Stars

Wednesday, September 18

I am sitting on the porch with a cool breeze blowing and the sounds of insects and frogs filling the air.  It has been a long, gritty, and sweaty day and it is great to sit and breathe. I must say that I am growing fatigued with the red dust.  It is everywhere and in everything. I find it miraculous that the nurses keep their uniforms white, I really don’t understand as everything I have is dusty and discolored.

The day started with chapel and great singing in Chichewa and English.  I went to the wards briefly but then headed to Pedi Clinic. It was a nice morning seeing babies.  It is nice that we now have an established rhythm in clinic and seem to be smoother and more efficient.  Many of the patients I now know a little and it is fun to see them grow. Stephano, the diabetic, also came again and is doing well.  His dosing had a few hiccups but overall I am pleased. One of the babies, from the orphanage had a couple of small abscesses that had to be drained.

Lunch was pleasant and Melissa and her girls were around.  The girls did a lot of singing with us and I have had children ‘s songs stuck in my head all afternoon.  

After lunch, I was back in the wards.  We admitted a one and a half year old who drank kerosene.  Unfortunately, this can end in full respiratory arrest and a necrotic chemical pneumonitis.  We are hoping he will do well but the time frame of concern goes for 48 hours. His chest x-ray 6 hours after the ingestion was as concerning and he was having mild symptoms.  This is really just an issue of supportive care. But in Malawi even that is limited. I am praying that he survives the night. 

There also continues to be puzzling cases that without tests you never can be sure of the true diagnosis.  Things today included whooping cough, hepatitis A, ciprofloxin toxicity, and typhoid fever. This is just a tough place to live.  My research reading is long and varied every day.  

The evening has been nice.  Tonight I had a video call with LeAnna and the two adoptive moms. I had talked to LeAnna about their situation and she had shown interest in sharing with them her thoughts and tips on the transition in moving to America and into a new family. She was sweet and offered them some insight and a different perspective. If was fun to hear her recount that incredible time in our lives and interesting to hear what she remembered. I was proud of her for taking the time to share her experience in a very real and vulnerable way and for helping others.

Amelia and the kids joined us for dinner and Elise made beef stew and mashed potatoes.  It was delicious. Eni said the evening prayer and as always was thankful for Elise but also thanked God that she would go to America soon.  So sweet!

We walked Amelia and the kids home tonight.  It was nice to stroll in the cool air. On the way back we stopped multiple times to gaze at the stars.  They are unbelievable and a great reminder of how great and big God is and how He folds His glory all around us-even in Malawi!