Our friend Renee was explaining to a mother the other day that we could help her care for her babies saying, "these ladies, they are knowing how to care for littles." That is the way we would have to say it so a Ugandan would understand.
We have had the opportunity to be with and care for several preemies since we have been here. Here in Jinja quintuplets were born! We have been to see them twice and have even been able to hold and feed them. The main hospital here has a preemie ward that would make the average American go into a panic. The babies live in wire baskets covered in tons of blankets to keep them warm. Doctors and nurses don't check on them and medicine, food, and oxygen are not provided. The quints mother, Dorothy, is living in the hospital with the babies and is slowly trying to breastbeed her them. They are tiny, about 2-3 pounds each, but absolutly gorgeous! There is one boy and 4 girls, but unfortunately after a few weeks of life, the 5th baby died. It was very disappointing knowing that with ohter care, this sweet baby could have lived. It's been such a neat experience for us to be able to see them and help a bit.
While in Kampala with Watoto, we were able to go to the main hospital, Mulago, to the preemie ward and pick up a new baby. The director named him Phin and he is now about 3 pounds. We got to tube feed him in his incubator and care for him while his paperwork was being finished for him to move to his new home. His mother was 14-years-old and too sick and poor to care for him. The preemie ward in Kampala is better than Jinja, but still not very nice. Unfortunately many of the preemies didn't look like they were going to make it. There was a baby boy who weighed 0.4 kg, or 1-pound. He was born that day and was the smallest baby I've ever seen. He was literally a fetus. The doctor who happened to be in the room went to look at him a few times, and had him wrapped in a blanket on a table, finally announced that "his breathing had finished." We went to go and see him (the baby) and told him, sorry, and that we loved him. We also decided he deserved a name. Here, people who have preemies don't always attach or care or love them as they should, assuming they will just die. Some even deliever premature because they are trying to have an abortion. We named him Josiah. Poor little baby boy.
3 comments:
Hi Rach and Ar,
It's me again - your anonymous aunt in Tennessee. Such sweet pictures but such sad stories! I had my sweet baby boy home this weekend (gosh - he can't really be 27 can he??) from Morehead, Kentucky (about a 4 hour drive) so we enjoyed that.
Enjoy your new babies!
Love,
Auntie Joanie
So sad. It is wonderful you were able to give the baby a named he desevered...Josiah is a wonderful name.
Blessings,
LeAnne The Haiti Lady
Beautiful Daughters,
This story of the "Littles" just made me cry. I cried for those tiny babies who are barely hanging on to life. I cried for little Josiah who went home to be with Jesus. I cried for the two of you for being a witness to suffering and for your tender hearts who can love a tiny human stranger enough to give him a name. Sometimes I think everything you are doing is getting to be....well....normal. And then I remember that every day is a miracle in the making with the two of you. God is blessed by the compassion you show everyday. I am blessed by the compassion you show everyday. May He continue to bless you greatly as you serve Him!
I love you so much!
Mom
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