Christmas Gifts for Kids at Home of Joy

What a privilege it was to be the hands and feet of God and so many amazing people as we blessed the Salvation Army children’s home in Kampala with some Christmas gifts.

The home of Joy is a home for disabled children.

Their disabilities range from severe mental disabilities to severe physical disabilities.

Many of the children are missing feet, arms or legs due to either birth complications or sometimes bad malaria shots as babies!

Every one of the children are unique in character and so very special. Many are funny and cheeky and love to laugh!

They love card games and soccer and dancing.

I am constantly amazed at what they can do with their limited physical abilities. And there’s never any complaining.

They work very hard at their school work every day and dream big for their future.

Some are orphans, or have been abandoned. Many have families who cannot financially afford to care for them or who live in remote location so they would have no hope of any schooling due to their families location and their physical disabilities.

What an awesome thing it was to be able to surprise the kids and tell them we had a BIG surprise for them in a few days! You could feel the anticipation in the air.

Rob and I spent days shopping for unique individual outfits for the close to 40 children. Many of them would have never had a brand new outfit or received a Christmas gift so we wanted to make it as special as we could.

We also bought gifts for all the workers – many who also have disabilities of some sort who grew up there and now work in the place. They all work so hard and love the children. Some of the workers even have families of their own who they have to leave in the village while they work to provide money for their families.

The children were EXTREMELY excited on the night of their surprise.

Robert explained to the children that they were so special and unique and so very loved by God that people from the other side of the world wanted to let them know how LOVED and SPECIAL they were, that they wanted to give them a gift each for Christmas.

This was met with much cheering J

ALL THE CLOTHES LINED UP READY

I then delivered a Christmas message and talked about the true meaning of Christmas – which to these kids is not hard to grasp because for them – Christmas is simply about God loving us enough to send Jesus and loving family and friends.

It was great to show them that love in a practical way.

We called out each child’s name individually and you could see the joy on their faces as they received their gift..... They then waited until everyone had their gifts before they could unite the bow and see what they had received.

There was a lot of tears of joy and lots of laughter – especially from the workers – some who had never received a Christmas gift in the 40 or more years of their life!

What a gift it was to see the joy on all their faces.

We told the kids that not only had we had enough money to buy them all new outfits but we also had had enough money to fix the water piping (the water system had broken down – and the children had to fetch water from down at water pump – very difficult with their various disabilities – was special seeing the way they helped each other and those who couldn’t do it).

This news was met with MUCH cheering!! J

But the biggest cheer came when they would no longer have smelly LEAKING toilets! That we had paid a plumber and been in contact with sewage department to have it all fixed – YOU would have thought we had given them all a trip to Disney land they were so happy and cheering so much!

More joy was expressed when we told them we were going to have a movie night with ice cream included! And that they had to all get dressed up in their new clothes.

A few days later we were blessed to see all the children in their new clothes. All scrubbed up ready for a fun night.

All the workers came and we started of the night with the kids leading us in singing and praise to God! What an amazing experience this is to watch as these precious children with such limited physical bodies, allow their minds and hearts and souls to completely connect with God, someone they know and love deeply.

Risks Dr's face in Uganda & Medical Donations from Australia

Risks Dr's Face here - and the Life Changing Donations

A few months ago when I was still in Australia Rob experienced something at the hospital which I had never even considered would be something we would have to deal with.
.......... Exposure to HIV

Obviously I knew how prevalent HIV is here but I guess I never really considered the effect that would have on Rob or us as he treated these patients.
I guess all dr's around the world can come in to contact with disease that can be passed on to them - but here for doctors HIV exposure is a common factor.

I remember quite clearly while I was recovering from surgery that Rob had mentioned he wasn't feeling well.
I found this strange particularly as it went for a few days - Rob never gets unwell!

Finally he admitted to me why he was so unwell.
He had been exposed to HIV and was currently on rejection medications.

While operating one day something had burst during the surgery and blood squirted into his eye.
The patient was HIV +
My first reaction was - WHY DIDN'T YOU HAVE OR FACE MASK ON ????........
Poor Rob - like I thought He had just forgotten to put them on..... His answer was gentle," Honey, we don't have any".

I thought to myself - what?? Something as simple as eye and mouth protection??
Due to the fact that they didn't have this basic item Rob was now exposed.
He went on the medication to help his body try and reject the HIV virus.
Sadly these medication are EXTREMELY taxing on the body.
Major side affects were causing Rob nausea, vomitting, no appetite, rapid weight loss and dizziness.
This lasted for weeks.
It got so bad he had to have few days off work.
We waited for the results. You get tested after a few weeks and then have to wait again for 3 months.

I found this time incredibly hard.
Not that I was worried about Rob having HIV - my God is bigger than that - and even if it had happened - again My God is bigger than that....

I found it hard being so far away when he was so so sick and needed me.
Still working long hours while being so sick and having to still cook even though he didn't want to eat but he had to try and keep something down.
This was incredibly hard.
When I told mum and dad they too couldn't believe something so basic for a doctor and for surgery in particular could be unavailable and the lack of these items could change a doctors future forever.

Dad was on to it very quickly and within weeks had received a donation from John Hunter Hospital of various face and eye masks.
Dad also purchased more.
Even ones from bunnings!
Anything to protect their eyes.

Thankfully when Rob had his first test he was negative.
But he was still unwell for weeks after he'd stopped the medication. Before he'd fully recovered - and AGAIN while I was still in Australia - again he got sick.... and again he had to admit he was back on the rejection medications because he had been exposed to HIV again during another surgery!

Again he lost weight and had to go through that alone. 
I have been shocked by his weight loss in such a short time - but even more so the  muscle loss from being so unwell. And this is just the rejections for this disease - Rob said exposure here is normal for dr's - and dr's will go through it numbers of times through their career. The majority of dr's who do turn up positive is because they do not complete the round of rejection medication. To me this sounded CRAZY - but Rob admitted that if he wasn't married and didn't have me to think about he probably would have abandoned them as well - that's how sick they make you.

Thankfully Rob tested the other day and is completely clear - but now the job of regaining weight and muscle strength remains.

But I can't help but think of the countless dr's who are exposed - and the majority of the time it could be prevented by basic items
And I think of all those dr's you end up HIV + because of their love and care for the people here and passion for their work.
And how as a wife ( or husband) that would feel if your partner innocently contracted the disease through their love of caring for people.
Sadly even since I've been back many of Rob's dr friends here have been exposed and have had to undergo the same symptoms and treatment as Rob.

But thanks to Dad's effort of gaining donations -  for now this is not such a huge concern.

When Mum and dad were here we took them around the hospital and dad donated all of the face and eye goggles.
How grateful the surgical staff were.

Rob said surgery is a different place - dr's are happier and more at peace - able to concentrate on the task at hand more and worry less about the risk surgery is for them. Something so simple - yet so life changing!

We also had the incredible privilege for mum and dad to hand over various other medical donations they had been sent with.

An ambu bag for the malnutrition ward - where sadly Rob experienced many children die purely because they didn't have this basic item.

Ventilation machines for paediatrics and various swabs and other things have also been donated and are making a big difference!

How life changing basic items can be! For those that rounded up these donations - on behalf of the hospital, doctors and patients we say a BIG thank you!

Since I have returned home the kids have been around a lot more.

It did take quite a few weeks for them to settle back in to having me here – had to remember they didn’t need to be afraid of the muzungu J

Some of the little ones come and visit me – usually in the morning after older siblings have gone to school  or doing chores.

I usually give them something to eat when they come and lately we’ve been drawing together with baby and pens or sometimes we watch tv.

Tv doesn’t seem to interest them much  - although if its the music channel then straight away they start dancing.

Music is such an important part of the culture here.

The older kids and I have been having fun some afternoons after school doing skipping.

Many of the kids had never seen a skipping rope before or knew how to skip so it was lots of fun teaching them how to do it.

Majority of them took to it really quickly and added in their local rhymes etc as they skipped. 

 
Since I took these photos - we have been doing skipping afternoons a few times a week - especially now the kids are on school holidays. 
So there are so many kids back from boarding school or who I now get to see before dark. 

The only real way to guarantee a good education here is a boarding school and actually works out cheaper overall then sending your kids to the same sort of quality day school with feeding etc. 
Very hard for parents when they have to send kids even 8 away. 
But even if they aren't sent away to boarding school many schools don't finish till around 5ish so so many of the kids i dont see often. 
There is a CRAZY amount of kids within 2 minutes walking of my house. 

Most times we have the skipping afternoons I am now averaging around 20 - 30 kids from age 1 - 15 
FUN TIMES!!!

Health update and returning to Uganda

Well it's time for an update on our journey

We have been apart for 4months now. 

And it's been 3 months since my surgery. 

The surgery and recovery time was a lot more extensive than they are originally thought. 

I am so so thankful for amazing doctors who didn't give up to work out what was going on. 

I had 4 abdominal hernias. Every sort you can have. 

They think it was caused by some weakness in abdomen from bone Graft surgery when young. 

The specialist said it was a blessing we came home as the next stage would have been strangulation of intestines. 

After 6 weeks recovery they were hoping that I would at least have had some improvement in pain. 

But I sadly didn't. 

After a bunch of other specialists and tests they came back to me saying they believed I had fibromyalgia. 

But a bit of a different case because I didn't present with a lot of the common signs. 

They believe I have probably had this for long time but some of the symptoms are similar to my syndrome Mc Cune Albright syndrome. 

Specialists in past have mentioned it but never investigated it as treatment etc was fairly similar to what I'm already on. 

They think the hernias have caused nerve damage and because of the fibromyalgia - my nerves are having a hard time regeneratin or something like that. 

Which makes so much sense how I have healed after all my surgeries in past. 

My specialists have been amazing and told me I should be teaching others about pain management because people with less than I have are usually pretty bed ridden. 

They said I had good attitude - I responded with - NO I HAVE JESUS :) 

They laughed and said maybe that's it ! 

They said all they know is that despite my tests results and how my body is responding to pain my mind doesn't seem to be as affected by it which is a miracle. 

They also said it was unheard of and a amazing to get of OxyContin after all the time I've been on it and to be able to do it in Uganda. 

They said its amazing - I said no its a miracle..... One dr said - well it certainly looks that way. 

Sooooooo 

Because although I am still having the pain they have fixed surgically all they can - with some persuasion they have cleared me to fly home! 

I have been doing some treatments and therapies and trialling some things they have recommended in the weeks gone and will take back with me. 

I am believing I will be completely healed and won't allow the pain to overcome me. 

I have lived with pain my whole life - and now knowing what surgically and everything is ok I am at peace about going. 

Most people would be depressed when dr diagnoses you with ANOTHER Rare, complicated condition with no real treatment. 

But not me..... Drs said - I'm sorry there's nothing more we can do. 

My response was that ok- there's heaps more God can do. 

Despite my drs not necessarily agreeing they did encourage me in my faith. 

So as of yesterday I have booked my flight home. 

Saturday 24th may I fly out. 

2 weeks!!!! 

2 weeks till my beloved and I are reunited. Just shy of 5 months apart and just in time for our 1st wedding anniversary. 

Lots of treatments and catch ups before I go but I am so incredibly excited.  

I am finally allowing myself to realise how much I have missed Uganda and my husband. 

Instead of trying not to think about it now that I have a date. I can't wait for the day to come! 

Thank you everyone for your support ! 

Health update

Well I guess it's time to fill you all in on what's going on. 

First let me say how grateful we are for everyone's love and support and prayers. 

They are greatly appreciated. 

If you read the previous blog you will know rob had to return home due to the findings from our last surgeon who thought it would be months before I could have surgery. 

Not long after Rob left it was discovered that what they thought it was - it wasn't. So we were back to square one waiting to see another surgeon! 

Did I mention how horrible it was watching rob get on the plane not knowing how long till we'd be reunited ? 

Anyways -  Thankfully the previous surgeon managed to get me in quickly with another surgeon and have been consulting to try and find the problem. 

I had an appointment last week with ANOTHER surgeon and believe we may have a diagnosis. 

The lovely surgeon believes that I have a bilateral hernia. One on both hips. 

The reason she thinks it hasn't been picked up is because of scar tissue from previous surgeries in both spots. 

She thinks the hernias have been caused from strangulation build up from scar tissue and that has in turn entrapped the nerves - which is why I have lost some feelings in my leg and experience an unusual pain and have a strange feeling in lower half of my body. 

She couldn't say exactly but she said its possible that my lifestyle in Uganda had caused this to come about or made it worse. 

All the bending over to do Everything Etc. 

she also believes there may be some endometriosis but we will see when she operates. 

So due to the risk of complete strangulation of certain nerves and intestinal track - she has put me in for surgery next week! 

Wednesday the 12th of February! 

A month exactly after robbie left. 

How grateful I was to hear that news when we had been told it could take months on the waiting list. 

But she followed this up by saying - don't get too excited just yet as you won't be able to fly internationally and leave before end of March or maybe April - and thats the best case scenario. 

There's a large follow up after the surgery to ensure they fixed it all and that it's right for me to travel so still no word on when I will be reunited with my darling husband. 

Although it could be 3 months away from my husband, I am incredibly thankful to God for leading us to a doctor who has been so helpful and keen to help rob and I be reunited soon. 

Although I have no clue why this has all happened and even though rob and I are struggling being apart - I have much to be thankful for. 

My amazing family and being able to be here for two of my nieces birthdays. 

Being here to see my youngest niece start to walk and to get to spend time with people I wouldn't have had chance to otherwise. 

God is good- even when I don't understand - He does and that's enough for me ! 

Well I guess it's time I share with everyone what has been going on.

After countless months unwell and doctors appointments, scans and tests and treatments we are still not that much closer to having it all sorted.

I do have two surgeons who believe they have a rough idea of what's going on but we are not 100% sure yet.

Which has lead us to where we are now.

With the advice from my surgeon we have had to make the hard decision of rob returning to Uganda without me.

Drs believe I need surgery and due to the extent of it, it needs to be discussed with a team of specialists come early February. Then we will plan for Surgery. Timeline is up to 6mlnths though they said they'd try and rush it through.
They said it wouldn't be advices to have surgery elsewhere or to wait for it so we really have no other option than to be apart for now.

We have struggled with this and prayed for a few other doors to open but none have. So we are trusting God who sees the big picture when we only see the here and now.

Rob has to leave on Sunday.

He is due to start his internship up again come beginning of feb.
he cannot take anymore time off or he would have to begin all over again next year.

He also has to return for his graduation ceremony from medicine.

This for me is so hard as I have been waiting for this day and making a big deal out of it.
Rob never planned to go because he knew he wouldn't really have any one there to celebrate - immediate family wise.
But now he does - and I can't be there.

Absolutely devastated about that.
A lady who has helped to sponsor rob through last few years of university from America is also coming now.  To meet me and come to graduation. Saddens me that I won't get the opportunity to meet her this time.

I can't imagine being part from rob for 24hrs let alone 6 months.
Especially when we are suppose to be having our Ugandan wedding in June. And my parents are coming over too around then.

So we believe that I will be back in plenty of time for that.

Looks like we may be planning our second wedding apart as well!!!! :)

I am thankful for my family and our friends and all the drs here.
We really are blessed to have the facilities we take for granted.

I have no idea how we will cope Sunday night 7.30pm as rob gets on the plan. Or how I will function without him here.

I feel so helpless that rob will now have to care or himself with the incredibly long hrs he works. Especially as he moves into the busier areas at the hospital with internship.

We are trustin God though. He knows all things. ...... And we will test in that and remain strong in this time apart.

Thankful for technology but if one more person says oh he is only a phone call away - they my get hit!

The hard things is rob works longggggg hrs and doesn't have phone in those times.
Reception is never good let alone the time difference. So it won't be easy. Writing letters may become our main way of communicating. Plus the expense of phone calls is crazy!

My prayer is that Go would be with us each while we are apart and give rob all the energy he needs to keep everything running on his own including th farms.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and uppity.
Ill be staying with my parents while I am here and will keep writing the blog when I have stories to share of robs experiences.

When we don't understand things I am thankful that God does.
And so thankful for my amazing husband who I know this is even harder for.

As a doctor all he wants is to make me better and be here to care for me during Surgery etc.
what a blessed wife I am to have this incredible man as my husband!