Saturday in July, Clinic Day One

Clinic Day One

We are back at Pastor Daniel’s remote church where we had Vacation Bible School in June. It is a challenging drive into the thorn forest through the sandy bush. This church was started by Missionaries who came in 1993. These are the same missionaries who introduced Jesus to Pastor Peter when he was 11 years old. It is a sweet connection.

We set up clinic inside the block church building that is decorated with tri-colored silk wall hanging. There is lovely cool breezing through the open air windows that displaces the heat of the day captured within. We have a long line of patients gathering outside under white tents put up for shade. Dr. Maria is back and we share an exam station. She claims one side and I on the other. It is marvelous to see her again and to share the day together.

First clinic days are known to be chaotic and messy so I seek refuge with my first darling of the day. She  is small at a year and a half and weighs only 15 pounds today.  She was born a month early and was referred to a cardiologist for evaluation but the family could not afford to take her. She is malnourished and dehydrated and I can hear a heart murmur, wheezing and pneumonia. I consult and we decide to try a puff of an inhaler. A few minutes later, this clears her wheezing. I will treat her for pneumonia and we will follow her for malnutrition. She is vigorously resisting my care though easily consolable so I am encouraged by her vim.

When I look up I see the line has grown. I overhear Kelly talking about how it is becoming unruly and because I took some time with my last darling, I see I need to pick up my pace. My interpreter is known to me and though his translation is good, I am having trouble understanding his accent. He is a robust man with a heart of gold and I am sorry to be difficult but I need my ears to pick up the pace as well. Sweet Mary takes his place.

Ten year old Namanyani comes to us with her father. She is quiet and withdrawn but appears to be in no acute distress.  Her father is a towering, Maasai man with a keen smile and a surrounding kindness that flows from him. He looks me in the eye and tells me that what is troubling him is his daughter’s fainting spells. With some probing, he tells me the spells come without warning or other symptoms and are followed by shaking then sleep. The shaking never lasts longer than a few minutes. After examining her, I suspect Nami has a seizure disorder and our conversation turns to education about seizure care. It is a page right out of our June first aid manual. Dad seems pleased and satisfied knowing how to proceed.

Halfway through clinic, Dr. Ndoipo arrives. He, Maria and I were my co-presenters for the June Community Healthcare Worker class. I give up my seat in clinic to make room for him and work out a make-shift station by the door. The difficulty is that he takes Mary as his interpreter.

After lunch, I am blessed to have Rafael as my companion. We begin by dispensing meds in the pharmacy to clear up the log jam there. We visit Vitamins later to do the same and then it is the end of clinic. After a few last minute injections, we are on the road back. I ride with Peter and Kelly in the land cruiser. It is sunset. The translucent peaches and pinks of the mountain sky are accentuated by the dust storm we kick up on the deeply, sandy, four-wheel drive landscape. It is a landscape because the road isn’t always where you think it should be. It is a bit of a wild ride but so reminiscent of my past heart delights.  I go to sleep smiling.