Today was the day that I was promoted from room 3 downstairs in the guesthouse to apartment 1 upstairs, hence the title of this entry.
I am now settled at Tenwek having been here almost 3 weeks. I find it strange to think that for some people that would be the end of their time here. There has already been one couple who've come and gone within the time I've been here so far. The turnover at the guesthouse is pretty quick, though some people can stay here for a few months at a time.
I'm learning a lot whilst I'm here. I'm learning how to act in a more senior role, reviewing patients who've already been seen as well as seeing patients myself. I'm learning general paediatrics (albeit slightly African stylee) with some neonatology thrown in. I'm learning more how to praise God for everything and trust in Him more in my everyday working life. I'm learning how it feels to be really rich. And I'm sure I'm learning more than this.
The feeling rich thing is interesting. I'm not badly off by any standards in the UK, but here where there are some people who have so little it becomes really obvious. Practising medicine here is very different from the UK. You have to consider every test that you order and every medication you prescribe. The patient has to pay for each thing. There is a national insurance scheme that some patients have, but not all. I think this makes a better doctor in some ways. It can be so easy ticking a load of boxes, but then to think about whether you really need everything that you've ordered. There's the new CT scanner (which we're waiting for approval to use at the moment) which is going to cost about £40 for patients to have a scan which could really help their treatment. Even at a price that cheap, so many people will not be able to afford the scan. We take CT scans and MRI scans and even nuclear medicine scans so much for granted in the West (even if sometimes you end up arguing with a scary radiologist to get them). Although it has so many problems, the NHS really is a good thing at its heart - everybody being able to access free healthcare at the point of access. It doesn't matter whether you are thousands of pounds in debt or a millionaire, you can still get the treatment that you need without having to worry about a massive bill. I've been getting so used to a nice amount of pay entering my bank account for the last 2 years and taking it for granted, but being here reminds me how fortunate I am to have that. But also that money is not anything to have security in. The recession has shown that!
I'm also learning a lot being part of a Christian ministry at work. There are doctors' devotions once a week on a Wednesday morning. Last week one of the interns led it and what she said was just so inspired. She basically was talking about how everything we do should be for Jesus. We ended by singing a song together. I just felt that it was a really powerful moment with nearly all the medical staff there praising God and dedicating their work to God together before starting work. I find being able to pray for patients openly on the wards quite freeing. I don't think that I'm doing it quite enough at present, but as the motto of Tenwek says, "We Treat, Jesus Heals". This actually is the attitude of the staff here. All we can do is love the patients and try to make them physically better with medications, surgeries etc, but it is God who really does the healing. We can just try to be His representatives on Earth, but remember to give Him the praise for the things that He blesses us and our patients with.
A couple of Saturdays ago I went to a place called Kisumu which is Kenya's 3rd largest city. It is on the banks of Lake Victoria. We had a very relaxing few hours when we got there (following 3 hours of Kenyan driving, though I trust Donald's driving completely), sitting by the lake and eating yummy food. We also went to a large supermarket called Nakumatt ("You need it, We got it") where I bought Nutella amongst other things. It was great to see more of Kenya especially during the journeys. I would have liked to have stayed there overnight really.
Prayer time
Thanks for:
- keeping me safe and well
- the internet and electricity working better
- that I've been able to switch rooms
- that I'm settled here and starting to make friends
- all the children who've come in and been able to go home again
Please pray for:
- protection over my mind and body
- me to hear clearly from God about His plans for me for this year and the future
- the children on the paeds ward and the babies in the nursery/NICU. Especially for an 18 month old girl who came in really dehydrated and is still not very responsive. There's also a baby in nursery with congenital heart disease who's requiring quite a lot of oxygen and we don't know if we're going to be able to do anything for it (although there is a cardiac surgery team coming in November).
- the interns at Tenwek as they start their last rotation
- for God to use me as a tool to show people His love
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