Written words simply cannot describe my experience in Kenya to the fullest. However, they are a start. My most rewarding experiences in Kenya were not necessarily the rounding that took place at the hospital. This is not to say they were not important and learning did not take pace, but only to say that even better things transpired. There are three things that I will always, always remember about Kenya and hope to relish all of them in the near future: the IU (or I should say Purdue) Kenyans, the Sally Test Centre and Children, and Moses.
Purdue Kenyans
I met more great, close friends during my experience in Kenya than I ever imagined. Mwangi, Kelvin, Ken, Dennis, Calvin, Benson, Francis, Javan, and taxi Peter were a huge part of the reason I never got homesick during my two month stay (as well as my fellow Purdue colleagues) and also the reason I am now "Kenya" sick. The generosity and kindness they showed towards me (and everyone) was unforgettable. Each and every one of them would drop anything they were doing in order to assist anyone who asked a favor of them. Talking about them could reach novel-length, so I will end by saying a huge thank you from all the Purdue kids. You will continually be missed, and I can say with the utmost of certainty that I will be back to see you all again.
Sally Test Centre and Children
This place was what I looked forward to most at the end of rounds. Even if I could only stop in a visit for a short 20 minutes, it made the day so much better. The operation is smoothly run by a great staff and volunteers. Just a small amount of one-on-one attention with any of the children at the centre also made their day even better. Whether it was holding them, playing a game of Memory, singing with them, or even just receiving a hug around the legs from them could turn a poor day into a great day. Putting a smile on their face put a smile on my face. Saying goodbye to them was difficult and rewarding all in one.
Moses
Moses is a 10-year old child who I met many weeks ago in front of the Nakumatt store. He is a street child. I do not know what it was about him that triggered such an intense response, but I immediately wanted to make his life better. His story is heartbreaking. His mother and father have both passed away, and he lives (when he's home) with his grandparents and aunts along with 10 or more other children. His relatives also beat him. It's very easy to see street ch
ildren and assume that living on the street and sniffing glue was their poor decision. However, after hearing the stories of a few of them, the lives they are running away from are far, far worse than what the street offers them. Along with the help of Mwangi, Kelvin, and Francis, we are in the process of removing him from the streets and getting him into a good school. Francis and his wife have generously offered to adopt him as their child. I will provide for him financially. Although he is currently still on the streets, I have complete faith that by January semester, he will be back in school. I wish I could help more of them, but I simply cannot. The financial portion is nothing compared with what Francis, his wife, Mwangi, and Kelvin have done and are doing.
ildren and assume that living on the street and sniffing glue was their poor decision. However, after hearing the stories of a few of them, the lives they are running away from are far, far worse than what the street offers them. Along with the help of Mwangi, Kelvin, and Francis, we are in the process of removing him from the streets and getting him into a good school. Francis and his wife have generously offered to adopt him as their child. I will provide for him financially. Although he is currently still on the streets, I have complete faith that by January semester, he will be back in school. I wish I could help more of them, but I simply cannot. The financial portion is nothing compared with what Francis, his wife, Mwangi, and Kelvin have done and are doing.A story I heard from one of my fellow colleagues comes to mind:Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf's edge and and the beach. Back and forth thi
s person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.As he came up to the person he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, "It sure made a difference to that one!"
s person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.As he came up to the person he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, "It sure made a difference to that one!"Written by Jeremy Rife, PharmD Candidate 2008, Purdue University School of Pharmacy
