deep in the mix.

So the last couple of weeks have been pretty heavy down in Kisenyi. The sickness is far more intense than it was last time, ALL of the kids are sick or wounded or struggling with their health in some serious way. The typhoid/malaria combo seems to be the most prevalent, it looks like almost half of the 60-80 kids we see every week are infected with both. 

When I first got back here I was hesitant to dive back into the medical needs, being that we are here for such a shorter amount of time, and I am very clear from last time on how intense it can get...and also it can be incredibly financially draining. But of course I found myself back in that clinic with 2 benches full of kids needing to see the doctor. I have a really hard time saying yes to some and no to others...what makes one child's malaria/typhoid infection more important to treat than another? When a 12 year old boy has been walking around with a hand that has been broken for over 5 days, or has an abscess covering the entire side of his face ...you say no I can't help you? 

Last week a 16 year old girl named Nalubega (of course) with her 8 month old baby girl named Angel came to the program. She whispered in my ear that she needs help while pointing to her private parts. She lives on the street with that baby, prostitutes at night, is so malnourished that she isn't producing any breast milk and her and her baby are starving. That is all before we go to the clinic to deal with an out of control herpes outbreak. 

Although the boys are a devastating situation, they are tough and their toughness makes me tough. The girls are too much for my heart to handle. Just typing this makes me cry. It's too overwhelming to wrap your brain around, you know?

So anyways, I am working on finding an organization that will take in Nalubega and Angel together, so mother and daughter do not have to be separated. The last thing Uganda needs is another orphan. We are also bussing all the boys to a clinic to be tested for HIV the end of next week, so please lots of prayers and positive thoughts our way for that one.

(Sorry for the heavy post y'all, I will get back into joy and positivity asap :)) 

If you want to help with the program...

We feed somewhere between 60 and 80 boys a day and give them clean water to drink. Each lunch costs $60 total.

The malaria/typhoid duo treatment is a 9 day run and costs about $25 a person.

 football days :)