Life here for most people is filled with hardships and tragedies more than you would find in the USA. Life is a struggle to survive and also to find some semblance of happiness amidst all the pain. Godfrey, Michael's younger brother (Michael is the first boda driver/friend I had here who was murdered in Feb of this year), has been coming to me periodically just to talk. His older brother Alex managed to find a low paying teaching job and is trying to save to make repairs on his mother's house. Godfrey has just finished high school a year or two ago.
Godfrey and his partner had a child about a week ago. This small frail young girl (Freela) was born with her intestines on the outside of her abdomen. Godfrey was in a panic. He has no job despite looking for months. His wife is younger than he is and has no parents. They brought her to Mulago Hospital and were told "Take her home to die, she won't make it". Godfrey did not want to take "No" for an answer and managed to get them to admit her (thanks to Fr Henry and the MOP). They were told that the baby needed to grow first before they can do an operation. Father Henry called Mulago and asked them to bill him for the hospital costs. My admiration for MOP continues to grow.
I went to visit the young distressed couple Monday of this week. Robine took me. He shared with me the reality of hospitals here in Uganda. This is a national hospital...nearly 4,000 beds or more yet there were people camped out on the lawn sleeping and eating and just waiting. Robine said that you can get admitted and not see a Doctor for days (as happened to his aunt). The reality is that you have to pay off the doctors to get seen and if you have no money, you might not get treated at all, BUT you will still be billed for your stay.
It was hard looking at the faces of these very ill and patiently waiting people..the people on the lawns were waiting and hoping to get admitted...the people lining the hallways and spilling out of the hospital rooms were patiently waiting to see a doctor. There was the same flat, hopeless expression on everyone's face. My heart was moved to pity and nearly tears. We walked into the ER to find 100's of people sitting there, again waiting...the reception door was closed. Robine said this is common and the people may have been waiting there for hours, in pain, in distress and dying...just waiting...waiting for someone to help...anyone.
Godfrey and his wife were still fully confident and hopeful that their child would survive if they just waited until she grew. They unwrapped the little bundle to show a tiny 4# frail and pale little girl. She had a cannula in her hand that had not been changed in 5 days. The bandage across her abdomen was soaked in drainage and smelled bad of infection. They had said that she had 1 IV since coming, had 2 injections of something but that they had not seen a doctor since the day they were admitted.
Her mother was holding her. I cradled her little head and looked into the small face and silently spoke to her in my head..."Freela, thank you for gracing this world and being so very brave. I know you are suffering but your life is precious and your family loves you dearly. You need to know that your presence here is vital to the mission God gave you. You are completing it well...May God wrap you in His loving arms and may his angles carry you to His bosom when your time comes and may you find more Joy than you can possibly imagine". Freela then, too weak to turn her head, turned her eyes to look at me. We held this gaze for several minutes. Then she closed her eyes to sleep.
I could see that Godfrey and his wife had no idea that their precious little bundle's life was very short. They were so hopeful. I gave them both a hug while Godfrey walked me out of the ward. I gave them some money for food (the hospital does not provide any). Godfrey asked what he should do. I told him..."Spend every second you can with your wife and your precious little girl. She will not be here long and you need to realize this. Love them both with all your heart. Just love them and be with them."
I walked away to Godfrey smiling and waving, he was still unaware that things would change soon.
I got a text from Godfrey yesterday AM about 4:30. Precious little Freela had passed into the arms of her maker on the wings of angels. Godfrey was in a panic..."What do I do sister Carol?". I told him I'd call Fr Henry and that Fr. Henry would take care of things...and indeed he did. He was there to buy the casket and do the final blessing and send the young family off to burial yesterday...in a plot next to her beloved uncle, Michael. Michael, I am sure was there to greet her and welcome her HOME.
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