Mary - Getting Better

Mary was released from the hospital a few days ago and, as you can see from the pictures below, is much better now. Her arm is still being treated, but her back and chest have healed well.



Looking much better



2 days after leaving hospital



RIP Mr One Tooth

One of the King George residents died during the night. I don't know his real name but everyone here affectionately referred to him as 'One Tooth' (because he only had one tooth).

As I arrived at work this morning his body, washed and wrapped in a sheet by some of the workers, was loaded onto a handcart and wheeled out of the compound to be taken to the cemetery for a paupers burial.

I was impressed by how respectful most of the children were, they just stood silently and watched One Tooth go on his way.

RIP Mrs Bangura

The wife of Pa Saidu, one of the security guards at the King George VI home, has passed away.

Anyone who has been to Sierra Leone with Mission Direct will know Saidu - he's the larger of the security guards.

Please pray for Saidu and his family as they come to terms with their loss.

RIP Sally

Sadly, Sally, one of the King George VI residents passed away yesterday. She had been suffering from cancer of the liver.

I've had some lovely chats with her and I'll miss seeing her at King George.

She is the second resident to have passed away since I arrived a couple of weeks ago - this time of year is tough for the old folks.

More About Mary

It's just over a week now that Mary has been in hospital. When I went to see her at the hospital her burns had been dressed well and she was tucking into a big bowl of rice - I took that as a sign she was feeling better.

She is having her burns dressed daily which takes a whole tube of cream - the hospital don't have the cream so we are buying it from the pharmacy which it proving costly. I have also had to buy the gauze for the dressings, the blood tonic and the painkillers. The doctors have told Mary's father that she is expected to need treatment for another three weeks. The worst area affected is her chest and under her arm.

I'm going to try to pop into the hospital at the weekend to see her, I'll post another update when I've seen her.

Mary - Update

Mary's parents bought her to see me again yesterday. She had had her burns dressed at the pharmacy, but she was in an awful lot of pain and not all of the burns were dressed, some were open and I was very worried that they might get infected..

Her parents agreed that she should go to hospital so she was taken to the UMC hospital in Kissy, who transferred her to the PMCH hospital, who then transferred her to the Connaught hospital. She was admitted to the Connaught hospital yesterday afternoon.

I'll visit tomorrow to see how she's doing

Hot Water

This is Mary - her Dad is one of the security guards in the compound where I live.

Mary's Mum was heating some water for cooking and Mary managed to tip the pot over herself. They took her to a nurse who put mauve medicine on her. She had awful blisters - one by her armpit was the size of a tennis ball!

The following day we arranged for her to go to a pharmacy to have the burns dressed properly. Her Dad has promised to keep me updated with how she is getting on.

Hosetta Abdullah - Building Update

This is the progress on the building project at the Hosetta Abdulah school for special needs children.

As you can see the roof is on!

Amela - Looking Great!

I went to check up on Amela yesterday and he is looking far better than I expected!! He was alert, smiling and talking and he looked so much happier and healthier than the last time I saw him in June. He has to continue taking medication for TB for at least another 2 months so hopefully he will continue to imrpove.

As you can see he has a wheelchair - it's so much better for him than sitting on the floor all the time.

I'll be going to see him again on Saturday so that we can arrange for him to have some physiotherapy on his legs - the hospital have recommended it so we are going to give it a try.

He has asked me if he can go to school when he gets well!!