Espresso, waffles, whip cream and strawberries!

This morning we slept in a little since we were up late with a new 31week baby. She did really well, but we ended up having to intubate her and give her surfactant (a lipid normally produced by mature lungs that allows your alveoli to open easily). It's something done fairly routinely in the US for premature infants, and isn't uncommon here but the cost Is usually difficult for the family so careful thought is given to whether the baby really needs it. It costs about $13,000 KSH which is about $150. in the US, a dose would be Several thousand! Isn't that crazy?  The parents have to pay for it ahead of time so that if the baby needs it there isnt a delay in care to make sure they can afford it. These parents were able to pay, and She's doing great now! I'm sure you are wondering what happens if they can't pay, which definitely is a reality. First, they usually try on their own to come up with the money. It seems very common here for community members like friends and church members to help families with their medical bills. Whereas in the US it would probably be very shameful or embarrassing to ask people to help you pay for something, it's part of life here. Everyone helps each other as much as they can. If the family still doesn't have the money, there is a Needy Children's Fund which can be accessed to help for life saving things like this medication. It is entirely dependent on donations  outside of the hospital, so it's variable if and how much money is available. For anyone interested in giving a little bit of money that can go a long way for someone else, this is definitely it. The physicians are in charge of it and get to determine who for and how the money is used.

After sleeping in and making some coffee (I drink it black here... It's just easier) Bryan was off to quickly round on the sick babies since he's on call and I went to worship at the local church. We met up after service since he got held up at a high risk delivery (baby was fine!) and went over to the Myhres. Scott and Jennifer Myhre have been in Africa for twenty years this month, ever since finishing their medical training in the states. They were initially in Uganda for 17 years and have been at Kijabe where he is an internal medicine physician and the field director for World Harvest Mission and she is the medical director for pediatrics. They have four children too! Scott made us espresso that was delicious and Jennifer made waffles and whipped cream like it was the easiest thing in the world. We all sat around their table and enjoyed what I have to say was like a total feast while we prompted them with lots of questions about being missionaries, living in Africa and of course how one is to avoid being eaten by a lion. It was so much fun. We are going to try to explore around a little today, but we have to stay close so that we can be here in case we are needed at the hospital (we are on call after all!) 

Tonight, our MO intern Moses is coming over for dinner. He came for left overs from a recent Mexican fiesta we had for the interns we work with  last night, and I told him to come back again tonight for Teriyaki stir fry. He does a good job and has been fun to get to know. He seems to love Bryan, and if I could give you an audio of how he says "Doctor Bryan" in his accent I would! It is priceless.

Thanks to those of you posting and letting us know how you are! Have a wonderful, restful Sunday.

Sb