On my way here I found out that my good friend Charles has suffered a horrible tragedy this weekend. His 5 month old daughter, Olivia, was dropped by a family friend and broke her femur. Charles is the science teacher at daraja, and he and his family life in the house right next to me. I have actually enjoyed waking up to Olivia's crying, and it is absolutely heartbreaking for me to find this out.
So I stopped at the hospital to visit her and Paris, the mother. They are at the Nanyuki general hospital, and I can't even begin to explain what that is like. I have worked and volunteered in hospitals for the past ten years, and I have never seen anything like this. Baby Olivia was lying on a twin size bed, her leg held "immobile" by a piece of cardboard and some gauze. I felt sick to my stomach seeing her this way. She was not hooked up to any IV's, only receiving pain medication every few hours. When we arrived she was sleeping, but she awoke to our quiet talking and her crying was absolutely crushing.
Every time this baby moves she will feel pain, a piece of cardboard is not enough to stop her leg from moving. A broken femur is life threatening, one of the biggest and thickest bones in your body.
I don't know why I'm relaying this to you. I'm not sure what I'm asking for but I felt compelled to try. I guess my hope would be to find a way to get Olivia into the Cottage hospital, a hospital that only white people and rich Kenyans can afford. I'm not even sure how much this would cost, but I am guessing close to $2,000.
So maybe there is a millionaire out their reading this. Or maybe there are enough people that if everyone donated $20 we could make this happen. My birthday is the Wednesday, if you were planning on giving me anything - maybe we can give it to Olivia.
If you are interested or have any ideas email me at mgaughra@gmail.com
And if not please send out a prayer to whatever you believe in.
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