More Sad News From Waterloo

Sadly the other Waterloo Hospital nurse who was diagnosed with Ebola has passed away.

Here's an update from Dr Koroma :

Dear Friends in the UK & Canada

The Adventist Hospital In Waterloo - Sierra Leone has suffered 2 deaths from the Ebola crisis, out of the 3 cases we send 2 has died and they are all nurses, the remaining is the Laboratory Assistant who is doing well for now, we hope and pray that the Lord will give him a speedy recovery. Please join us in prayers daily as we seek the Lord's intervention.

Thank you

Regards,

Dr. David Joefrey Koroma

Acting Medical Director

Adventist Hospital - Waterloo

Three Little Angels

I went to Mahanaim to deliver some rice and received the very sad news that Desmond, Ezekiel and Sallay have passed away.

 



Desmond

Desmond was very sick earlier in the year and had spent some time admitted at the Waterloo Hospital. He was admitted with another child from the home who passed away, and when she died Desmond didn't improve in hospital so was discharged with instructions on how to care for him at home.

 

I was saddened but not surprised to hear that he had died as he really was very sick the last time I saw him.

 

The only photo of Desmond I have to hand is this one taken when he was sick.

 









Sallay

Sallay was one of the children that moved to the new home in Rogbere last  September, so I don't really know what happened with her yet.

 

The last time I saw her she seemed healthy.

 

Sallay didn't talk or communicate much, but she loved cuddles and was very affectionate..

 

She loved to play with balloons and bubbles and would always choose a yellow balloon if she could.

 







Ezekiel

Ezekiel, oh how I loved this little boy!

 

He couldn't use his arms so he would pick anything and everything up with his feet. He would always pinch my flipflops and try to wear them even though they were massive on him.

 

He had very bad scarring to his head from when he had been locked in a room and the room set on fire when he was a baby.

 

He was beautiful and his smile would light up the room.

 

He had a seizure a couple of weeks ago and died.

 

RIP Nurse M

Sadly one of the Waterloo nurses who tested positive for Ebola passed away today at the Ebola treatment centre

 

She was exposed to the virus while treating a patient who was later confirmed as having Ebola.

 

May she rest in perfect peace and may God protect the other staff at the hospital from this dreadful virus
 

It's Creeping Closer

At times Ebola has seemed like a far off problem - even to me here in Freetown. I see news articles and I read the updates from the Ministry telling how many new cases, how many have survived and how many have died. I wash my hands with chlorine after ever possible contact, I avoid direct contact with people, I tell people about the dangers and how to stay safe, I see the information signs everywhere I go........but I didn't know anyone personally that has been diagnosed with Ebola - until now

Three staff at the Waterloo Hospital have been confirmed as having Ebola - two nurses and a lab technician. These are people that I know and admire, who have treated me when I've been admitted to the hospital. Please pray that they will recover.

At the moment there are no other suspected cases amongst the staff of Waterloo Hospital - Please God let it remain that way.

Over the last week the numbers of confirmed cases had been going up rapidly....over the last 7 days more than 150 new cases have been confirmed in Sierra Leone and the cases in the Western Area (Freetown) are growing steadily.

The sight and sounds of the 'Ebola Ambulances' are more common - these are easily spotted because the driver and crew are wearing PPE. I saw one yesterday heading into Freetown with sirens blaring. If sirens can be heard the betting is high that it will be an 'Ebola Ambulance'.

I went to Bureh Beach and I was the only visitor there, there were no children playing, no sellers selling, no fishermen fishing. As with everywhere else I had to wash my hands with chlorine water on the way in.

A couple of weeks ago people were becoming a bit blasé about Ebola, but it is being taken seriously again now. Let us pray that all of the expertise and aid that is coming into the country will be able to halt the spread.

Short Update - Ebola at Waterloo

Dr Koroma sent a short update with the news that we've been dreading, one hospital staff member has tested positive for Ebola and two other suspected cases are awaiting results.

I was so sad to drive by the hospital yesterday and not be able to pop in as I usually do and say hello, to know my friends were in there and there was nothing I could do. From the road I could see the military personnel who are ensuring thst no one leaves the hospital.

Here's the Doctor's note:

Dear friends in the UK & Canada

The Ebola has hit the Adventist hospital, we have got so far 3 suspected cases and one has proved positive two are awaiting results, and the whole hospital has been quarantine including the 40 staffs, so we are all in the hospital. Your donations has been used to buy preventive wears and disinfectants, we are now faced with the challenge of food and other necessary condiments for our staying here. We need your prayers and supports.
Thank you. 
Regards
Dr. David J. Koroma.