sorry we missed thursday...

apparently we were too tired to blog yesterday.  i think we ate dinner and then all chatted for a while - debriefing on our experiences here.  and by the time that was over, bed seemed better than blogging... sorry mom. 

nameeta will be blogging momentarily about another bajaji event as well as our experiences with some of the teaching here at the hospital... it was memorable and amazing, but i'll let her blog about it. 

this week, i have been rounding in tumaini- the ward that holds the children who are less ill, mostly receiving chemotherapy.  every day, i ask, can they go home?  the children are here for so long because they often come from so many miles away that going home in between cycles of chemotherapy isn't feasible.  and the hostel is full, so they end up staying on the ward for a long time.  but, they form little family units, and they all support one another, watch out for one another, make sure each other have what they need.  they seem to almost move and do things as a unit- like there is this unspoken rhythm of life.  get up, get breakfast, wait for the doctors to round, get lunch, check temperatures, get new IV's placed, get dinner, and on and on.  the kids run around and everyone watches out for each other.  there are definitely a few trouble makers - chasing after the other kids.  i think i saw one kid bite another today - but the other kid was stealing his red car so maybe it was warranted? 

this afternoon, i was called to the bedside of a little girl with ? t cell leukemia?  - she has a large mediastinal mass and severe anemia and significant fevers.  she had a fever and was not breathing well.  her oxygen levels were low.  we re-positioned her and put oxygen on.   at home, i would have put her on some sort of positive pressure ventilation, but here there's just an oxygen mask.  she was staring at me with these big eyes, like what the heck is going on and can't you make me feel better.  and, it was so frustrating and sad not to have the resources to help her.  but, with some lasix and morphine and tylenol and ibuprofen (don't worry, her platelets were ok), she improved a bit.  hopefully, her steroid will kick in soon. 

during afternoon rounds, one of the doctors picked up a chart and a zillion baby cockroaches came flying out... a new generation joins the crew...

we did get to hear one little guy give us a big "hello" this afternoon - he had a tracheostomy placed due to his tumor obstructing his airway a while ago... but with some chemo, the tumor shrunk and his trach came out a few days ago.  he's been shy to talk, but today we encouraged him to say hello and he did - which prompted all of us to cheer! 

tomorrow, nameeta and i are taking the day off and going on a bike tour of Dar!  (don't worry, mom, it's very safe).  i'm super excited!  and, then we are headed to the beach! 

more to come from nameeta momentarily...