The Baby Whisperer

The second weekend of September we headed back to Pokot for our 2nd official outreach clinic. We were excited to go as the first trip had been such a blessing. Remember how I said last time I would need a valium for the trip? Well, that wasn't an option this time as I put my car to the test and drove to Pokot! More details to come when I get some of the pictures, but let's just say that my entire body hurt at the end of the trip from being so tense! I did receive many compliments on my driving, so I must not have scared anyone too much.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted warmly as we were the time before. This time was better, though, because our return reassured these people that we really do care about them and want to continue to minister to them. As we talked about the last time we had been there and our plan for the day, Pastor Stephen (the missionary pastor to Lodengo) said something very interesting. He said that many pregnant women were going to come that day because they had heard that the white doctor could make their babies talk! Last time we came, I brought a doppler with me to listen to fetal heart rates, and the women were amazed when they heard them and so grateful to know that their babies were okay. So, apparently word had spread and many more women did come this time to hear their babies "talk". It was also great to see some women return for the 2nd prenatal visit - especially since most never have prenatal care.

Making a baby talk - apparently I have become the Baby Whisperer :)

How it all started. Above is Kyle Jones pictured with Baby Musa (a boy, despite the pink shirt and skirt) and his mother and father. Musa was hospitalized at Kapsowar for severe meningitis and Kyle treated him. The Lord brought him back from the brink of death, and in the process, Kyle got to know his father, an elder in the church in Lodengo. He also met Pastor Stephen, and a relationship was formed. We were all very happy to see that Musa is doing well and is starting to meet his developmental milestones.
Once again, we had a very busy clinic, seeing over 100 patients in about 5 hours. This time, though, we had another doctor with us to help out. Thanks to Dr. Gerhard Shumacher and his wife, Janie, who joined us during their 3 month stay here in Kapsowar. I saw mostly OB patients and was able to identify a few at-risk mothers and recommend some interventions that will hopefully result in a healthy baby this time. One mother (sorry, I don't have a picture), had lost 2 babies previously and is now about 15 weeks pregnant. We brought her back with us and I was able to do a simple procedure (a cerclage for you medical folks) that should help her achieve a term pregnancy this time. We also arranged for 3 children to be brought to Kapsowar to have reconstructive surgery by Bill Rhodes, our surgeon. Their surgeries will be paid for by a special fund. One of the children, Chesoot, is a beautiful little girl who had a severe burn contracture of her right arm which did not allow her to extend her lower arm at all. She has now had surgery to release it and is doing well and has become a very outgoing little girl as she shows off her new arm. What a blessing to see what the Lord can do!

Above - This is pretty typical to see - a young girl taking care of a baby for her mother or another woman in the village. This baby was one of 2 twins that we saw that were very malnourished. Babies are usually born at home and they tend to feed them cow's milk early on, which is inadequate for nutrition.
The weekend ended again on Sunday with us participating in the Sunday school and church service, encouraging the local believers. This time was special because we brought 2 members of AIC Rorok church (my local church here) as we continue to try to build a partnership between the church in Rorok and the church in Lodengo. They had collected clothes and food to donate to the people of Lodengo. They also invited the women to attend a women's conference in Kapsowar early next year and are planning on raising funds to bring them here. The Pokot women were very excited about this and I was so excited to see Kenyans reaching out to fellow Kenyans and being missionaries in their own country.

Here I am with some of the kids from the Sunday school

Amanda, this one's for you - thumbs up!

It was another wonderful weekend that even included a time for Kyle to talk with the village leaders - both the chief and assistant chief came - about the health needs of the community. We hope to move forward with the possibility of starting a health center here, as the needs are great. Just yesterday, I delivered a patient who had pushed all night and all day before reaching us, and it was too late to save her baby. Please pray with us as we seek God's wisdom for how to best help the people of Lodengo and the surrounding communities.