Wednesday: Day of Acceptance
I could not fix everyone, but I can do what I can, in this small part of the world. Dr. Frank helped me to reframe. Maybe they will be sick again in one month, but we can help them in this moment. And if that is what I can do, then that is what I will do. No one left me empty-handed. Multivitamins for everyone, even if it is just a week’s worth. We have to start somewhere.
It is simply amazing to me that anyone survives at all. No clean water, if there is water at all. Not enough food. Always dirty. I can never complain again.
Our 84 year-old man was back for more Tums.
Dr. Frank has an entourage, I must tell you about. Carlos (photographer) and Meredith (reporter) are with the San Francisco Chronicle, and are doing a story and documentary on FAME (Foundation for African Medicine and Education—Dr. Frank’s organization). They are cool cats, and have captured so well what we have experienced. For my Bay Area friends, keep your eye out! They plan to run the story in December. (Save one for me!)
Thursday: Day at the Boma
We left Minjingu and went off the beaten track again to a boma, or little accumulation of huts out in the bush. These were pure tribal people, some had never seen white people it seemed. This village was all women and children as the men are off working in the tanzanite mines for months. I have never seen such a sick group of people. The infections and malnourishment was overwhelming. And I thought I had seen sickness. EVERYONE was sick, and many very sick. TB, malaria, HIV, everything from the past few days plus more.
I had seen plenty of scars by this point from works of witch doctors, but today I saw a fresh wound that was most disturbing. She was 3 years old and so trusting of me, as I slightly moved her cloth to listen to her lungs. Peeking out at me was some dirty gauze and tape, who knows how long it had been there. She leaned into me and never flinched as I began taking it off. It was almost disturbing that she was so trusting, It was as if she was used to being man-handled. Even I almost lost my stomach. Pus oozed from a wound on her rib cage. After I cleaned it away, I found a circular abscess as if a chunk of her had been cut away. If I had seen the witch doctor, he would have seen the witch come out of me. How could you do such a thing to a child?? I understand there are major cultural differences here, and in their minds they are helping, but to me there is a huge line being crossed when children are being hurt this way.
Once again, we do what we can…one person at a time, right?
5 comments:
amber... what you are doing is amazing! i feel like saying "good job" but that seems inadequate. frank emailed me to say "thank you for the referral" although you are probably wondering at times WHAT, how did i get myself into this? but he is so thankful for your help and said you have been amazing! so a huge THANK YOU to you and all you are doing and all that you are sharing with us. i can't wait to hear more! love lindsy
Amber -- Your key will be in what you said, "We can change this moment for this child." It's too overwhelming otherwise. . . Keep at it. Meanwhile, YOUR moments and life are being changed. Love you, Becky
And to continue where Becky left off ... your experiences and your sharing them are changing us. I think we all come to a place in our lives where we desire to be a part of something that matters to our heart, to us personally, to go deep. But often it takes another who is doing just that to inspire us. So thank you, Amber.
In America we sit in our palaces. Everything perfect. Everything in its place. 401Ks for the future. Kids outfitted in the coolest duds. The rich among us live in such excess that they can PAY to have someone hang Christmas lights in our yards -- and I guess literally -- FOR heaven's sake. What is with us? We can get so wrapped up in us, in our "wants", in our little circle, and close our eyes and emotionally distance ourselves to the plights of others. Everything is fine in our little world. But is it really? What are we teaching our kids and encouraging in our spouses, family and friends by the way we live, the way we talk, the way we act, the way we do or do not reach out.
Hi Amber it's Mari from Petaluma Pedi. I recevied you blog info today, and waited until I got home to read your blogs, I wanted to cherish every word you had to say. I am living through you. I don't know where to say you are doing the best. Just being you and doing what you are doing!!!! One day I hope to be as BRAVE as you and to go and help in Africa one day. Just remember to look into their eyes and give love and comfort. Hang in there, they never said it was easy to change lives one moment to moment. P.S. In my house band-aids and Tums cures alot as well :-) Paula and I will keep a look out for word on you guys in December. YOU ARE THE BOMB :-)
Mari~
What can one say to such words as these?
You are blessed Amber. Hang in there.
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