Newsletters Newsletters October 2008
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16th October 2008 Greetings to you all from wonderful, vibrant, forever changing sunny South Africa; never a dull moment out here! I am at my desk with a bowl full of mom’s first gorgeous spring roses. Their gentle fragrance wafts with the breeze from the open window. Mom’s garden is amazing, full of flowers, colour, fragrance, variety and is obviously well loved. It’s a delight! Presently she is outside clipping away; I can hear her from here. Quite the role model at 81 years! She has the two new puppies with her; delightful little SPCA specials, Max and Molly. As she said, ‘we are doing orphans now’! Tragically our darling corgi Bunty suffered a heart attack and died last week. He was dad’s best friend and the last connection with dad. Bunty suffered such heart ache when dad died in 2000; it took him a long time to settle. He was one of a kind, irreplaceable and such a character; he went as we all wish to go at 91 years old; fast! We miss him with an ache to the core, our dear Bunty. Molly is a gentle sweet and very obedient soul; Jack Russell cross. Max is lively, also adorable, learns fast and Molly is teaching him. He is a Daxie cross. They are both about 6 months old. They came home yesterday and have settled in already. They are in our hearts already. I will take a picture of them when I can get them to sit still! It has been a time of drama on many fronts and my time has been spread and shared; and so it goes! What I can say is that I am blissfully happy; every cell in my body tells me so! I am so obviously where I’m meant to be and doing what is intended. The program with the children is mesmerizing; like a river gathering strength as it flows towards the sea. We are now able to do more with the children besides just food hampers; and that is another story! I will try and stay focused! I will say however, that I, we, would be unable to accomplish what we do without Elizabeth, Zulu name, Nelisiwe Mbeje. She is one of a kind, a good friend, wise and empowered woman. She follows the families, advises me and we work together. And, she is gorgeous! Here she is with her little daughter Zama and Mantombi, ‘my’ daughter! We are such a team and work so well together. The grass does not grow under her feet; she makes opportunities, has ideas and ensures things happen. She embodies Ubuntu, with the community uppermost in her mind; despite folks thinking her ‘too smart’ as she says, what she initiates happens! Gotta love that! And E. warrants a letter devoted to her; to be continued……. Today I want to update you on Ntuthuko and his ears. I don’t remember where I left off so here goes; it’s a long story! I initially took him to a private audiologist who found bilateral suppurating ruptured ear drums. His hearing is significantly affected; she says it’s like trying to hear under water. At follow up a month later nothing had changed and we gave him another course of antibiotics, increased strength. It was time for an ENT specialist. Private is unaffordable so we had no choice but to go through the route of paediatric out patients at Edendale Hospital for a referral to the ENT clinic at Greys Hospital. I knew the news would not be good given that Nancy had already tried to get him in; March 2010! Seriously! Eight o’clock one morning I picked up Nomvula, eldest sister, and N. to head for Edendale. I had written a letter to his class teacher excusing him from school; it would be many hours before we were finished. From the first time I sent a note the teachers responded placing him in the front and ensuring he could hear. They complimented him for being good and responsible by bringing a note; he was thrilled. He loves school and learning and is so exceptionally curious wherever we are. He is smart and absorbs things speedily. His school marks are very good. This would be a good time to tell you that E. and I applied for him to attend the Edendale Technical High School starting next year. Keep your fingers crossed because they only take 100 students. They have a good reputation and the kids learn a trade as well which leads to employment opportunities or he could be an entrepreneur! He wanted to attend one of the city schools and unfortunately I can’t afford that. We explained to him that he’d get a good education and after grade 12 we can see what else he may wish to study. Maybe by then I’ll be really flush!! We lined up to get an out patient card made for him, paid R20 ($2.86), and headed for the next line up! I never took a book, damn! After checking N. in I sat off to the side to be out of the queue. It was a great spot to observe the activities. As a nurse from ‘them days’ I was appalled by the lack of basic hygiene and total disregard for cross infection and contamination. And so it goes! We waited and waited for well over an hour before the docs dribbled in; they’d been at a meeting. The folks shifted chairs as the queue moved. Mom’s with kids, mostly little ones, chatting, feeding, eating and waiting oh so patiently. When we reached the consulting cubicle, there were two docs sharing a section curtained off. One examining table served them both as they each sat at their desks with a patient. Aside from wanting to know what the doc said I wanted to ensure that we got a referral. It was good that my persistent self was present (she is never far away!) because he glanced at the referral letter and wanted to shunt us to the neuro-developmental clinic. My right index finger politely pointed to the letter and urged him to please read it; then asked for an ENT appointment. Unfortunately we discovered that the state of N’s ears is not an emergency and 2010 it is! I asked the doc if he would look in his ears, all rather back to front; he took a swab, took a history, and gave him another course of broader spectrum antibiotics. Off we went, to return for follow up a week later, but first to the pharmacy. Yet another line up this time much faster! Around 1.30pm I dropped them off. The following week, bright and early, off we went to Edendale again; another day away from school. Usually the queue to withdraw existing cards is never-ending; people start lining up during the early hours of the morning. We were lucky and moved pretty fast, R20, card and off we went to the next queue at paeds. I had a book this time! A couple of hours later we met with a terrific doc, she was interested, paid attention, examined him, called the ENT specialist for the protocol and confirmed the appointment; no emergency, the drums won’t heal, will need surgical repair, drops 3 times a day till 2010, keep the ears dry! Imagine! Money is SO powerful………………….. How do underprivileged people ever get a leg up; high enough to mount the horse? Poor little fellow is in this position with his ears totally unnecessarily. Given that he didn’t have a hospital card, he’d never been there; which means his mother took him to the clinic, staffed by trained nursing staff of varying calibre and levels of commitment and interest. I hear stories that make my blood curdle; malpractice is the only word for it. Patients are dependant on the nurse to refer them to the doc at the hospital. Should they deem it unnecessary then it is! N has obviously had repeated infections, needed grommets or at least antibiotics numerous times. Now he is hearing impaired; it breaks my heart. Here he is with his new specs; we call him ‘the professor’ much to his delight! Oh, I haven’t told you about his glasses yet, in a mo…… He adores swimming and is a vital, active constantly optimistic and open young fella; an absolute delight, so easy to be around. Networking and the angels are leading me to the ‘inside track’. I have been told that Mental Health has access to ENT facilities and it should not cost anything. Maureen Vida, a friend of old, the PRO for the SPCA has given me the name of the director and she is expecting my call. Also, having lunch with my new friend Yvonne Spain, director of the CINDI (children in distress) Network, lead to an introduction to two other wonderful women. Google CINDI and see the amazing work. The one told me about a paediatrician couple who work for the hospital. They are also involved in humanitarian work with SOS, a project the docs established for orphaned kids leaving hospital many years ago. I will call them as well. One way or t’other N will be attended to before his hearing deteriorates. |
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