Uganda biomeds I’ve talked about the amazing team Cardiostart brings to Uganda. Two of those people, Ashad from Pakistan and Sandy from the USA, have a huge responsibility. They are biomedical engineers and their job is to fix all the machines and to teach and collaborate with the one biomedical engineer employed by the hospital. It is an enormous job and responsibility. Ashad is MacGyver or just Magic. And if you think about heart surgery, you know how important all the machines are to patients. It is a crucial part of the success of Cardiostart. The organization sent two shipments of donated equipment to Mulago Hospital earlier in the year. All of the complicated machinery requires constant vigilance. With a ‘graveyard’ of broken down equipment some of which just needs to be fixed, the issue of what to send is enormous.

But meanwhile, miracles are afoot. Today a group of us brought supplies to the pediatric intensive care unit where Dr. Donna Freddie and his mom is working hard. It was the toughest place that I’ve been in the hospital with babies crying, their moms cradling them and not enough nurses. Donna was showing us around and took us in one room with about five little babies. When she went to check on Freddie, she found that he wasn’t breathing. She sent us all out and started all the procedures to bring Freddie back. After doing everything she could, she felt that Freddie wasn’t going to make it and they called the mom back into the room to say goodbye. It seems, however, that Freddie had something else in mind. He started breathing again! Yes, Freddie fought for his life. Donna says there was no medical reason that brought him back but if she hadn’t been there, well, you know.

Boys with HIV And on another trip, a young man spoke to me with a friendly smile so typical of Uganda, as Sandy and I were headed to the 6th floor of the hospital, the private floor, the glam floor. He asked where we were from and what we were doing. I asked the same of him and his friend. They saidthey were going to the HIV bdg to volunteer. Did we want to come? Sandy and I immediately said yes and followed them over to the beautiful HIV bdg. Niyo, 20, is studying electrical installation and Cyprian, 21, is studying fashion design. Both young men were infected at birth with HIV and have been taking medication that is provided free of charge. Baylor College of Medicine built the building in 2005 and the funding is not as strong as it used to be while the rate of infection goes up. They showed us arts section where some of the children where making bags. They introduced us to Esther, one of the founders of the organization. She has known Niyo and Cyprian since birth and is obviously very proud of them. Niyo said it best, “Because of the love here, we have hope.”

The day wasn’t over yet. I had noticed a young woman and her baby outside the PICU and decided to stop and give her baby one of my little finger puppets. Mom with little girl Such a gorgeous baby and I asked her if she was waiting outside to see a doctor. No, no, she said. I came to town to pray for my daughter while she takes exams. I am from Gomba. All of my money was pickpocketed and I cannot go home. I asked her what she could possibly do. She had no easy answer. I asked her how much she needed to get home. 25,000 shillings. That’s $10. So, I decided to take her aside and give her the money. I told her to hide it, to tell no one that she has it. She said “God bless you. I will be on the next bus tomorrow morning.” And we hugged. I think her baby is the one who caught my eye …must of known help was nearby. So, that is what happens in Uganda. A steady stream of miracles.