A bible verse that is growing very much in popularity with me is John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
I am excited about sharing this post today! I have so much to say and tell, but just not enough time do it so I will be picky in what I am sharing. Today was a very different day for me...I feel as if God has opened my eyes and revealed a miraculous event to me! Myself and many others have been in prayer for so long in preparation for this journey, but nothing could have fully prepared me for what I have experienced. I was in complete shock the past few days, but today I was able to embrace this culture! I fully believe in the power of prayer! So many brothers and sisters in Christ have been lifting me up in prayer; I have been dwelling in God's presence, I have been consumed in His Word, and I have been praying reverently. I am in awe of His strength! I started my day by gathering with the other physicians this morning for prayer time and to review a case. Prayer with other healthcare providers before starting a day filled with such hardship is such a lifting experience! As I started seeing my patients today I felt God's strength in me! I was able to show the children such compassion without completely breaking down...it was a great accomplishment and one that would not have been possible without God! The children are so loving and thankful! They are in love with "white" people, and are overcome with joy by just a smile or a handshake! Critically ill children, children fighting for their lives, and they are so appreciative of all you do! It is such a great motivation for my day! There were definitely still hardships to endure today, just as there will be everyday in this society, but there is so much that is positive! An 8 year old child is being sent to hospice tomorrow for an illness that could have been cured in the US. If a certain drug that is routine for pregnant mothers in the US had been affordable for a mother over here, her baby would not have permanent brain damage. Everyday I could sit down and be depressed about the tragedies that occur here, but by God's will I am choosing not to! I walked around with a big smile on my face all day today because that is what these children need! In the pediatric unit 1 in 9 children die, in the neonatal unit 1 in 5 die....but so many children live!!! It is a miracle that so many children are able to survive in these conditions. Tenwek Hospital (a mission led hospital) is considered one of the nicer hospitals in Kenya...in the US it would not meet the standards of even our poorest hospitals. It is so amazing that they can do so very much with so little! It shows me even more so how ridiculous the US healthcare system is!
Just a little background of why the mortality rate of children is so high in Kenya. The average income for a Kenyan FAMILY is 100 Shilling per day (about $1.50) and my meal at a fast food place in Nairobi (small value meal consisting of a chicken sandwich, small fry, small soda) costs 490 Shilling.....what an average family makes in 5 days was the price of my one meal!!! In the healthcare system in Kenya patients must pay for their treatment upfront...if they were to send bills out the hospitals would never get paid and they would not be able to function. It may seem harsh to turn people away who can't afford treatment, but it is necessary. The hospitals do try to make everything as affordable as possible. With such a low income and having to pay upfront, treatment is often only sought if the illness is life-threatening. So, pretty much every pediatric case seen in inpatient is a critical case. The sad part to this story is that many of the conditions seen could have been cured early on if the parents would have sought medical treatment before the condition became so severe.
Apart from my clinical experience, I got to eat American food today! I've only been away from the states for 4 days now (although it seems like months), but it funny how fast you miss the little things! We are so spoiled in the US that we eat for comfort, not survival. Therefore, if something doesn't taste good, we don't eat it. It has been a challenge for me to eat Kenyan food because to me nothing taste good. Today, a missionary family from the US (they are all from the US) had myself, Nathan, and Lyle (a visiting medical student) over for lunch. We had beef stew, carrots, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and brownies for desert!!! I never thought I would be so excited about food! The taste was wonderful! I am learning very quickly an appreciation for the little things!! I only hope that this appreciation carries back over with me to the states!
One more story, then on to school work! I was walking on a mile long path today that surrounds Tenwek. When the children that were playing in their yard saw me walking by, they quickly flocked to me screaming with excitement! They rubbed my blond hair that was pulled back in a ponytail and kissed my arms...each one just wanted to simple touch me. It was such a joy for me that by simply being present I could bring a little excitement into these kids lives!
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