Celebrate the Journey
July 7th, 2006 Sparrows Village
Dear Friends,
This will probably be the last entry from South Africa in 2006 and therefore I will try to encapsulate my time here at Sparrows Village (www.sparrowvillage.org)
Sparrows is an AIDS Hospice and Childrens Home for 160 babies and children, as well as over 60 adults.
Over the last three months I have cared for adults in the last stages of AIDS, as well as performed weekly assessments on 158 children. These assessements have proved to be beneficial in finding new conditions: i.e. weight loss might indicate TB, or ear infections could be a simple otis media or an indication that it is time to start the ART’S (anti-retroviral therapy.)
My training as a pediatric nurse has come in handy and I’ve been able to train a lovely young caregiver named Tobogo to follow in my stead.
I will miss these precious children so very much much but am consoled by the wonderful care and love they are given by Corine (the founder) and all the caregivers.
Now that the South African government has accepted that it is indeed the HIV-AIDS virus that has taken so many lives, and not just poverty that has made so many orphans, perhaps they will start to address the issues of education, prevention and “what do we do with these amazing souls now that we have saved their lives”?
Last Sat. I attended the funeral of the son of a caregiver, Gladys, for whom I wrote the previous blog. He was only in his mid-twenties and could still be here if he had chosen to be tested earlier. Sadly, TB quickly overcame him and he died at Sparrows after only being with us a week.
This week another volunteer and took 8 children to an amusement park. What a great time we had and what fun these adorable children were to be with. I, being the biggest baby of all, was not happy till I rode the upside down roller coaster, and ate a hot dog--Ha!
One of my biggest accomplishments was to research and come up with an order for a portable pulse-ox machine. As we have been carrying around a toaster size machine to 158 children, this will be a big step in increasing the health care, especially for the babies. I feel quite good about this accomplishment.
I know this sounds a bit clinical as I write it, but I am tired and beginning to feel the sadness that comes from leaving the children and fellow volunteers that have become a part of my everyday life for the last 3 months..
I have made a special connection with a young lady named Abigail.. Abigail is 11 yr. old and as sweet as they come. She has no one in her life with whom she is No. 1, and now I am leaving, as well. After a particularily difficult medical procedure, I invited her for lunch, and we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on my bed in the RV in which I have been staying for the past few weeks.We laughed, told “girl” stories and ate enough cookies and chips to last us a lifetime-ha. She wears the “pink” bracelet I gave her everywhere and promised to be pen pals.
I’ve spent some special time with the babies recently. Wait until I put some photos of Nothando, an 18 mo.old “baby”, whose body looks like something straight out of Life magazine, but whose smile holds the wisdom of the ages.
Her young mom arrived here with her in tow, but abandoned her to our care. I want to believe it is because she loves her and knows she will get the care she needs, but others are not so kind in their judgment of her.
The stories could go on and on, but I will close for now. I leave here July 9th for a few days retreat at Good Sheperd Retreat center, not far from here. Then I fly to NYC on July 13th, arriving the 14th, visit Heather and friends for a couple of days and I arrive in Arkansas about the eve of July 17th.
Carol B. has kindly set up a cell phone for me which should be in effect about July 15th. The # is 501-691-4711, as my old cell and home phone have been disconnected.
Keep checking my diary-blogs to keep up with my life and please “comment” so I can keep up with yours.
South African Blessings and Love
Marie
I wonder wheather you realize a deep great fact---that souls, all human souls, are interconnected-----that we can not only pray for each other, but suffer for each other.
Nothing is more real than this interconnectness, this precious power put by God into the very heart of our infirmities.
Baron Von Heincke
Dear Friends,
This will probably be the last entry from South Africa in 2006 and therefore I will try to encapsulate my time here at Sparrows Village (www.sparrowvillage.org)
Sparrows is an AIDS Hospice and Childrens Home for 160 babies and children, as well as over 60 adults.
Over the last three months I have cared for adults in the last stages of AIDS, as well as performed weekly assessments on 158 children. These assessements have proved to be beneficial in finding new conditions: i.e. weight loss might indicate TB, or ear infections could be a simple otis media or an indication that it is time to start the ART’S (anti-retroviral therapy.)
My training as a pediatric nurse has come in handy and I’ve been able to train a lovely young caregiver named Tobogo to follow in my stead.
I will miss these precious children so very much much but am consoled by the wonderful care and love they are given by Corine (the founder) and all the caregivers.
Now that the South African government has accepted that it is indeed the HIV-AIDS virus that has taken so many lives, and not just poverty that has made so many orphans, perhaps they will start to address the issues of education, prevention and “what do we do with these amazing souls now that we have saved their lives”?
Last Sat. I attended the funeral of the son of a caregiver, Gladys, for whom I wrote the previous blog. He was only in his mid-twenties and could still be here if he had chosen to be tested earlier. Sadly, TB quickly overcame him and he died at Sparrows after only being with us a week.
This week another volunteer and took 8 children to an amusement park. What a great time we had and what fun these adorable children were to be with. I, being the biggest baby of all, was not happy till I rode the upside down roller coaster, and ate a hot dog--Ha!
One of my biggest accomplishments was to research and come up with an order for a portable pulse-ox machine. As we have been carrying around a toaster size machine to 158 children, this will be a big step in increasing the health care, especially for the babies. I feel quite good about this accomplishment.
I know this sounds a bit clinical as I write it, but I am tired and beginning to feel the sadness that comes from leaving the children and fellow volunteers that have become a part of my everyday life for the last 3 months..
I have made a special connection with a young lady named Abigail.. Abigail is 11 yr. old and as sweet as they come. She has no one in her life with whom she is No. 1, and now I am leaving, as well. After a particularily difficult medical procedure, I invited her for lunch, and we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on my bed in the RV in which I have been staying for the past few weeks.We laughed, told “girl” stories and ate enough cookies and chips to last us a lifetime-ha. She wears the “pink” bracelet I gave her everywhere and promised to be pen pals.
I’ve spent some special time with the babies recently. Wait until I put some photos of Nothando, an 18 mo.old “baby”, whose body looks like something straight out of Life magazine, but whose smile holds the wisdom of the ages.
Her young mom arrived here with her in tow, but abandoned her to our care. I want to believe it is because she loves her and knows she will get the care she needs, but others are not so kind in their judgment of her.
The stories could go on and on, but I will close for now. I leave here July 9th for a few days retreat at Good Sheperd Retreat center, not far from here. Then I fly to NYC on July 13th, arriving the 14th, visit Heather and friends for a couple of days and I arrive in Arkansas about the eve of July 17th.
Carol B. has kindly set up a cell phone for me which should be in effect about July 15th. The # is 501-691-4711, as my old cell and home phone have been disconnected.
Keep checking my diary-blogs to keep up with my life and please “comment” so I can keep up with yours.
South African Blessings and Love
Marie
I wonder wheather you realize a deep great fact---that souls, all human souls, are interconnected-----that we can not only pray for each other, but suffer for each other.
Nothing is more real than this interconnectness, this precious power put by God into the very heart of our infirmities.
Baron Von Heincke
posted by Marie McGee @ 3:04 PM
3 Comments:
At Sat Jul 08, 08:33:00 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Hey Marie,
We have been following all your blogs. It has been inspiring and humbling for Ken and I to see real love animated through you and the others there. Just reading the accounts of your relationships and the tasks you do as well as your contributions, carries us into a realm of awareness and thanksgiving that we need to be more intouch with. A lot of what we do is "virtual living"- and those moments when real connections are made with others become our pathway to joy and peace. So, once again, we have been celebrating the Journey with you" - Praying for you and the community there. The three months really went by fast on this end. I can imagine the difficulty of the transition. This was truly the exposure you were hoping for. It sounds like this will confirm the vision that set all this in motion in the first place. It will be a wonder to see how it unfolds and in what ways you respond and follow. It certainly influences what we are doing in our daily lives as well as some dreams formulating for our future.
Thank you Marie...love ya bunches, mary and ken J.
At Sun Jul 09, 09:02:00 PM ,
Anonymous said...
i miss you...marie and hope to see you soon. love,rebecca
At Tue Jul 11, 06:12:00 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Dear Marilyn,
How I am looking forward for one of our marathon phone chats to hear more of your experiences. Praying you have an "easy fast" flight home. Love, Jane Russell
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