We have a magician among us and his name is Darsi Lotay. An elegant but quiet and unassuming gentleman, Darsi has pulled many rabbits out of hats for us in the very best way. All it takes is the mere mention to Darsi of anything we need and within a few hours it appears.
On Tuesday, we needed a very large tent to shield the waiting children from the hot sun while they waited to see the doctors, dentists and optometrists ... and PRESTO ... a tent appeared, along with some able-bodied young men to set it up. More syringes for the dentists, additional medications, you name it, Darsi finds it, quickly, efficiently, and affordably. We will never be able to thank him enough for his help, yet it is he who is thanking us over and over again for being here.
On this day, we left camp early to freshen up a bit before attending a reception in our honor, courtesy of the U.S. Embassy. The opportunity to spend a few hours relaxing and socializing after four long and very tough days of working was met with mixed emotions. As grateful as we were for the recognition of our efforts, many of us couldn't stop thinking about the children we'd seen that day and the others who would languish that night in the hovels and alleyways of Mukuru without any food, while we enoyed a magnificent evening with more than we could possibly consume.
Still, the team needed a break and some time for fellowship and unwinding, so we spruced ourselves up in team t-shirts, laying aside our dusty scrubs and stethoscopes and headed into the balmy evening.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Day 3 - 9/24/08
We had hoped to see and treat 3,000 children while we were here, but we blew past that number today. Over 1,000 in the medical clinic at Mukuru alone today. Add in the 500 (approx.) in our dental and optical clinics at Mukuru plus the dental clinics at Mathare and Korogocho and you can get an idea of how many people are bringing their children to be seen by our teams.
Today was my turn for a meltdown. I've tried to remain stong and unemotional, but sooner or later the enormity of the situation is overwhelming and today it really hit me. Thankfully, Harry Mugo (R.C. of Nairobi North) appeared in time to whisk me away to his club's noon meeting. Much as I hated to leave the camp while everyone else was working so hard, the Mission Director was in need of an attitude adjustment and what better setting to do that than in the company of my friends in our host club. Besides, I think the team were secretly happy to have me out from un
der foot for a while.
By way of stark contrast to the slums, downtown Nairobi is spotlessly clean and bustling with the energy of many another large international city. The route into the city is lined with jacaranda trees, decked out for spring in their brilliant lavender blooms. Nairobi North meets at the Intercontinental Hotel, which truly lives up to its first-class reputation. So you can only imagine the very strange looks of its prosperous guests as I made my way through the lobby, still in my soiled scrube, rumpled t-shirt and grubby work shoes, with a fanny pack slung around my mid-section with a stethoscope dangling from it. Not exactly what they're accustomed to seeing in that place. Luckly, Harry whisked me through to the meeting room. Otherwise, someone might have stuck a mop and broom in my hands. It's nice to have friends in Rotary.
We returned to the camp after the meeting, winding our way through the crowd waiting outside the camp gate. We reached the gate only to find it closed for the day to any further patients. Once inside, we found the campground a sea of people. My heart sank as I realized that treating them all would be impossible, no matter how long we worked, so some tough decisions had to be made. So with great reluctance, we turned away those who were not urgently in need of care. Tomorrow would be another day and we could only hope they would find their way back to us.
Today was my turn for a meltdown. I've tried to remain stong and unemotional, but sooner or later the enormity of the situation is overwhelming and today it really hit me. Thankfully, Harry Mugo (R.C. of Nairobi North) appeared in time to whisk me away to his club's noon meeting. Much as I hated to leave the camp while everyone else was working so hard, the Mission Director was in need of an attitude adjustment and what better setting to do that than in the company of my friends in our host club. Besides, I think the team were secretly happy to have me out from un
der foot for a while.By way of stark contrast to the slums, downtown Nairobi is spotlessly clean and bustling with the energy of many another large international city. The route into the city is lined with jacaranda trees, decked out for spring in their brilliant lavender blooms. Nairobi North meets at the Intercontinental Hotel, which truly lives up to its first-class reputation. So you can only imagine the very strange looks of its prosperous guests as I made my way through the lobby, still in my soiled scrube, rumpled t-shirt and grubby work shoes, with a fanny pack slung around my mid-section with a stethoscope dangling from it. Not exactly what they're accustomed to seeing in that place. Luckly, Harry whisked me through to the meeting room. Otherwise, someone might have stuck a mop and broom in my hands. It's nice to have friends in Rotary.
We returned to the camp after the meeting, winding our way through the crowd waiting outside the camp gate. We reached the gate only to find it closed for the day to any further patients. Once inside, we found the campground a sea of people. My heart sank as I realized that treating them all would be impossible, no matter how long we worked, so some tough decisions had to be made. So with great reluctance, we turned away those who were not urgently in need of care. Tomorrow would be another day and we could only hope they would find their way back to us.
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