More of life!

The kitchen - the rest you can see below- I couldn't get the pics together. You can see the white bag of charcoal in the corner. The sodas in the cupboard are pretty much in constant supply at the guesthouse unfortunately!

Hospital staff sports day.

They did more than play tug of war with the rope
Had musical chairs dancing game, football and a
cycling race! Quite amusing.

The guesthouse kitchen sink with the bat, alive, I discovered one night. A few days later there was a rather large gecko stuck in the sink as it was too slippery for it to get out. It was rescued by the gardener eventually.

The kitchen

Bonus eggs and chicken in the same pot! I guess they hadn't been laid yet.

The traditional dress for women- gormas. The ladies that keep the guesthouse going:)

This baby goat had just been born!

The son of one of my colleagues being baptized.

Lots of cows

Boys off with their bikes to get water from the bohr hole.

I loved this picture of this little girl helping her mom wash the laundry.

The protestant (Anglican) church

A typical meal. Well except now that it is just me there is no longer a meat dish. Cooked cabbage I would say we have about 3-4 times a week! Thankfully I like cabbage. The flat bread thing is jipati (? spelling) and then boiled irish potatoes.

Town. The van is a taxi. There are a couple of streets that actually have more shops. This is where you can easily get a boda boda (the motorcycles) to go to the hospital. The post office is in that yellow building.

More pics of life!

Well, I still don't quite have the blogging down yet! I can't seem to format the pictures and writing how I would like at this point. However, I'll do my best to give some type of description that you can follow hopefully. Most of these pictures are of patients. The one at the bottom is one of our patients from the cerebral palsy (CP) clinics. We are working on strengthening some of his neck and back muscles so the toy's purpose is to get him to try to keep his head up.

The next picture is a man that was carrying a bed frame on his bicycle! The picture above is taken from the porch of the guesthouse and if you enlarge it you will see a cow in the field.

The picture with the guy in the red shirt...that's one of the physios that was working when I arrived but unfortunately will no longer be at the hospital in the new year. We were working with a kid who had an AFO (ankle/foot orthosis). We see so many kids that need these largely due to the effects of vaccinations for malaria that leave them with some paralysis. It is really sad to see.

The picture with the two women sitting on the ground was taken when one of the English ladies that was out at Kumi followed up with these two sisters to provide them with a goat. They are incredible. I don't know what condition they have but they are very short but manage well with the tricycle in the background. One of the sisters is the one who propels it and the other lady sits on the back and they go quite a long ways into town to sell things they bake at a school. They live independently and have a hut to sleep in and modified stools and chairs with the legs cut off --you can see in the pictures. They are so self sufficient and have so much pride it was inspiring to see!

I filled up a water bottle at one of the bohr holes. There are a lot of these in Uganda.

The pic with the kid in the orange shirt is one of the days that gave me hope that it is possible to make some difference. I had tried to work with him a fair bit to try to stretch his legs that are becoming very contracted...but he only cried and screamed. I had hardly ever seen him when he wasn't just lying down and crying. He was in the nutrition unit as he was very malnourished and had pressure/bed sores as well. The day this picture was taken the physio and I had taken him to the physio department and managed to get him sitting up and tried to get some reaction from him using toys. He finally smiled and it was amazing to see:) I think his grandmother was surprised as well as from her communication it sounded like he seldom showed positive emotion. Further up you'll see a few more pics of him when we found a wheelchair to position him in and again his demeanor changed dramatically and he was smiling and looking around at what was happening in the room. His grandma later reported that that day after returning to the nutrition unit with the wheelchair he kept on saying his cousin's name over and over as if he wanted to tell her about it. He apparently had not spoken anything for a long time except to communicate wanting food. Again seeing changes like this make some of the struggles seem worth it:) Unfortunately, in his case his grandma who is the main provider for him and I think 2 other children was going home to no crops (due to the drought) and no food. I try not to feel hopeless in situations like this where it seems like the only likely end result is that he will be back in the nutrition unit within months again due to malnutrition. His grandma was very grateful though for the wheelchair as she says now she can take him with her to church instead of leaving him lying on the floor of the hut. We also encouraged her to take him in the wheelchair out to the fields etc so he can interact with people during the day instead of being left alone in the hut. I hope to do a home visit in the New Year to follow up with their situation.

The next two pics are of kids we worked with in the CP clinic also. The one kid was so excited to see his reflection it was priceless. The other kid has POP (plaster of paris) on his legs to help straighten them and will then likely have braces for walking. He was also such a happy kid--and also enjoyed seeing himself in the mirror.

The kid at the top I have already posted some pics of. He again is one of the kids I had quite a bit of involvment with and was always amazed at his smile. He could be sitting half naked with flies constantly on him and he would still give a huge white smile when given any attention. Unfortunately, he won't be independent with his wheelchair as he has a contracture which prevents full use of his left arm. However, hopefully other kids in the village will push him around so he will be a bit more mobile than before. He comes from a pretty sad home situation with only his 20 year old brother and his brothers wife to care for him. His brother has his own kid as well. The OT gave him his cell phone to listen to music while we tried to fix his wheelchair and he loved it. A picture of his brother and sister-in-law who look after him.

Will try to post some pics of other aspects of life outside of work too!

Pictures

Above is one of my patients that I have talked about on my blog before. Thankfully this wheelchair became available and we were able to modify it for him so he does not have to be carried everywhere (it wasn't yet modified in this picture). Unfortunately, because of his contractures in his left arm/hand he is not able to independently move the wheelchair but hopefully his family and friends in the village will push him around in it. Before he would just be left sitting outside in the compound alone while everyone else was off on the farm or elsewhere. I pray that having this mobility will mean he will be included in more of the community activities. He is such a bright boy and even when he is left sitting on the ground being bothered by numerous flies he is still quick to give you a huge grin if you acknowledge him!

The picture above with the crowd of people is one of our village outreach clinics where we screen individuals with various disabilities and refer them to come to Kumi Hospital or to go to other places for treatment. We also have a community outreach worker who is trained to assess individuals with eye problems. He sees mainly adults while the rest of the team prioritizes children first and then if there is time we assess adults as well.

The gorgeous pool setting is a place I discovered with some friends while we were in Jinja. It is right by the Nile river--beyond the white wall you can see the Nile river. The setting is gorgeous and while the price to stay here is out of my budget, the cost of a day at the pool is only about $3, which is well worth the chance to relax and get some exercise in the pool. Unfortunately, Jinja is about a 3 hr drive from Kumi so this isn't a treat I get to enjoy often!

Pictures!

Wow! Uploading this picture took about 30 minutes:( I don't think I'll be uploading too many but maybe one a day. This is typical Ugandan food. Really not very unusual and quite easy for the palate.

Oops I hit something accidentally and it deleted my one picture! That's discouraging. Sorry I will have to wait till I have another 30 minutes to wait for an upload.

By the way this is being done on my new laptop. I finally succeeded with this purchase in Kampala though not without stress. I also purchased a modem so I have internet access without having to borrow one all the time. It feels strange to be part of the cyber world again.

more later...

Good-byes

This will likely be a short blog again---although I said that last time and failed to keep it short. Tonight is somewhat sad as it's the last night with the 2 ladies from the UK that have been sharing living space with me over the past while. They are leaving tomorrow morning and the guesthouse will be feeling the quietest it has felt since I arrived. It will be an adjustment but I'm sure there will be positive aspects of not sharing space with as many people.

My last post was when I was in Jinja and unfortunately I succombed to food poisoning or something that Saturday night so my Sunday was spent in bed instead of exploring Jinja. Thankfully I think I have mostly recuperated although for the last month or so I haven't had many days of feeling fully myself physically. I am not sure what the cause but I'm hoping I soon will regain my usual energy and sense of wellness.

As far as prayer praises and requests....

-One of my young patients thankfully is currently having a paediatric wheelchair modified for him and hopefully it will be finished on Monday. I found out last week that he is being discharged so didn't have much time to sort out a wheelchair. I was pleased that one I thought was not available became available to use for him. However the family cannot take it to his house by transport so I am hoping that we can find a way to deliver it to his home in the village soon. I wish I could post pics more easily as I'd love to share a picture with you all of his beaming smile as he sat in the wheelchair. I'm disappointed that he is leaving already as I was just becoming more involved with him and excited to do more work with him. I just pray that his family will take better care of him then they have in the past. I am planning on liaising with the community based rehab worker to follow up with him and I hope to go out myself to check on how he is doing at home. Please pray for protection for him and for patience and love from his brother and family who care for him.

Meeting- this Wednesday we have a big meeting with the rehab staff, a few Dr's and the community workers to review how the past year has gone and discuss what changes can be made for next year. Please pray for good communication and for wisdom and creative ideas for this coming year with regards to the rehab work. Please also pray for us all to have open minds regarding possible changes etc.

Computer- I have reluctantly decided to try to purchase a computer in Kampala. I have an opportunity to catch a ride with one of the Dr's to Kampala this week so will plan to purchase a computer. Please pray for wisdom and clarity as I try to make a wise decision on what computer would be best with little time to shop.

Well the power (electricity) just cut, so I better sign off so I don't drain the computer battery as it is not my computer!

Will try to catch up more later

New Scenery in Jinja

I just wanted to post a quick update. I am in a wonderful internet cafe in Jinja at the moment and have enjoyed some good coffee and food. This weekend I have been blessed to be able to get a ride with the hospital admnistrator down to Jinja for the weekend. Another volunteer and I caught a lift to get away and enjoy some new scenery for a couple of days. We are staying in a guesthouse here and exploring the town a bit. It's refreshing to be able to have the luxury of a hot shower and some change in food variety. I am shocked at how many westerners are in this city. Apparently Jinja is the second largest city in Uganda and seems to have a very high percentage of expats. It's quite strange really.



Anyhow, I'll just give a brief update on life. Work continues to pose challenges, but along with these are blessings and some rewarding moments as well. The Ugandan OT returned last week after being away for a month so it was good to meet him and discuss some ideas around the OT program here at the hospital. The hospital just hired another physio as well so that's good. One of the positives about this last week was being able to re-organize ward rounds slightly so that one of the wards has a rehab person present. This ward is where the kids who've had plastic surgery for burn contracture releases etc go, and previously they were falling through the cracks as far as having consistent therapy post surgery. Although, things weren't seamless in following up with them this past week, it was definitely an improvement so I pray it continues. I also am currently looking into trying to get a wheelchair for one of my patients who has CP (cerebral palsy) and who at the moment is having to be carried everywhere by his elderly grandmother. This child is not particularly light and it is a big burden on his grandmother to carry him around. Another boy here has really captured my attention as he also has CP and is very bright mentally but will never be able to walk due to fixed contractures in his legs and he only has one arm that he can use well. He has been abandoned by his parents and is being cared for by his brother and his brother's wife. Currently he is in the nutrition unit as he had become malnourished. I am hoping to be able to facilitate getting a pediatric tricycle fixed up for him (there is one that is stashed but is in need of repair). Hopefully he will have the strength to be able to manage with one arm to use it. It would be so amazing for him to be able to get around independently, even if only for short distances, as currently he just sits where he is put and is not mobile. I am not certain on his age but I think he is around 12 but looks more like 5. There are also questions around the support he has from family as far as how he is cared for. I think he has great potential to learn and become educated if he is given the opportunity--but in his current situation this is highly unlikely. Please pray for wisdom as we work with these kids and for discernment and clarity especially around the social issues with each of them. I think often times the families do really care for the children, but the burden of managing kids with disabilities within village settings where they have to farm and be away from home is incredibly challenging.



On the technological front I am still having frustrating times with my computer. It continues to be fickle and unpredictable and it is the exception if it actually works apart from in "safe mode". I feel rather lost without my laptop and yet am hesitant to risk trying to have it fixed again. I may have to opt to purchase another one:( Hopefully, someone will be coming out soon that would be able to bring one out for me. I've priced them out here and the price is rather steep. Anyhow, thankfully there are friends here who have computers I can use if need be in the interim. Please pray for wisdom to know what to do. It's amazing how dependent we become on technology eh?



On the accommodation front I may have an opportunity to share a house with one of the Dr's here. She is currently looking for a place in Kumi town and has expressed being interested in having me share a place with her. I will be thinking and praying about this possibility as I think the guesthouse situation, while manageable, may be a little difficult to live with for a whole year.



I also would appreciate prayer as I look into the situation here with the leprosy work and the status of the patients with leprosy currently staying at the hospital. The social worker who is involved with the patients with leprosy at the hospital has been working here for 25 or 30 years I believe, and really seems to have a genuine heart for seeing them cared for and the work with the leprosy population thrive. Her and I are currently trying to get a script together to air on the hospital radio (just broadcasted in the hospital grounds) to help educate the hospital patients and their families on leprosy. There are other issues to be researched and addressed as well regarding the leprosy work at the hospital as well as how it ties in with what is happening in town with leprosy. Please pray for wisdom and direction as we look into this. It's difficult to really grasp what the big picture is.

I am grateful that I have been feeling better this past week. I'm not sure what I had but I wasn't feeling myself for almost 2 weeks which was rather discouraging. Whatever it was seems to be resolving and I feel more like my usual self again:)

I am also so thankful for a volunteer that has been here for a couple of weeks. She has been working on getting an energy saving oven in place so that the hospital can have a bakery to help bring in some income for the hospital and hopefully more nutritious baked goods. She has been such a blessing as we have gotten along really well and have had so many meaningful serious talks as well as many many laughs! Laughter truly is such good medicine. I will really miss her when she leaves in about a week... She is the one I am in Jinja with this weekend and we may try to come down next weekend as well before she takes off.

Well, I am in a cafe and should probably sign off for now. Thanks so much for your prayers and your interest in the work out here. Please pray for wisdom especially with the dynamics between me and the rest of the rehab staff that God would give me sensitivity as well as courage and discernment in the situation here. I have received emails letting me know that individuals have been upholding me in prayer and it is such an encouragement to know this. I still feel like every day is a rollercoaster of emotions, but I am praying for grace and joy no matter what each day brings. I really do want God to be glorified in my time here and don't want to become so caught up with the daily challenges that I forget that I am really here to serve Him. I need to also remind myself that what my plans and ideas are may not always be what His plans and ideas are for me and I want to be open to His leading.

This hasn't ended up being that short but I hope you were able to get through it. Please also send me updates on your lives. It's refreshing to hear news from friends and family and feel more connected to other's lives as well. Keep me posted please:)

My snail mail address by the way is:

Angela Goerz
Kumi Hospital
P.O. Box 9
Kumi
Uganda

I love getting openable mail as well, and I think it is fairly reliable.

Will write more later.... God Bless.

Pics of Life at Kumi Hospital

Well, it takes a very very very long time apparently to upload pics onto this blog site with the speed of the internet here. I think I will have to wait until I got to Kampala again or somewhere where there is faster internet to do more pics! sorry. This is the guesthouse though and Jennifer is one of the ladies who works at the guesthouse and makes great food with few ingredients:)

I will upload more as I can but unfortunately it might be awhile. My current room is the window furthest from the front on the end of the house that you can see--if that makes sense.