Today was our first Monday in the wards. We did rounds as usual, but there were two consultants (like attending physicians in America) on our team, so all the Kenyan medical students came. This always makes for challenges with hearing and being involved in patient care. I don't think any of our patients passed away over the weekend, but when I was back in the wards in the afternoon, I saw a cart going by. I will find out tomorrow who passed away, and hopefully we can determine the reason. Tomorrow it will be a smaller team because the consultants will not be there.
I think I expected to be able to be directly involved in patient care on day one, but I didn't realize how much personal adjustment it would take first. Everything about the hospital is overwhelming, but I am starting to grasp the system and identify the pharmacists' roles. Each day gets better, and I build a little more confidence after each experience with the help of Will, Messai, the Kenyan pharmacists, and the Kenyan and American medical students and physicians.
I was walking outside this afternoon, and I saw a small boy in a patient uniform, probably no more than six years old sitting on the ground. He looked sad, and I had a couple extra cookies in my pocket, so I gave them to him. He looked up at me without smiling, but I smiled and offered him the cookies. A few minutes later I walked by and he was still sitting expressionless on the sidewalk holding the cookies in his hands. I looked more closely at him and realized that he had sores around his mouth. I wonder if he was unable to eat them because of pain or if he was just saving them for later. If it is too painful to eat, I feel like I was just torturing him. All I can do is keep trying to help though.
Daily food update: We had taco's for dinner! They were great! We have fruit salad at every meal, and that has definitely become one of my staples. I had another good facial expression when I tried to make hot chocolate and realized after taking a sip that it was unsweetened chocolate- just a tad bitter! Nothing a little milk and sugar can't fix though.
Anyway, not much else is new. Tomorrow will be another day of rounds, and tomorrow evening I may attend a Kenyan aerobics class and/or Karaoke night in town- updates to come!
Love to all in the US!
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Love the idea of your face when you tried the hot chocolate -- we need photos of your expressions, they are priceless. Even though I know you need a poker face, your expressions are also what make you uniquely "Mal" and so don't lose it completely!
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coco