AIDS

Well, I know that I mostly tell funny stories, because those are the fun ones to share, but I need to share these stories and they are not fun. In all my trips to Burkina I haven't had much exposure to AIDS until recently. Jeanette, my baby girl, is not getting better. She's not getting worse, but she's not getting fatter. so we took her to get an AIDS test on Monday. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever ever had to do. She has something wrong with her foot (you can't see anything) but she screams bloody murder when you touch it. So Jean, our day guard, was with me and he was holding her down, and holding her foot, because he had to and she was screaming and screaming and crying real tears. And when the woman tried to get her blood she had to try four times. It was awful to watch her get poked so much...and the woman would like dig around in her vein looking for the blood..oh it was awful and it made me want to vomit. I told Jean that when we got outside and he looked alittle scared like I might throw up on him...I didn't. But he did drive quickly home. Since I have become so attached to this little one, the thought of her having AIDS is devasting to me. I don't really think she does (We were supposed to find out today but didn't. Welcome to Africa) but if in fact she does have AIDS it will break my heart. Her family situation is not good and her having AIDS will complicate that alot. They don't have the means to take care of her, we aren't really sure they WANT to take care of her (given the fact that she is so malnourished) so if she has AIDS it will be a shame to the family and an extra burden because then they'll have to get her on medicines and they don't have money anyway. and if this is the case i'm sure that we will help out in some way...but its hard to know that we won't know how long she will live and that she won't ever get better and she will always be vulnerable to disease. it makes me want to keep her in the house with me where i can sleep with her and keep an eye on her at all times. So if you think about it...pray for jeanette and maybe for me too
The second story is that of a little girl who was being "taken care of" by her grandmother. i say "taking care of" because this woman did not know the child's name or the child's age. She was severely malnourished, was sick all the time and had Noma (a bacterial infection that is common here. it comes from bad oral hygiene and it eats away the flesh around the mouth. It's easy to stop if you get the right medicines, but once your flesh has been eaten it can't be regrown). we took her to the Dr. Zala and amazing amazing amazing man. He is a christian and has a heart for children and for quality medical care that is a rare find in burkina. He trust him with alot of our children and he never dissapoints. (well, unless he cna't do anything, but then thats not his fault) He became furious with the grandmother because this child was so sick, and then they did a blood test and found out she had AIDS (she was three...i forgot the mention that. the grandmother said she was two). She died this week. its so sad. this girls parents are out roaming around (not taking care of their child) and one or both of them has AIDS. So now Social Action (burkina's DFS) has to track them down and test them. and educate them on the disease. its really heart breaking. its heartbreaking that having AIDS still has a social stigma attached to it so people don't want to get tested. and if they suspec that they do have AIDS they don't want to know because they don't have to money to by the medicines and they're going to die anyway so why know how you are going to die?? its a sad sad sad thing.
On a more positive note, i was able to talk with my family on skype tonight! i got to see their faces as well as hear their voices and it was amazing. sometimes its just really really really wonderful to be able to talk with people who you know love you. adn seeing their faces was an extra bonus. So if you ever want to see my face you can get on skype and when i'm in ouaga and have access to wireless interenet that isn't soooooo expensive like it is in yako, maybe we could chat! it would be fun.
thank you to all of you who read my stories. It means alot that so many are interested in my adventures. I appreciate and crave all of your prayers. As much as I love it here, it's not an easy/comfortable place to be.