Paediatrics on Tuesday

Rounds on the paediatric ward and the nutrition clinic on Tuesday, from top to bottom:

Tumusimwe—this little boy has a wheezy tuberculous cough and skinny little limbs, trying to recover from the TB which killed his father and left his teenage mother a widow.

Bacecura—this little boy has Kwashiorkor, and as he’s begun to drink milk over the last week his massive swelling has subsided, leaving the malnourished shell, the first step. He’s lost about three pounds already, which is a lot for someone who only weighs about 20. Pray for him to gain strength.

Chance—one of my favorites, his parents are dead, his aunt breast feeds him though she’s pretty desperate herself. He’s holding on to life but only tenatively.

Ngonzi—another favorite, with his AIDS and TB and his sweet, careful but lame mother. He’s waiting for ARV medications, to rescue his immune system from a CD4 count of 60. He’s over a year old but only weighs 5 kilos (11 pounds!).

Evarette—both parents died leaving her with this grandmother. She’s feisty and just beginning to head towards recovery.

Maskia—another orphan cared for by her grandmother, improving.

Ahebwa—sweet and tiny, this baby’s young mother is afraid to tell the family that her husband died of AIDS because she knows she’s positive too, and does not want to be thrown out. Problem is that there are four other oblivious wives and collected children all living still, in Congo.

Robert T—nestled skin to skin, we call this “kangaroo care” for low birth weight infants. He is his mother’s 13th child, and the 12th was also malnourished getting help from us. Sigh.

All of those are getting nutrition help, but there is one more picture of a mystery case. This boy Mubiiru Morisi is 7. He fell ill almost 2 years ago when he was admitted to the hospital for two weeks with fevers and sleepiness and weakness. Since then he’s had dwindling strength, poor weight gain and growth, and swollen legs, and I’m not sure what is wrong with him.

Then there are three of my dearest little outpatients who came back for follow-up today, all of whom have been prayed back to life as people read their stories on the blog:
Kabugho—the baby whose mother died of TB and AIDS right in front of me, and who was nearly dead herself a few weeks ago, still with those penetrating big eyes, not giving up on life!
Masika—after one week at home her weight is up again, and she looks great!
Makuni—still gaining weight too at home, back for a check-up.

Last but not least a few pictures of the missionary crew today:
Stephanie—the woman who pulls it all together for BundiNutrition!! It is a lot of work to arrange food, transport, staff, teaching, patient evaluation, records, fund-raising. She’s amazing.
Julia and Miss Ashley, volunteering their time on their day off of school, made the work go quickly.
Pat was investigating MUAC’s , mid arm circumference.
And my life continues to be improved by the presence of Scott Will, PA from Baltimore.