, but many die too. I don’t know how the nurses spend the whole day in there. I let and felt a little sick. The nurses told me I’ll get used to the screaming.
a mother feeding her baby
After getting dirty in there (they don’t wear diapers), Megan and I went to the mothers ward. Megan’s been here 8 weeks, and she is better at communicating but it’s still a huge challenge. I just made them laugh with my attempts, but Megan assured me later that just brightening their day for two minutes is a big deal. It can’t take away the pain of their babies straddling the line of life and death, but it’s something. I’m not sure I agree yet.
Just talked to my mom and Sophia. SOOO great to hear them. Its weird to be in Africa and have a cell phone – we all have to have them though. Anyway, if anyone wants to call me they are more than welcome to (in fact, id love it). message me and il send you the number.
love to everyone,
Julia
Morning The airline called and they are sending my bag on to Tenwek. It should arrive in the next few days. I have enough contacts to last me. No toothbrush/toothpaste or face wash though, but I grabbed those teeth wipe cleaners from CVS that don’t require water before I left and I have ONE more to use. (And to think I almost didn’t buy them). Lizah gave me a cell phone yesterday. All the doctors/staff have cell phones- it’s not what I expected! When I figure out how to use my number and add shillings to it – I’ll let you know!
In the future, I am ALWAYS packing an extra pair of clothes in my backpack!
It’s really really beautiful here. I am staying at the guesthouse and Lizah and Carol have everything figured out to a T! As I’m walking around I can definitely see myself coming here long-term someday. It’s a good thing I have my ticket home and the South Bronx to look forward to-otherwise I’m not sure I would leave!
Today I got to spend some time in the nursery. The nursery is for babies born prematurely. There are about forty five babies on the ward. They are SO tiny and precious. Carol prep’d me before we went in, warning me for what I might see. It’s a good thing she did. (skip over details that will make you probably want to stop reading). One was about the size of my hand! Once I find out my schedule with Community Health, we are going to see if I can help out in the nursery and the Pediatrics ward.
It’s very different from the hospitals we went to in South Africa. At one in SA, the kids were all alone. Their parents visited only every few months because it cost to much to take time off from work. Some kids refused to talk or smile because of it. Here, the parents stay with their kids and care for them, and when I walked into the ward today people smiled and waved. I really hope I get to spend more time in there!
Night
I finally know why I’m here! To be honest, I came down having no clue what I’d be able to contribute- but I knew I was supposed to be here. When asked what I was going to do, I really didn’t have a good response- I knew I was working with Community Health & Development, but doing what? I mentioned making a movie to them and Jonathon (director) sent back yes, bring the camera. But that was it. So, with a very vague idea- I started telling people I was going to make a movie. Well.. Today at my meeting with Jonathon and Rubin, I found out why I was here.
The organization who has funded them in the past suddenly cut funding last year. This year, they were barely going to open. My job is to get involved in all the different parts of their center, film what they do and how people benefit, and show why they need funding. I will go home, work all summer, and try to put together something that looks professional and can be sent out to fund raise. Wow, and the coolest part… I know I can do it!! Not the getting money part- but the making a good movie. It’s been one of those days where everything just makes sense. Like, “oh, so THIS is why I (insert everything from went to RCDS, NYU, Kenya… here).” Anyway, it’s exciting!
Long day though and many stories, there is a one year old in Hospice dying from Congestive Heart Failure. From talking to Megan, a college student following the Clerical team around (counseling stuff), and Don (the little one’s doctor)- they both seemed a little frustrated (but you wouldn’t know it unless you asked). There was nothing they could do for the baby but alleviate the symptoms, and the mother is convinced surgery will help. They’ve told her many times there is nothing they can do, but she keeps bringing the baby back here. Another patient, a five year old boy with Leukemia, needs chemotherapy the hospital cannot provide. Don keeps telling the boys dad to take him to Nairobi, and the dad keeps promising him that he will, but then Don keeps finding him in the ER with nosebleeds (this is over the past few months) and the boy is dying!
Amazing day though, I met some more great people. Don and Megan who I mentioned above are the two that stick out right now, but there are so many more! This little girl is probably the cutest, most beautiful little girl I’ve ever seen. Tonight we were sitting in the meeting room and I kept smiling at her, and she kept frowning at me (maybe she’s like a year old), and then Don would smile at her and she would like collapse into giggles and I had NO idea why, and I sat there like, “what’s wrong with me, am I ugly or something?” So I gave up and turned back around, and he would just have to look at her and she’d laugh. After the meeting was over I found out he’s her doctor, and she came in with severe malnutrition and pneumonia and is HIV+, and it took a few weeks to get her to smile like that. Don is just finishing up his last year in residency, and will join a fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital to become a critical care surgeon and he’s been here for the past ten months. He’s pretty awesome. This girls smile is THE most beautiful smile in the world.
More about Tenwek Community Health & Development- I will be learning how they work (not necessarily helping.. that takes a lot of training, but i bet i’ll learn a lot while there!), and filming (and they have two macs here with imovie so together we can work and make a general skeleton for when i go home), AND at the same time- i can teach them how to make movies on the computers. When I was sitting with the director he just like threw up his hands and was like HALLELUJAH!!! And in my head I was throwing up MY hands saying HALLELUJAH. So, while Tenwek is the hospital- most of the TCHD programs take place out around Kenya. TCHD has four satellite offices (but they do not communicate by internet nor satellites. instead, it’s via cell phone!) within a 200 mile radius. Today, I met John Stuery, who lives with his family out in the Masaii Mara. He’s in charge of community health & development out there. His father was the first doctor down here! Just now, I met a guy (another John), who has been to Tenwek a few times, but just got back from Afghanistan. I asked about safety over there (which seems like a really dumb question) and he told me about this time when some of his friends were jogging when a little boy threw a toy at them. His friend, thinking it a game, picked it up and threw it back. It was a grenade. The boy then pulled out a riffle and started shooting at them as they ran away. They came back like alive saying, “I guess it wasn’t our day to die.” I was just sitting here (eating chocolate cake) with my mouth open. Anyway, REALLY good people with REALLY good stories!!! I’ll keep passing them on!
HIV/AIDS Prevention & Care
- Operate Voluntary Counseling & Testing (VCT) centers
- Train students, Teachers & Youth Leaders in “Why Wait?” program, an abstinence based, biblical, character formation curriculum
- Prevention of mother to child transmission
- Equip churches for involvement in HIV/AIDS in their local community
Safe & Accessible Water
- Provide Bio-Sand Water Filter
- Construct rain water tanks at area schools
- Spring capping
Food Security
- Establish Food banks
- Promote drought resistant crops
- Promote dairy goats
- Provide mango seedlings
Hygiene & Sanitation
- Target primary schools for health education
- Assist communities to construct pit latrines at schools
- Train town health promoters
Maternal Child Health
- Hold immunization and antenatal care clinics
- Malaria prevention education through Community Health Workers
- Subsidized mosquito nets
Gainful Employment
- Arrange apprenticeships such as tailoring and carpentry
- Bicycle taxis
- Loans for Small Enterprise Development
Equip Church for Holistic Ministry
- Mobilize churches to lead the way in health and development outreach
- Facilitate courses to develop church leaders to be effective in ministry following the model of Jesus Christ
- Mobilize and help the church to assist AIDS orphans
Green House Training Center
- Much of the training takes place at our new Green House Training Center. This training encourages community empowerment through training on leadership, financial accountability, and cooperation.
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Mom, remember how you told me to put on a slip and I said I would just do it when I got here? I wish I had put it on before I left!
Chelsea, remember how I was trying to decide which underwear I should wear? I’m glad I chose the “17 countries. 6 weeks. 1 pair” one. Although, you will be happy to know I did wash them yesterday.
Sophia, did I tell you how my Malaria medicine gives me crazy dreams? Well, I had my first REALLY CRAZY one last night and you were in it! Your waterbottle is really coming in handy!
Christian, I hope you are feeling okay!
Nick, I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you- I’m glad you caught me right as I was going through security!!
James, how is june term going now?
Louis and Jimmy Chalk, there’s a guitar down here in the guest house! The first thing Geoffrey asked when I sat down for lunch yesterday was whether or not I played an instrument, and when I said the piano everyone at the table cheered.
I got off the plane to face my first obstacle- the visa people would not accept the money I had specifically set apart to pay for my visa. The rest of my money was hidden under my dress- not exactly easy access! Their reason? All my $50 bills were too old! They were from before 2004. Thankfully, after a few moments of searching through my stuff I managed to find $50 from the year 2004 I had hidden away. Whew. Moving on, I went to claim my luggage. There was only one bag. Right before we had left my one duffle bag had ended up weighing 58 pounds instead of 50, so I ran inside and got a smaller bag for some of the heavier stuff. In it, I put whatever was on top of my big duffel- books and two 72 oz. bags of chocolate chips. Guess which bag showed up? Not the one with my clothes, toiletries, video tapes, clean underwear and socks! At least I have my chocolate and books. It just adds to the adventure I guess. Six weeks in Africa with only the clothes on my back! Really, a dream! I had to travel 5 hours by car today to a remote part of the Great Rift Valley and there is no way I can go back (it would be about a $500 trip) to get it! So, I am hoping they will bring it to me for free whenever they locate it. Otherwise they’ll have to ship it back to the USA. At least for the next few days I will be roughing it!
As I walked out, kind of flustered, with my small little bag full of chocolate, I met Patrick. I hadn’t known what or who to look for but he was holding up my name and I was pretty relieved something was going right. We called the hospital, told them the deal, and then started our long, bumpy journey to Tenwek.
Along the way we were stopped by the police. Police with big riffles and machetes I might add. After Patrick talked it out with officers for twenty minutes, they started questioning me, but I didn’t understand them. I did understand that they were asking for money claiming that because we were missing lifesavers (triangle safety things) they would only let us go if we bribed them. With thoughts of theft, rape, and murder, I told them I didn’t have any (a TOTAL lie), but they kept asking. I explained my suitcase had been lost at the airport. Then, they climbed in the car with their guns. In my head I was like, “Oh, fuck.” So I offered them some of my M&M’s and they smiled and grudgingly got out of the car!! Lesson learned- chocolate and smiles go a long long way.
I arrived at Tenwek just in time for lunch. I met some fellow visiting staff, and was fed by a Kenyan family. It was a LOT of fun getting to talk to them. There’s another girl staying at the guesthouse with me – Petra, she’s from Germany, in her last year of med school, and here for the entire time I am.
After a long lunch, I got part of a tour, met some more people (there are over 500 people who work for Tenwek!!!), and was left to rest. Then I went to Lizah Kuyaya’s for dinner with her husband and niece, Maria. The food has been delicious, and I haven’t been asked to eat anything crazy (like in SA.. sheeps tongue or stomach or whatever it was!). I am in REALLY good hands!! Whenever I pass anyone they introduce themselves and are really friendly. Sadly, the White’s just left on a vacation for three weeks, so they are not here 
. I have yet to meet anyone my own age, but that’s okay!
Prayer Requests: 1) For my duffel bag, or I figure out a way to do without everything and still look presentable! 2) Health, I have a pesky cough that won’t go away. 3) Confidence and knowledgableness. I am feeling a little overwhelmed. I am really excited about meeting people, but the first question everyone asks is what I’m here to do if I’m not a doctor. Tomorrow I meet with Jonathon and will find out about my job as a visiting staff member of the Community Health & Development team.
I’ve met so many awesome people today- the place is incredible, but I am exhausted and have not slept in like three days.
I could use a fresh beginning too, all of my regrets are nothing new. So this is the way that I say I need you. This is the way, this is the way that I’m learning to breathe. I’m learning to crawl. I’m finding that You and You alone can break my fall. I’m living again, awake and alive. I’m dying to breathe in these abundant skies. – Switchfoot, Learning to Breathe
