Over the Border.

 

As our visas expired this weekend, we went over the border to Rwanda. We took a matatu to Musanze- one of those 'how many can you squash into a van', type of journeys but it was fine. I met up with the next chair recipient but it will be a standing frame not a chair. A lovely Dad and such a sad story. It was not known the mother was expecting twins. While in labour the Doctor said the baby's heart beat had stopped and the baby had died. The Doctor then left the mother alone to deliver the dead baby but she didn't manage it. They eventually gave her a Caesarian at which point they discovered another baby who had by that time been damaged by lack of oxygen. So unnecessary.

On the Saturday we decided to take the bus to Kigali, the capital. We took the Virunga Express coach ....a little too express at times! Two hours journey for £1.70, not bad. We then took a taxi to the big supermarket. The whole city to explore and we choose the supermarket - how sad is that? It was great fun to go round a big shop again. We bought very little but just looking was exciting. There was also a cafe with real bread (by which I mean not sweet bread) and decaffeinated coffee and chocolate cake with butter icing- not moist enough to be perfect but still pretty good. Then we crammed into the bus again to stay the night in Musanze before heading back to the border. As we were waiting for our visas to be stamped on the Ugandan side, the power went off....welcome home!

There have been 3 new babies in the village: newborn twins Gato and Gakuru and Moses who is about 2 months but very underweight. As you can see, Gakuru got a polystyrene box and Moses netted a bath tub.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The medical centre has had a number of coming and goings. A little lad in severe heart failure, survived and has been sent on to Kampala for surgery. Two very sick newborn babies came in, both having had traumatic births: one died and the other was reunited with his mother who was still recovering in hospital. We now have the smallest premature baby since we arrived - 1.15kilos and doing ok. As we got home today, a 3 month old arrived who was in hospital with pneumonia and on antibiotics but she was not recovering fast enough so the mother took her out and went to the Healer for a local tonsillectomy! The baby got worse so she went back to hospital but was transferred to us as she is now extremely ill. It is impossible to give her enough painkillers to make breast feeding comfortable although she is trying. There is also an 8 day old baby who came in last night who is vomiting bile so likely to have an abdominal blockage. They are staying here for the night and getting the bus to Mbarara Hospital at 5am. Mike was over in the Medical Centre within 20 minutes of us arriving back. He may never be allowed away again!

 

 

The partitioning in the medical centre has been completed and Mike now has a consulting room. The examination couch doubles as the place he and any on-call nurse can try and get some sleep - not at the same time, I hasten to add.

 

 

 

This week sees the end of another month which means I have to try and get the accounts to balance again. Paying the staff is a good way for me to learn names but it is not helped by some of them being related and so looking very similar. I take comfort in the fact that the Vicar of the church we attend still can't remember who I am ..... and there are very few white people around for him to confuse me with!

 

One way or another, we're all stimulated.

 

Due to problems with Blogsy and being busy, I apologise for no news.

 

We have had a team of 6 from England for 11 days. It is encouraging and inspiring to have visitors and we will miss their company. They were also incredibly useful. Carol devised a spreadsheet to help me with my newly acquired role to do the monthly accounts returns for the UK. Carol & Janet sewed dust covers for equipment in the baby unit, Alison brought out a reading scheme for Jo and took his after school sessions, Alison & Gill painted some wonderful murals in the children's rooms and made toys.

John fixed many things, gave useful and practical advice and almost made a prototype for a wonderful push along toy made from a baby formula tin and plumbers piping. He tried several methods but couldn't find a way of suitably fixing the piping into the joints in a stable and permanent way which was a shame. I will collar the plumber when he is next here and get his advice. It is going to be an amazing toy and I am very excited by the thought of continuing his work. Sian shamed us all by her determination to learn some Rufumbira and got to know many of the staff. She would happily talk to anyone and was very popular. Finally rattles were strung and teddies hung, it all looks bright and cheery.

There is only one inpatient at the moment, Kerisa is 2 weeks old and arrived in the village care as his mother died after the birth. He has a loving father living just over the Congo border but with many other children to look after, the family cannot cope with the needs of a newborn. Kerisa is worryingly placid and unresponsive and it has been difficult to get him to feed. He has been topped up with nasogastric feeds but the last two days has managed with 3 hourly bottle feeds. At 2.4 kilos he is a real dot.

Moses, the occupational therapist from the Hospital came to visit the workshop. He has 60 disabled children on his books....yikes! We discussed how best to prioritise the need for aids. It's a problem as many families would just not look after them and leave the chairs in the rain or allow siblings to play with and destroy them. We decided he would find one family who would perhaps be involved in making the chair for their child and see if they take greater responsibility for it as a result. He also wants to help in the workshop and we discussed the possibility that in time he could bring disabled adults down to help with paper sticking - help and therapy in one! There is such potential but a nightmare finding the correct way to develop the work.

With regards to developing the medical centre, Mike and Dr Michael, the Director of the Hospital, have decided the future here should be to cater for the critically ill child that gets lost in the wards and corridors of the Hospital. That decision allows Mike to start thinking what equipment they would need to fulfil that aim.

Things change so quickly. Since starting this today there has been an intake into the medical centre. A 2 yr old boy in a deep coma. His pupils are fixed and dilated but he can still move. His symptoms are odd and tests that can be done show nothing to explain it. However, everything that can be done, is being done.

Yesterday was our canoeing trip. The 5 of us walked to the tour place and discovered our guide had been arrested! Nobody else knew of our arrangements but once explained we set off with Richard as our guide. We had been told we could ...and wanted....to canoe ourselves but this was not an option. We spent a pleasant 3 hours being canoed around the islands, ate our packed lunches then walked back to Kisoro which took us 2 hours. It was steep in places but well worth the effort. Mike is taking hill walking well in his stride and has his sights on climbing the third tallest volcano some day!

 

I hope that this time the photos and text come out the way they are supposed to. I don't know what to do if they don't.