The kids are growing up so fast. Ester sent me this picture of them last week; it made me happy, proud, and sad. I try to forget how much I miss them.
I keep in contact with Ester and the children regularly, and I am as proud of Ester as I am of the children. This project has been successful mostly because of Ester’s constant and hard work. She has managed to look after the five orphans and her own child, Peanut, and keep the Snack Shop up and running all on her own. It is very difficult to establish sustainable projects in developing countries and the credit now really belongs to her.
Ester has been managing the shop well enough to make enough of a profit to cover her and the children’s everyday living expenses, like food, clothes, transportation, basic medical, etc. It is not enough to cover their rent and school fees though, so I send money back to her quarterly for these expenses, which are relatively expensive.
Whenever I call about money or to see how they are doing, I hear the children laughing in the background. It brings me such joy to hear their health and happiness. Everyone is doing well except poor Richard.
The infection is Richard’s leg has recently worsened, the ooze and pain returning. Ester sent me this picture last week and I wanted to cry.
Ester has taken Richard to one of the best hospitals in the country for treatment upon my request. They said he needs another surgery and will meet with the surgeon this Saturday, August 13. I suspect he will go into surgery a few days later. Ester’s friend, Moses, whom I’ve met, will accompany her since he has medical background and can hopefully provide assistance. I have also asked Ester to give the doctor my email as I would like to stay on top of his treatment firsthand.
I remain hopeful that this surgery will be the final treatment for the boy, but unfortunately it is impossible to say. A friend recent saw the photograph and asked if it were better if the leg were amputated.
Forget what you know about sidewalks, ramps or ADA compliance. Imagine a place where you walk only on hard, undulating red dirt, or through thick, gunky red mud that sometimes swallows your feet to the ankles. Imagine that same place with clinics and hospitals that only hint at modern medicine, there certainly are no wheelchairs or prosthetics.
If you are disabled in Uganda, you literally pull yourself over the dirt to get around. If you are able-bodied in Uganda, you may have a few opportunities to earn a living. If you are disabled, you have none.
An amputation is out of the question.
We really need your donations to help cover the cost of Richard’s treatment. As always, there is no overhead for this project and all money is sent directly back to Ester and the children. All costs are also scrutinized closely.
Also, I am happy to say that donations of $100 or more are now tax deductible!
The Kiwanis Foundation of Tierrasanta (the community in San Diego I call home) has agreed to accept, manage and distribute funds for this project. Everything else, including the operations and fundraising, will remain entirely my responsibility.
I am very excited about this development. It came about rather flawlessly and I believe the charity's financial mangement will help make the children’s futures more secure.
I only wish there were something similarly simple that could be done to make Richard’s health also assured.
Posts
