Today was a hard day...

Today was a hard day... this is a picture of where Bob and I perform our medical exams on the kids.  The area is located in the back of the school off the outside courtyard.  It is normally freezing when we arrive but today was somewhat decent.  I feel awful for the kids on the bitter cold mornings... most without socks or shoes.. some without jackets... just standing and shaking.. I am tempted to take them all home with me in my luggage! 

Anadya and I after I performed his exam.  He was fascinated with all the instruments, did everything I asked, and was relatively healthy.  

 Some of the kids in class.. clearly they are not paying attention.. instead they are yelling Didi dekho (sister look in Hindi)  Then of course they yell Photo! Photo! Photo!  Too precious

Part of the reason why my day was so upsetting.. This is a little girl she's about 2 1/2-3.. from what we can guess.  She weighs 10kg (22lbs).. I am sure we all know that a almost 3 year old should weigh A LOT more than 22lbs... ugh the malnutrition is heartbreaking.  She was terrified by me.. I would be too! I was this crazy "white lady" touching her.. 

As seen here the exam was not EASY.. the poor girl screamed and cried every time I came near her.. Heart wise she was ok.. tachycardic of course.. when I went to reach for the otoscope it went down hill.  She wouldn't let me anywhere near her ears but that was ok because I could see from 10 feet away the yellow puss pouring out of her left earlobe.. omg I could've cried.  She was pulling on her ear.. I knew she was in pain.  Her mom was not available at the moment to come to the school.  She was crying so much we decided to stop the exam.  When I approached the teacher about the girl it was noted of the infection and they would inform her mother to take her to a doctor. (to be continued)

The second part that made today heartbreaking was a little boy who was 6 years old.  I am not sure of his name.  He came to the exam complaining in Hindi to our translator that he had ear pain, neck pain, and that his chest was convex.  Upon assessment it was found that he had a blocked/punctured left eardrum, swollen left and right lymph nodes, swollen tonsils (that were touching his Uvula), a bright red throat, an irregular heartbeat, a barrel chest (which often is a sign of some kind of heart issue), and pain.  We decided to perform a few additional exams.. we had him run a lap around the courtyard to check his breathing.  He was exhausted and had trouble breathing from 1 lap (approx 30 ft.) We then checked his hearing.. we didn't have proper resources so we just did different voice levels.  I had his teacher call his mom and she came to the school.  

Here is why the day was hard.. I explained everything to her.. I had her compare my tonsils to her sons, I had her feel my lymph nodes and then her sons, I had her look in my ear and then his, listen to my heart and then his.. she seemed frightened.  She stated that for a while he has been waking up twice a night out of dead sleep, sitting up, and gasping.. Of course I was wondering if it had to do with his irregular heartbeat or his tonsils constricting his airway.. I told his mom he needed to be seen by a doctor (preferably a Cardiologist and a EENT).  She stated the doctor comes to the slum 2 a month.. Are you serious?  I looked at Lalit our translator and I asked if he was going to be seen anytime soon.. he stated he wasn't sure.  I insisted we take him to the hospital.  I didn't care I would pay for it.. He said we had to ask permission from our in country Director first and wait and see if his mom takes him today after school.  Here is this poor little boy with no energy, having trouble breathing, tonsils the size of grapes smashing his uvula, an impacted ear, an irregular heartbeat, and a barrel chest and I am supposed to just WALK AWAY! I have been thinking about this all day.. As soon as I got back I presented the 2 cases to Bella the director.  She could see my concern and said absolutely yes tomorrow am when I arrive at the school I can take the 2 kids to the hospital.  Thank God.. I am so distraught right now about the condition these children are in.. most of them are dehydrated and malnourished with little to no clothes.. 

This is a picture of the slum I walk through to get to the school which is located in the heart of the slum.. these people are barely getting by..

Boy or girl I am not sure.. a precious child however walking the streets of the slum without shoes, tushy out, flies all over him, drinking dirty water... My heart breaks.

Please everyone... religious or not.. take a minute to pray for these kids and their families then thank God or whomever you believe in that you are in good health, have a roof over your head, clothing, food and water.   PLEASE DON'T TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED.. there really are kids starving in other countries and parents working any way they can (fixing tires, selling fruit, selling rice, stitching torn clothing, fixing broken soles on shoes, sleeping in a box) to save their children.  I am truly blessed.. I wish I could do more.  My heart bleeds.