Birthday Wishes

We celebrated Siphesihle's 7th birthday with her last Saturday, July 25th. Although there were just a few of us present, many others were there in spirit. Siphesihle wore her white dress donated by Tran Luong, a nurse and old friend from 11 Long at UCSF Medical Center. It is her favorite dress and now she has been able to wear it on Easter and for her birthday. The dress is saved for only special occasions and she looks very cute and festive when she is allowed to wear it. David's mom made the birthday cake and it was quite delicious. Presents included a beautiful doll sent from Corona, California by David's sister Andy. Siphesihle immediately named the doll Annie, I know its not a Swazi name by it was her choice. A good time was had by all and it was certainly a memorable day for the birthday girl. Oh no, am I sounding the a proud parent who talks way too much about their children? I will stop now and share some photos with those of you who are still interested.





Siphesihle was up with the sunrise, bathed and anxiously awaiting the party to begin. When we arrived she was dressed in her very best dress, reserved for special occasions.














Siphesihle and I photographed on her homestead. The hut in the background is her current home until the new house is completed. David's parents are having a new home built for her family.











From left to right, back row first. Thembakhosi, Elsie and David. Front row, Bandi, Siphesihle, David and Jane.













We sang Happy Birthday (in English) inside what is going to be the new home when it is completed.

















Some wishes do come true, Siphesihle stared on her ARV's on Tuesday after a very long and arduous effort by us and and her mom.















Annie, the newest member of the family, thanks Andy.



















Gogo Haproff reading to the children after the cake had been enjoyed by everyone present.
















Little Annie being fed her first meal.














I am always very happy to see Siphesihle and be able to spend time together.

















David with his buddy Bandi. Whenever we are visiting, Bandi is sure to be by David's side.

















Bandi and Siphesihle, they are first cousins and attend
St. Boniface school together.




















Siphesihle carrying Annie around in true Swazi fashion.


















After the party was over, the children walked us up to the road. A great time was had by all. It was really a pleasure to have such a joyful afternoon and be able to escape the many unpleasant realities of life here.











Peace,
Scott

Vanna Siphesihle White

Many people have asked what kinds of food we supply to various patients and their families. So, yesterday we did some shopping and before delivering the food we decided to take some photos and make a price list to share with you. In very Swazi fashion, as we were taking the photos Siphesihle happened to walk by where we were parked and became our willing assistant. I asked her if she felt like Vanna White, and she gave me a very blank stare, so I assumed the obvious -- that my question was a rather poor attempt at humor with some pop culture thrown in. (Side note, Siphesihle turns 7 today and is scheduled to start on her ARV's on Tuesday.)

We do most of our shopping at Shoprite (a fairly large chain of grocery stores from South Africa) because the prices are the most economical and not because we enjoy the pushing, shoving and maneuvering required to get to the check-out. Yesterday we stood in line for about 2o minutes amongst all of the madness of food shopping on a Friday late afternoon. You would think that in a town of about 6,000 people that there wouldn't be such chaos getting to the check-out but that is not the case. One has to side-step the heaps of food, carts, and baskets left behind by other shoppers who became impatient or miscalculated how much they had to spend. Anyway, I digress, so on with the story. First of all I want to thank all of you who have sent money for food. It has really helped supplement the money we are spending and has made for more abundant and frequent food deliveries.

If anyone else wants to support this effort then please let us know. You can email myself (ubescott@gmail.com) for information on how to get the money to us. Basically, you can send Karen Wong a check and she will deposit it in my account in the states and then I will draw on it here with my ATM card. That is the easiest and quickest way to get the funds here. Unfortunately the Emalengeni (whose value is directly tied to the South African Rand) continues to climb in relation to the dollar. The value of the dollar in relation to the Rand has fallen by 30% since our arrival. This has made it more difficult to make give the same level of support that we were initially able to.

Following are some photos of some of the basic food items we provide for the families we are helping support, along with their prices in Emalengani. At today's exchange rates, one US dollar is equal to 7 Emalengeni or Rand.




Mealie Meal (ground corn), which is what most Swazis eat everyday. It accounts for about 90% of their diet, rich in carbohydrates, but significantly lacking in protein. It can be purchased in many different quantities i.e. 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg.
This 5 kg package costs E27.99.












Sugar Beans, 2 kg E19.59. The main source of protein for most Swazis and used to supplement the mealie meal. These beans are grown locally as well as imported from South Africa, as most goods and services are here in Swaziland. The beans must be boiled with water for many hours before eating them.













10kg of rice, a very welcome change to eating just mealie meal, the Swazi staple, is E70.00
























Raw peanuts: a 2kg bag is E29.99. Another good source of protein, but quite expensive for most families. The beans are placed in a cast iron pot over an open flame and roasted before eating.
















A small bag of iodized salt (500g) is E1.59





















Jungle Oats oat meal, costs E19.99
















Emasi, or sour milk, is a favorite of most Swazis, and a good source of protein. A 2 liter container is E12.99.



















Breakfast porridge: 2kg of Mabele Meal is E13.99
















Sunny soap, used for washing clothes E6.99

















Raw or Brown Sugar 3kg E16.99


















Dried soup packets E3.49 each.




















Sardines in tomato sauce, which is a luxury for most of our patients and very well liked, is an excellent source of protein E11.99

















Baked Beans, another good source of protein E4.29





















Cooking oil: 2 liters costs E25.49
















Farm fresh eggs, one and half dozen: E23.49














A welcome treat for the children, which we try to provide once in a while, are cookies: E3.59 per package.

















Peanut Butter, 1 kg E28.49, is rather expensive by local standards, so rarely purchased by the patients we see. Obviously an excellent source of protein and well liked.


















A loaf of bread 800g is E7.29
















Lion brand matches: E3.29, and candles: E9.99. Most of our patients lack any source of electricity. Matches and candles provide a way to have some light in their homestead once the sun has set.

Peace,
Scott

John's visit June 14-21, 2009.

We had a whirlwind visit from John Kanis last month. He was visiting from Australia and it has taken the last month to try and digest all that happened. Immediately, John just jumped in with both feet to our lives here in Siteki. He arrived on a Sunday and by early Monday morning he was gathering supplies with me to make visits with the Home Based Care Team. Needless to say, he charmed the team with his Aussie accent and friendly personality. John made home visits with the team on Monday and Tuesday and then went on many other home visits with David and I to families that we support.

During our home visits to Sitsatsaweni on Monday, John met Khulile and her son Ndu. As you have read on our blogs, this is a family that we support with food and medical care. It was love at first sight, Ndu was mesmerized by John and his designer sunglasses, muscular build and smile. Ndu latched onto him and was not wanting to ever let go. The feeling was mutual, John was instantly taken by Ndu's smile, frail little physique and need for adequate medical care. On our visit we tested Ndu (he is 6 years old) for HIV and he tested positive. It was very traumatizing for all concerned, as this all too familiar scene played out and especially for John. You could see that the weight of the epidemic here in Africa fell hard and fast upon his shoulders with a crushing blow. Ndu had now tested positive, his father is long gone, his mother is on ARV's and two of his siblings have died already. It was a lot to take in on your first full day in Swaziland. After the initial shock we composed ourselves, counseled his mother and drew more blood for a CD4 count. Then we moved on to visit our other patients in the area.

By Wednesday the CD4 results were in and it became clear that Ndu needed to be admitted to the hospital for malnutrition and to assess if he was a good candidate for starting ARV therapy. We drove back out to Sitsatsaweni on Thursday, spoke with Ndu's mom and she allowed us to take him back to Good Shepherd Hospital to be admitted. Ndu was quite willing to go back with us, getting a ride in a car was something new for him and of course very fun for a six year old. John held him the whole way back and then became a constant companion at the pediatric ward. Unfortunately, John had to leave on Sunday to return home. It was really difficult for him to leave with Ndu still hospitalized and his ability to start ARV's unresolved.

Well we kept a close eye on Ndu and his care. After numerous trips to the pediatric ward, various doctors and the ARV clinic at the hospital we were able to have Ndu staged for his HIV/AIDS diagnosis. He received a World Health Organization staging criteria of Stage III. This made it possible for him to be eligible to start ARV's. Although nothing is that easy or cut and dry here. So Ndu returned to his homestead after 10 days in the hospital without starting his medications. The story is much too involved and painful to retell it any great detail at this time. In short, after many visits to the hospital and clinic by Ndu, his mother, David and I, and lots of pressure on our part Ndu was scheduled to start on his ARV's this past Tuesday. Unfortunately, we were out of town on Tuesday so we will not know for sure if it was successful until tomorrow. We are hoping for the best.

Here are some pictures taken during John's visit. I hope that you enjoy them. His visit was not all stress and heartache. There was a lot of joy had by many and it was very heartwarming to see John connect so intimately with our friends and lives here in Swaziland.





John with children from Sitsatsaweni primary school, before the madness began.











John started giving out pens to the children and a moment later there was nearly a stamped. The classroom doors of the school flew open and the children immediately followed. We barely got out alive.













John first meeting Ndu at his homestead.



















Walking back to the Home Based Care truck from Ndu's homestead.




















Up and over the hills we go. It is hard to believe that Ndu will be turning 7 very soon.















John quickly noticed that the most common advertisement here is for coffins.














Visiting the Mambane Care Point. David supplies the food for feeding the growing population of children at this care point. There are nearly 70 children on a daily basis now who attend.











Group shot of Thabiso and his cousins with David and John.














John and Thabiso delivering building supplies to Elsie and her daughter Siphesihle to help complete the home that Elsie is building single-handedly.

















John, Elsie, myself and Bongani inside the home that Elsie is building. Elsie collected all the rocks and sticks to build her own home. John funded the rest of the project and it is nearing completion.

















John pictured with Siphesihle and her cousin Bandy. We cover the cost of both of their school fees.














Elsie and the kids with her new roof now in place.













Myself and John, pictured on Mabuda Farm.



















Visiting Ndu (in the background) and another patient at the pediatric ward. The child in the forefront is an orphan who was abandoned at the hospital, he is awaiting permanent placement.









Ndu, sporting his new clothes and battery operated car. We have seen Ndu many, many times since this photo and he still wears his new clothes every time he comes to the hospital.






Peace,
Scott