I’ve just had my first hot shower at full volume – it was a
much needed treat as I’ve spent most of the day in the Ark, Global Care’s Disability
Day care Centre. I’m also very appreciative
of the contents of my washbag and realise this was probably the item I missed
most when my suitcase went AWOL!
The children are fetched from home by the Global Care
minibus. Today, as soon as they arrived, they went straight outside to play in the garden. It's often too hot for the outside
play area as it has no shade, this morning
it was cloudy first thing. The
children piled onto the special swing and as Aida began pushing, smiles and
giggles broke out.
When breakfast was
ready, we moved inside. Most of the children have learnt to feed themselves but
it can be a bit messy… Helping your friend to some of your tea by trying to
pour it into his mug is tricky when neither of you have full use of your arms! I
love mealtimes. I remember when most of the children had to be fed. It was clear
several children have really progressed in the last 8 months. However, one girl
ate breakfast incredibly fast – we don’t know when she had her last meal…
The Ark was buzzing today as new mobiles rustled and flapped
in the wind, bright displays shimmered in the sun and the children and staff
laughed, sang and played. I had a break for lunch and to discuss our findings
at Abeko then it was back to the Ark to prepare the children’s letters to their
sponsors. Daphine the Ark manager decided to make foot and handprints with
poster paint. I walked onto the veranda to a scene of hilarious happy chaos – paint
everywhere.
Lucy and Aida were
supporting children as they dunked hands and feet in a bowl of paint then tried
to manipulate contracted and moving feet and hands onto paper. It was
brilliant. These children
are like children everywhere, they love getting messy and they love
painting. At the end we had beautiful prints – I was very impressed at Daphine's
system which somehow kept excess paint off the ‘letters’.
The children were bathed and changed ready for
home and after a sharp thundery shower we walked through thick mud and puddles
to take the children to the waiting minibus. I dressed a child at the Ark after
his shower – his grandmother had packed a T-shirt so torn I worried I’d ruin it
as I stretched it over his contracted arms. They have no money for
clothes and if they did, the disabled child would be last in line… I was
starting to think of the struggles for these children – and the day wasn’t over.
Timmy (made up name) went to the Ark and left when he was
ready for school. He’s recently been in and out of hospital. He needs radical
surgery to correct a spinal deformity which presses on his lungs and causes
severe pain. He can’t use his legs.
There is no-one at the local hospital or the
nearest orthopaedic hospital skilled enough to operate. His best chance might
be a hospital in Entebbe – but we don’t know for sure. David wanted photographs
of Timmy’s spine, limbs and medical records to send to the Entebbe team to ask if
they can help.
It’s a very long shot – we
don’t know if the surgery is possible, we don't know how much it would cost or if funds are available, and we don’t know if Timmy would survive
the journey (he’d have to go by bus).
When Timmy is in hospital his mother stays
with him – and can’t work. She has no money. David has taken him to hospital on
his motorbike several times… his mother can’t carry him and she can’t afford a
motorbike taxi. I know Timmy. I’ve played with him, and he’s a very bright and interesting
lad.
We talked to Timmy, took photos,
prayed with him, and for the first time this trip I felt close to tears. It is so frustrating,
and the injustice and suffering makes me angry. In any country Timmy would have
a short life expectancy, here he is in pain and discomfort. His mother can’t
afford for him to be in hospital again. David was getting him re-admitted –
without Global Care there would literally be no hope.
In many ways the Ark children are in fact, not, like our children... No free access to the NHS, social care and a benefits
system for parents and caregivers.
Children like Timmy don’t get the medical support they need because its
impossibly expensive and inaccessible. Global Care is amazing – these children
have hope and have people who play with them and teach them life skills, there’s
medical care for sponsored children and a discretionary emergency medical fund.
Next time you go to the GP think of
Timmy, and whether you could support the Global Care emergency medical fund. I don’t often find myself blatantly promoting Global Care but if you’d been in
that tiny one-roomed dark house with that teenager the size of an 8-year-old struggling
to breathe, I think you’d forgive me.
Through Global Care's
Children at Risk programme you can contribute to the Medical Emergency Fund for as little as £3/ month
