“Happiness is in doing”
- At October 12, 2011
- By admin
- In Joy Home, Medical Clinic, Uncategorized
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A poster on the wall of the pediatric ward of Nazareth Hospital reads “Happiness is in doing”. I’m not certain those words are meant to encourage the Nazareth staff, patients or visitors. Perhaps all.
Kate and I were visiting the pediatric ward to see a child from the Joy Home. Michael B. was admitted to the hospital on Monday. He is struggling with TB, pneumonia, shingles and a low CD4 (white blood cell) count. Michael is HIV+. Although he is only 11 years old he and his younger brother are full orphans who were living alone before being admitted to the Joy Home. We also learned Michael has a friend at Nazareth, Brian. Brian is 8 years old and is struggling with AIDS. Michael has become Brian’s encourager! When we visited Brian it was clear his disease had progressed….he is extremely weak, malnourished and dehydrated. But, there was Michael at Brian’s side. I’m not certain what Michael said…..but he was there.
As we looked around this ward of beautiful children, all HIV+ thru no fault of their own, there was a pretty little girl hiding under the covers of her bed. As she peeked out, we thought we recognized her, yes, it was Habiba. We last saw Habiba in 2010. At that time we learned she was being abused and in the midst of a terrible living environment. Last week her uncle brought her to Nazareth Hospital. Because she no longer takes her Anti Retro Viral medications her health is failing. Will her mother or uncle return for her? It is unclear. Yet, the Tree of Lives Love Account will at least make certain Habiba’s medical needs are provided.
Our visit ended with a reminder of the tremendous needs of Kenyan children yet a promise of hope. Perhaps our experience was best described by Paul when he described our God as the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort others.
by Rudy Miller, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, Virginia.
Yesu, Ninakuamini is Swahili for: Jesus, I trust in him.
- At June 30, 2011
- By admin
- In HIV/AIDS, Medical Clinic
- 0
At bustling Nazareth Hospital the patients lie on pastel printed sheets in maternity wards with ten beds, and some of them hold babies. A few do not. In a small grace today, a young mother whose baby died in a complicated delivery lay in the corner bed of an empty ward. Catherine escaped with her own life, but her uterus had been removed. In Kenya, Africa, this is a complete ravishment. Yet she already has a four-year-old child, so although barren, she will still be a mother. I could hardy believe that God had placed me by her side to tell her about life with just one child. More importantly, a pastoral counselor leaned on the bed next to her, hands folded casually, bestowing a compassionate gaze, and discussed the hard truth with her. “I’m O.K.,” she said, though tearful, and then she asked for prayer.
Three pastoral counselors are funded by Tree of Lives, and George Nderere has worked since the program’s inception, five years ago, despite the obvious sadness that comes with facing suffering at close range, as on a razor’s edge. I felt like time stood still in those moments. Yet he more than anyone, perhaps, knows when it is time to joke and to laugh and to take a rest – later in his day. To face the morning rounds again and meet new problems, he said he tries to think about how Christ is following him, even revealing his very face, as he enters into the emotional world of a patient.
So I spent much of the day with one tough cookie, but we both knew where real strength comes from.
by Ann Burrows, member of First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, Virginia.
