Maureen

Maureen is one of those students you get to know pretty quickly. Super happy and friendly, always saying hello and making me welcome right from the start. I remember early on, I bumped into her on a Sunday night and she insisted I share her mondazi with her- despite it being only one of two they get per week. 

A few weeks into term one she came and asked me about a rash she had developed. I gave her a few different creams to try, unfortunately they yielded no result and I remember giving her a leave out form to go to the clinic for treatment. With so many students and so much going on her case was soon in the back of my mind. 

However, at the beginning of term two she didn't report back with the other students. In fact she didn't come back for  over a month. 

Walking out the library one morning I felt like I was in a nightmare. I could see a student crossing the yard who looked like Maureen but then I thought it simply couldn't possibly be. 

Her legs were swollen like balloons, her face twice the size. Her skin was all flaky and falling off. She was walking so so incredible slow, each step obviously causing a great amount of pain. I felt scared to talk to her. 

I had to know what was going on though so I immediately went over and greeted her, I sat her on a nearby bench and asked for the full story.

She said her condition had gotten worse and worse until she couldn't move. She had been to the clinic and the district hospital but she said after doing tests they could find nothing and actually told her she would just have to go home and die. 

Hearing a positive and friendly 18 yr old talking about death like this was something that really shook me. 

I heard more about how her family was 'cursed' by grandmother and four of her siblings had previously died, the only suggestion that was offered to Maureen was that she seek out some witchcraft to attempt to cure her.

Yet despite the situation Maureen was so positive. She told me she believed God loved her and she was getting better. 

The next few days told a different story about her health though. I visited her room regularly and found her trying to disguise her tears and tell me the pain wasn't so bad. I felt so helpless and wished I knew what was wrong. I took photos of her and sent them to two doctor friends in Australia and Wales for advice, but not being here it was difficult for them to know the best way forward. 

At the local clinic...

I took her to the clinic a few times for symptom treatment and painkiller injections. But none of it made any real difference. The 'clinic' is of dubious quality. The 'doctor' said maybe she was allergic to protein and should not eat any beans anymore and also that she had malaria (a common diagnosis for just about any kind of sickness). He poured some green liquid into a second hand bottle and told her to drink it 2x a day. When he went out the room I checked the container of the green liquid and saw it was simply an anti- histamine, recommended for 'running noses'. With due respect to the clinician (I guess you can only work with what knowledge and resources you have) I decided to research other options- I had seen a medical centre in new shopping mall in town and so I looked them up and organised a time for Maureen to leave school and come for treatment. 

The medical centre was clean, well equipped and clinical. The doctor was clearly intelligent and spoke good English. He asked many questions, did a blood test and spoke on the phone to colleagues in other areas of Kenya. Finally he explained that it was a severe form of dermatitis that affects the flexor surfaces and had been untreated for so long hence the severe reaction. He was very optimistic about her situation, administered an injection and prescribed further drugs to take home.

Last week Maureen came bouncing into the library giggling and asked me to watch as she jumped in the air 'look how well I am now madam!'.

I have since taken her back again for further treatment and although it is not a condition that can be completely cured, she is now back to normal and not experiencing any nasty symptoms anymore.

Certainly not an experience I want to repeat but so glad it has had the outcome it had!