Finding Silivano

Today I visited my referral patient, Silivano. It was quite an experience! I set off for Mulago Hospital, the biggest government hospital in the country. I think I read somewhere that it has 1500 beds. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived. As I walked through the gates, I realized just how overwhelming the place must be to the patients we send here from Bundibugyo. Many of them have never even left the district, let alone entered a city of 1.5 million. The hospital complex was a hub of activity with a jumble of buildings as far as the eye could see. As someone with a bit of experience in American hospitals, I hoped I'd be able to navigate this one.

Silivano's father's phone was off so I couldn't reach him to ask what ward he was on. I figured I'd start the search for him at what looked like the "main entrance" with a big sign over the door. There were rows of people sitting and waiting--for what, I don't know. There was no information booth. Dead end #1. There would be a lot more dead ends until I found Silivano. I spent the next hour traipsing around Mulago's campus, looking for him in one of the three pediatric wards. There are few to no signs directing you to the different wards. The walkways wind around and for a while I attempted to look like I knew where I was going as everyone around stared at me, the mzungu girl. Eventually, I gave that up and started asking every person in a uniform for the various locations Silivano could be.

After hoofing it in circles for an hour, I arrived in the correct ward and actually found someone that could direct me to his bed! It was a great victory just to find him and his parents there! Their faces lit up in recognition and I greeted them in Lubwisi. I leafed through his chart and saw a lot of things I didn't understand (since I'm not a doctor!). But I did see that he had several blood transfusions in the last several weeks, accounting for his brighter countenance. I was able to talk with a doctor about him, learned that they doubted he has leukemia. Good news! There is still a long road ahead to figuring out exactly what is causing his anemia, including a bone marrow biopsy. But I was able to give the family the $12 they would need to get an echocardiogram for him and pray for them. I also got the ever important phone number I had hoped to get--the doctor who is caring for him. Now I hope to be able to stay in touch and understand what is happening here, even when I am again far away in Bundibugyo.

Finding Silivano was an incredibly rewarding experience. It reminded me of why I am here and succeeding despite the unknowns and challenges was exciting! Continue to pray for him and his family. Pray for wisdom for the doctors. And pray that God would continue to give me opportunities to use this passion I have for social work and patient advocate!