July 20, Reaction?

Well, today was quite an emotional day from the very, very young, to the older.

There was a woman who came in today with right anterior and posterior cervical and supraclavicular  adenopathy. Multiple firm nodes approximately 2cm.  She was married to a first husband that died and they had 3 children. With his death, she was given to his brother, with whom she had 3 more children with. It is with this 2nd husband that she had suspicions of HIV and thus got herself tested without his consent. She is positive for the virus and her last CD4 count in September of 2010 was in the 100s. She has not begun antiretroviral treatment because her husband will not allow her and he himself will not get tested.

Another woman came in this week and for 3 years, her husband never revealed his positive status to her. Now she learned that she also is positive and she is very upset. Not because she has the virus, but because he never told her.  This situation reminds me of a movie I once saw called “Yesterday”. If you get the opportunity, watch it.  I think it is a pretty accurate depiction of some lives here.
I don’t see a lot of upset amidst those who are newly diagnosed. I was a bit disturbed about what I perceived to be a lack of reaction and I thought that I needed to understand my perspective.

I spoke with a counselor who works with newly diagnosed patients and asked for some input.  They have worked hard to decrease the stigma associated among the people about the virus and so this has helped in better acceptance and coping. The counselors also do both pre and post test counseling that is very thorough in which they explain modes of transmission, prevention methods, lifestyle, diet, staying healthy, and prompt referral to the clinic when feeling ill.  Some of the modes of transmission are detailed as what we in the States already know, and in addition here in Njinikom, unclean blades used by traditional medicine providers and unclean blades/knives used by barbers.  For the most part, partners stay together, even if one finds they are positive and the other is negative.  In the case that one is not coping well, the counselors are very good at following up and giving individuals the chance to go through denial or anger, their own process of acceptance. They also foster partner and family support when the patient consents which provides great help to the patient’s adherence to medications, lifestyle changes, and overall wellness.

Prayers for a little one…
We have a little one, a beautiful 4-day old girl, which was born with Spina Bifida. We were hoping that she would be transferred to a hospital not too far away, where an American surgeon specializes in this surgery, however last night, the little one developed a very high fever. Please keep her in your prayers. She is a very tiny body and soul trying to fight.

El Professor Milan.
Milan is doing great in the “summer school”. How would you like it if the same teacher who was giving you instruction in math (means, mixed fractions, improper fractions, etc.) then took you outside on break and taught you how to play freeze tag?  Well, that’s Milan. He seems to enjoy it and it sounds like the kids enjoy him as well. Some of the other things he’s into now is “pen spinning”. There is actually a website, videos, and “pen spinning forum” on the internet. So in the evening he morphs my pens by removing the ink, putting weights on the ends, and using electrical tape to secure it. They all have a different weight and feel to the spin. I’ve tried the spinning, and I seem to be a little better at it than yo-yoing.  Ahhh… maybe I am morphing into a cool mom.