You'll all be pleased to know I am "home" at Open Arms safe and sound.....within 10 minutes of being back it was like I'd never been away! And I say that with a grin on my face - I so, so love this place! :) For those of you that don't know, I have booked my flights to Perth to see that little brother of mine - I leave Malawi on Monday 15th to spend a week with Jimbo before heading off to Sydney. I think leaving here is going to be among the hardest things I've had to do - already bracing myself!
So, I arrived back here on Monday - there had been 2 new arrivals while I was away. A 9 month old little boy - Chisombuko 2 (there is already one Chisombuko!) - he is gorgeous! Has the biggest eyes with a smile to match - a total sweetheart. The other, a little boy who I will have to call "M" for now as I can hardly say his name, let alone spell it! He is 14 months old, so is a much older new arrival than usual which brings far more problems in terms of getting him settled in. A new born baby has no idea what and where they have come from, so Open Arms is their family from the start. Older babies and toddlers know they are in a strange place, with strange people and without everything that has been their norm.....he cries.....a lot. Poor little thing. This obviously puts an extra strain on the "mother" as she has to try to quickly create a bond with him while continuing to look after the others - these ladies are unbelievable! He has been strapped to the backs of the ladies almost continually to get him used to them and the home, yesterday he was left to play with the other children and get involved with what they were doing so little by little he's getting there. How these ladies manage I do not know! He is making progress though and today even I managed to get a cuddle off him (on Monday he saw me and screamed, so I'd left him well alone!!) By the weekend I'm sure he'll be just fine!
Both Chisombuko and M's Mums died during delivery, their families had tried their best to look after them, but admitted defeat due to lack of finances, hence their arrival at Open Arms. Baby M had been looked after by his eldest brother who is 15 years old along with 4 other siblings. Can you believe that that kind of thing goes on?! 15 years old and having to look after 4 younger brothers and sisters, unable to go to school because he needs to work to pay for his family. So sad. To be fair to him - having done it for 9 months he deserves a medal in my book!
As Open Arms here in Mangochi only care for children until they are 2 years old, baby M will not be here for too long. That said, he will be given all the medical care he needs - injections he hasn't had to date (due to cost) and will get continual medical care paid for and education once he is old enough, once he goes back to his family. This place does so much for children-so he thankfully has a chance.
On Tuesday I met Neville who is the Director, and the man who set up Open Arms with his late wife Rosemary. A brilliant man originally from Harrogate who has been living in Malawi for the last 25 years.....utterly charming man! We had a real good chat and have some great fundraising ideas for my return to the UK - I feel this is the beginning of a long standing relationship with Open Arms which I am so excited about! :)
On a sadder note, baby Melanee who arrived here on 27th September at 8 hours old (in my last email) is very, very sick tonight. Here, too common a complaint with new born babies is oral thrush. For those of you that don't know, this is transmitted from the mother to the baby on delivery. Clearly with the mother not being around for us to be able to get a full medical history, we are reliant upon what information the friends/family of the Mother have and then, them being honest about it so quite often it takes a few days/weeks for the symptoms to become apparent. Another major factor here, as I am sure you are all aware is HIV. Oral thrush for an HIV positive baby has far more serious consequences than for those who are negative as their immune systems are so much weaker from the outset. That teamed with being 13 days old, its going to be a struggle. Melanee's HIV test results are not back yet so we are not sure whether she is positive or negative, however, looking at her reaction we can only assume she is a positive baby. On Monday she went to the clinic,, without being obviously poorly with thrush, and got the medication for the treatment. Throughout yesterday she seemed fine - was drinking her milk with no apparent problems. Then last night at mid-night the sickness started and her breathing began to become more labored so Rashid-the Administrator-was woken and whizzed her to the clinic. This morning we went to the clinic to relieve her "Mother" who had stayed with her all night to find she had not improved, in fact, her breathing had worsened so she got transferred to Mangochi district hospital where she is currently receiving oxygen therapy. Another plea for you to all say a little prayer for her.......
I'm sorry to darken the mood, but this kind of thing is the reality of life in Malawi. So cruel. I wonder how many children in the UK have oral thrush as the cause of death on their death certificates?! Ridiculous.
I will of course let you know news on Melanee - everything crossed that she starts to make a recovery tonight so I can report nothing but good news in my next email! Just to let you know, apart from Melanee not being very well, I am pleased to report all of the other 35 children in Open Arms Mangochi are fighting fit and healthy - I have the perforated ear drums to prove it!! :)
Love you loads, miss you!
Z xXx
http://www.justgiving.com/Zoe-Morrison1
