Though today was the shortest day of the week that we've had so far, this is the most tired I have felt and many are feeling a little under the weather, including the student team. Karina started to feel a little sick yesterday, and it has gotten worse today, so we decided to go back to the hotel so everyone could get rest and hopefully come back 100% tomorrow.
It is 3:00pm and we are back at the hotel. Century and Karina went straight to their rooms to sleep. I on the other hand am sitting in the lobby trying to access this spotty internet. My roommate, Julie, is volunteering as a night nurse, so for the duration of surgery week she will be at the hospital from 7:00pm to 7:00am. She has a ‘do not disturb’ sign on our room door, so I opted not to bother her. Just snuck in for my laptop and a book.
For the hours we were at the hospital, we did get a lot in. We were able to say bye to most all of the patients who received surgery yesterday and were being released this morning, including my new friend Haron. Operation Smile doctors did surgery on his eye, releasing his eye/eye lid so that it would be more functional. The skin was very tight around the eye and it was much smaller than the other, due to the burn that happened to him when he was a toddler.
Many new people showed up for screening again today. There were six surgeries scheduled for each surgery table, and then more were added on this afternoon. With five surgery tables, that comes to more than 30 surgeries. The doctors, surgeons and nurses had a long day yesterday and will likely have another today.
In addition to helping, observing, and presenting at the hospital, the Student Team visited an orphanage and primary school. Century, Karina, Polly (a special guest), and Afia (Kenyan non-medical volunteer) brought many donations along with us to both places. We gave the orphanage and school pencils, pens, sharpeners, paper, stickers, soccer balls, calculators shaped in rulers, and more.
The orphanage was the first stop. It was for an orphanage for children from infant to eighteen years old. The orphanage is well known in the community and they say hospitals, local community groups and other organizations know of their work and refer orphan children there. At the orphanage they receive care, food, and education. At any one time they can have more than 150 orphans and some will stay until they are eighteen years old. They also work with the government to allow adoptions of the orphans, mostly the infants and younger ones.
Some babies are abandoned at the hospital shortly after they are born; the mother walks out for a few minutes and never comes back. They use a fake name when they check in. Some children's only guardian is a grandparent and if the grandparent passes away, the children are left orphaned. If parents abandon their children and then come to claim them back, the must get a court order to prove that they are the parents.
When we arrived, school was getting out so there were no older children there. Only babies and young children. We visited the nursery first, where we had to take off our shoes before entering. Then we saw where the toddlers sleep. Afterwards, we were able to hang out for the children for a little bit. Many were running around barefoot with runny noses. It took a minute for them to realize what we were asking, but we were able to get a great group photo!
The Moi Primary School was the second stop. On the way there, we found out that the school actually did not know we were coming. Afia told us that the schools welcome guest and it should be no problem. Immediately upon arriving we met with the Headmaster. She was delighted to see us, and happy to arrange a visit with her students. We found out that the school had a large attendance - 2,000! She was also happy that we were leaving so many things and said since tomorrow will be the last day of school until break, she would make sure they each received a gift.
We visited a 1st grade class and the students were great. Typically, each class has 50 or more students in it. They were very attentative to Karina and Century, as they presented on Burn Care and Prevention and Dental Hygiene. Before we left, each student received a new toothbrush and pencil. As we walked out, so many students followed us and wanted to have their photo taken. They followed us all the way out the front gate of the school.
It was great to see a school. The schools are very different from schools in the United States, though there are still the basic similarities. The buildings were older, with the paint peeling. There were wooden tables and chairs as desks. A chalk board but the teacher had no chalk. The room decorations on the wall were old newspapers. But they all knew English well and seemed to be happy to be in school and learning. It was so great to feel so welcomed, though we showed up unannounced. I don't imagine that would ever go over well at a school back home. Just getting through visitor check in can be a hassle.
No comments:
Post a Comment