July 24 Wednesday
“Auntie, John is very hot.” Not exactly what I wanted to
hear as I was coming back from being in town. We ran inside to check his
temp: 103.7°F. Not good. He was throwing
up his formula and still had his croupy cough. Nicole and I took John to the
clinic down the street (in Iganga) to be tested for Malaria. We walked alone in
the dark which is not very safe, but wouldn’t any “mother” do whatever it took
for her child? After pricking John’s finger and not getting enough blood, they
tried his heel. They proceeded to put the blood sample under the microscope. Malaria.
They injected him with Malaria treatment and sent us home to return the
following evening for the second of three injections.
July 26 Friday
“Nicole, wake up! John’s fever is 104.3°F!” His fever had
heightened. This was not a good sign. We had packed John’s things the night
before because we were supposed to bring him to ABIDE, the organization who
would be fostering him until they find family who can lovingly and financially
care for him. But this was an urgent matter that needed to be addressed
immediately. We called ABIDE and told them to meet us at the clinic in Jinja an
hour away. Once we arrived, I insisted on being with John. I have basically
been his Mom for 2 months. I held him as they took his blood to test for
Malaria, HIV, and any other thing that possibly could be wrong. I held him as
they gave him a rectal fever reducer. While anxiously waiting for the results I
sang to him and rocked him. When the results came in, the doctor informed me
that John did not have HIV (praise God) nor did he have Malaria (we either had
caught it so early that the injections were working or he never had it to begin
with). The doctor feared however that John had bacterial meningitis. The soft
spot on his head was bulging. I am not a medical person so I was not exactly
sure what that meant. I watched as they attempted to put an IV in John’s little
hand. After two attempts in one hand with no success, they decided to try the
other hand. Tears were welling in my eyes. I can’t do this. I can’t watch them
stick my little baby. But I can’t leave him. If I was his mother, what would I
do? Would I stick it out and cling to my baby to let him know I am there for
him in his pain? I can’t do it. I am about to cry. I can’t watch them hurt baby
John. Thankfully, just then Kelsey from ABIDE offered to hold him because I
looked hot. No. I am just trying to hold in tears. I handed John to her, walked
into the waiting room, buried my head in Nicole’s shoulder…and cried. Once I
could compose myself I asked Nicole to go back with John. A few minutes later
she came back to the waiting room. They could not get the IV in. With a
frightful look on her face, she pulled me aside to tell me the severity of the
situation. Bacterial Meningitis could kill John. Again, I buried my head in her
shoulder and we wept together. I called my mom and cried. Nicole cried. Mom
cried. We brought John to the Jinja children’s hospital where they have more
experience with starting IVs on babies. Although that is the case, I still
could not bear to watch them stick him again. Nicole, who is a nurse btw,
stayed with John while I went out of earshot of John’s screams. After that was
over Nicole made a makeshift splint out of cardboard (which she had to rip with
her teeth because the HOSPITAL did not have scissors????) to keep the IV in.
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| IV with makeshift splint by Nicole R. |
The
doctor made it seem like the situation was no big deal and wanted John to
return for daily treatments. But a Ugandan doctor who had moved to Canada and
knows Nicole said get that baby to the hospital NOW. He needs to be hospitalized
immediately. It was then that Nicole and I took a private taxi to Kampala, four
hours away. I cried and held John. There was one blessing along the way…I saw
my first monkey crossing the road J
Upon arriving in Kampala, we waited two hours in the waiting room to speak to
the doctor. Dr. Michael was a God-send. He agreed the bulge on his head and the
constant arching of the back were signs of Meningitis and admitted him to the
emergency room to do a spinal tap, the only way to determine bacterial
meningitis. He also said that John is likely only 4-5 months old and surely
would have died had he not been on formula. His literal words were “This poor baby
was starving!” Now that we were admitted, blood tests were started yet again.
Thankfully the IV was already in place (phew!). The lab tech handed me a small
plastic cup to obtain a urine specimen from John. Have you ever tried to obtain
a urine specimen from an INFANT? I have to say it was quite comical and the
laughter that took place was much needed. It was quite a sight to see. We took
turns; one holding the baby and one holding the specimen cup in place. NOT an
easy task!!! After 45 minutes of trying to get him to take a bottle so he could
soosoo (pee), the lab tech came in saying he was going to give a rectal suppository.
With specimen cup still in place, we flipped John over. Once he was finished
administering the suppository, I lifted John upright and…you guessed it. Soosoo
ALL over!!! All over the bed, all over the floor, all over ME, but LUCKILY four
drops in the cup; thankfully all that was needed!
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| Urine Specimen |
We then were escorted upstairs to our room. We waited an
hour for the doctor to arrive for the spinal tap. I of course was unable to
remain in the room because I could not handle seeing my baby in pain. Nicole
stayed so the following details are coming from her: Imagine literally having
to hold down your naked, feverish baby in the fetal position on his side on a
cold, wooden table as the baby screams during the 45 minute procedure. I am a
nurse and can handle a lot of stress, but have never had to experience anything
like that, much less someone I am close to and care so much about. The good
thing is, as soon as the procedure was done he stopped screaming. Thankfully
John will never remember this experience. Unfortunately, this is something seared
into my brain for eternity.
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| Sharing a twin size bed |
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| Absolutely NO sleep |
The rest of the night was long. Nicole, John and I slept in
the small hospital bed together. Talk about crammed! The nurse came in every 4
hours to give John medicine and tried to tell us how to change him and put
blankets on him. We aren’t dumb you know! We spent around $300 on transportation and hospital bills. Anyway, we got very little sleep so
around noon ABIDE came and relieved us so we could return to Iganga and pack
our things to return to be with John. We took a public taxi which took about 7
hours to get home. Traffic was terrible thanks to the Uganda vs. Tanzania “football”
match. When we finally arrived home, Mercy and Eva were excited to see us.
Nicole and I were emotionally, physically, and mentally drained. In 48 hours I
saw my baby boy scream in pain, be diagnosed with various different infections,
and experience a taxi ride that would make NY traffic look like a float down
the Savannah River! https://www.noble.org/blog/a-noble-journey/surviving-ugandan-traffic/
This article describes Ugandan traffic to a T!
July 29 Monday
BUT THROUGH ALL THIS…God is good! John is being fostered by
ABIDE. He was discharged from the hospital with the diagnosis of UTI and RSV
and being treated with anti-biotics! We saw him today and he was laughing and
smiling the whole time. Tell me people…WHEN IS GOD GOOD? J We have moved to Jinja
to be closer to him and Mercy and Eva are being taken care of back home in
Iganga. I serve a mighty God who is The Great Physician and more than enough
for me. Whom shall I fear? I serve a God of Angel Armies ready for battle at
every moment. I sing praises to my God today, thankful for His awesome power
and magnificent wisdom. What is impossible with God?
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| Feeding my baby John |
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| All Smiles (obviously because he got to see ME!) |
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| He loved seeing his Auntie Nicole |
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| My Sweet John |
Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation
comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will
never be shaken.” WHOOO!
Blessings from Africa,
Nicole <3
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