Lt. Ologi Van Tran, one of our medical data people, interviews every one of our patients about their socio-economic status. Some people want to talk and others just want to answer the questions. Ologi, 36 yr old, told his soldier’s tale. At 14 he became a soldier. Why? He wasn’t swept away or stolen but felt the need to defend his country against rebel activities and he was proud of being a soldier — at 14. He ran away from his family and didn’t let them know where he was for three years. They probably thought he was dead.

Ologi is single but he plans on marrying in a year. Do you have a girlfriend, I asked? “No, but my army friends will help me make a match.” He lives on the millitary compound and he can request to see his family when he has the money.  As a military officer, all of his education is obtained from the military. As a infantry commander he trains new soldiers and goes to different districts to recruit. He feels happy with his work and his life and hopes that this surgery will not hurt his career.

He was supposed to go to Somalia on a mission but the medical team did a health check and informed him that he had a heart condition but they weren’t able to do a complete diagnosis. They referred him to the Mulago Hospital. The doctors here gave a more extensive diagnosis and  recommended open-heart surgery. In May, Ologi came back for the second check-up and the diagnosis was done by Dr Peter and Dr Emwy. The echo was obtained at that time and the doctors concluded that he will benefit from a transesophageal echocardiography and asked him to come back for this procedure in July. In September,Ologi came back to meet Dr Phillip who informed him what was involved in the surgery and the cost: 12,875,000 shillings for all expenses of a 10-day hospital stay. This equals less than $5,000 US dollars. The operation was scheduled after the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces sent a letter to the hospital agreeing to pay the cost.

Ologi is worried but he told his family and friends that he believes in God. He doesn’t think that believing in both religion and the military is paradoxical. Sam, his friend, has been very supportive and is staying in the hospital with him. They grew up together and have been in the military since they were young boys. He feels optimistic about the surgery.

I spoke with Ologi today and found him to be open and friendly. We talked about the army, his life and his future. I certainly can see that the success of this operation will mean that he can return to the life he loves. I’ll anxiously await the outcome. He said he’d like to come back a year later to show everyone how healthy he is and what a fine outcome he had.