The Long Journey Up and the Long Journey Home… Kenya Week 35: May 30- June 5

There’s something magical about watching the morning sun tiptoe its way over the horizon from the top of a 15,000 foot mountain. It had taken us three days of grueling climbing to reach the summit of Mt. Kenya. Despite the fact that Van and I started the climb in less than perfect health and despite the fact that there’s pretty much ZERO oxygen over 14,000 feet above sea level, and despite the fact that freezing winds nearly knocked my hiking boots right off, I’ve never felt more alive standing on top of the second tallest mountain in Africa at sunrise.

In a powerful way, climbing Mt. Kenya is a perfect metaphor for my eight months in this crazy country. I’d heard climbing the second tallest mountain in Africa was an experience of a lifetime. Something not to be missed. A challenge worth the struggle. An adventure few could claim. So I read everything there was to read. I made sure I had all the right equipment and supplies. I found a guide to show the way, a porter to carry the heavy stuff, and a much more experienced mountain climbing friend to accompany me.

Coming to Africa was nearly identical. An experience of a lifetime. A world full of challenges waiting to be discovered. An adventure. Something not to be missed. So I read everything I could about Kenyan culture, politics, and health care. I found a great NGO to set everything up. I found sponsors, friends, and donors to make it possible. And I had a few other Americans to go with to help along the way.

But just like coming to Kenya, I started climbing Mt. Kenya not really having any idea what I was getting into. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning before we started the climb, the mountain was covered in clouds. So when Joseph our guide pointed in the general direction of the mountain, I could only imagine what exactly the monster I was hoping to conquer really looked like. Just like any movie or book or map of Africa can try to point out what exactly Africa is all about, I only had a cloudy, vague idea of what that really meant.

Ready for the adventure despite the lingering cough and looming clouds, we started hiking. By Tuesday at sunrise, we reached Point Lenana- exhausted, freezing, and wheezing. Suddenly the hours of hiking, the sore legs, the cold nights were totally worth it. We’d signed up to climb a mountain. This is what we were looking for. This is what we got. And so much more.

As I looked out over what seemed like all of East Africa from my heavenly view point, I realized that I had done much more than climb a mountain. I had done much more than survived a four day hike. I had survived eight months in Africa. I had built wonderful relationships that gave me new view points. I’d overcome challenges that lifted me to new heights. I’d seen things few others in my world back home had ever seen. And just when I thought I couldn’t go another step, I did. And another. And another. And before I knew it, I’d reached the summit.

While I can claim that I conquered Mount Kenya, I know that in no way can I claim that I conquered Kenya. But I conquered myself in Kenya. I proved to myself that I could take another step. That I could overcome the lack of oxygen, the absence of creature comforts, the familiarity of the known.

As we hiked back to basecamp Wednesday morning, I constantly turned around to look back at the clear blue sky and enormous mountain we had just climbed. “You mean to tell me I just came from THERE?” “I walked all that way?”

The saying is true- ignorance really is bliss. Because honestly, had I seen the mountain Sunday morning, I don’t know if I would have made it all the way to the top. Looking back at the mass of rock I had just ascended and descended, I wondered why I ever thought it was a good idea to climb that mountain and how the heck I managed to make it to the top.

And maybe that’s the greatest metaphor. Had I really known what the heck I was getting myself into when I signed up to come to Kenya, I don’t know if I could have made it. Looking back now, I am amazed at where I started and where I reached. “I really came all that way?”

So just like climbing Mt. Kenya and just like my eight months in Kenya, I started and ended in the exact same place. The base of the mountain. And the airport. But the places I ventured between here and there defy explanation. Incredibly difficult. Surprisingly painful. But worth every moment.

And just like climbing Mt. Kenya and just like my eight months in Kenya, I can’t wait to do it again. Not right away. I need some time to recover. But someday I’ll be back. Maybe not in the exact same place or with the exact same route. But I’ll climb another mountain. And I’ll come back to Africa. It’s too good to miss out.

Adventures of a Lifetime …Kenya (and Uganda) Week 34: May 23-May 29

After spending eight months in tiny little Karungu, I wanted to travel a bit through East Africa before heading home. There’s too much beauty in this part of the world to miss! So Van and I spent the week heading from one adventure to the next on wonderful Kenyan and Ugandan public transportation. Below are my High’s and Low’s for Week 34- my second to last week in Kenya. The High’s were super high and the Low’s were a bit too low. But that’s Africa right? What a great way to end my time in Kenya!

Sunday, May 23

High: Spending the afternoon with Emma and Calmax. Calmax is attending Nursing School in Kendu Bay thanks to a wonderful donation from friends back home. Van and I got to see his school, meet his teachers and roommates, and visit the hospital where Calmax is learning the wonderful art of nursing. What a blessing to be a part of that experience!

Low: Leaving Karungu. Enough said.

Monday, May 24

High: Crossing the border into Uganda. Uganda is clean, organized, and well paved (the roads that is!).

Low: Watching Van turn white, then green, after our delicious Indian food lunch. For some reason it didn’t sit well with him. Poor guy.

Tuesday, May 25

High: Flipping the raft TWICE while white water rafting down the Nile on some of the wildest Class 5 rapids in the world. There’s no feeling like being swept down a raging river hoping the safety kayaks are nearby to come pick you up. Don’t worry Mom, it was all perfectly safe!!

Low: Inhaling half the Nile the second time we flipped the raft. The racking cough the rest of the afternoon was a bit annoying, but it was totally worth it.

Wednesday, May 26

High: Eating dinner at Carnivore, the world famous unlimited grilled meat restaurant in Nairobi after getting off the bus after the ten hour trip from Jinja, Uganda to Nairobi, Kenya.

Low: The sinking “you’re getting sick” feeling I got halfway between Jinja and Nairobi. It didn’t help that Van was feeling nauseous again sitting next to me.

Thursday, May 27

Low 1: Spending the whole day in bed after being diagnosed with a bacterial respiratory infection. Turns out it’s not a good idea to inhale half the Nile. You will get sick. So my 100 degree fever and earthshaking coughing made for a long, painful, “this really sucks” day.

Low 2: Realizing that starting to climb Mount Kenya tomorrow with this fever and infection might not be a good idea. So Van and I decided to push back the climb two days so I could recover. Unfortunately that means we only have 4 days instead of 5 days on the mountain.

Friday, May 28

Low: Despite all the Coartem (Malaria medication- just in case I have malaria), Amoxicillin, Ibuprofen, and anti-histamines prescribed by the doctor in Nairobi, my fever still didn’t break and my coughing hadn’t subsided. So again, I spent the whole day in bed.

High: Having Van and the priests at the St. Camillus Seminary take good care of me. And feeling my fever break late in the evening.

Saturday, May 29

High: Waking up and knowing that the worst of the infection was over and that we could start our Mount Kenya climb tomorrow as we’d planned. We met up with Joseph the mountain guide and his younger brother Paul the porter in Nanyuki, the small town at the base of Mt. Kenya, to prepare everything so we could start the 4 day adventure first thing the next morning!

Low: Although I was finally feeling much better, poor Van had yet another bout of…something. So between my coughing and his barfing, we made for a well prepared, super-healthy, mountain climbing duo!

It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Soon… Kenya Week 33: May 16-22

"Wait, you’re going home? America home?”

“You mean you aren’t coming back to Karungu?”

“How long will you be in America before coming back to Kenya?”

Question after question flooded me this week as I wrapped up my work here in Karungu. The week was packed with home visits, follow ups, and sneaking in two more school cementing projects with the remaining budget. Meanwhile, head teachers and community health volunteers from around Karungu called, visited, and pleaded that I not leave yet. “There’s still so much work to be done…how can you go now?”

I heartbreakingly responded to each of my new friends and co-workers with more or less the same answer…

“I’m going home for more schooling. But the Jiggers Project is still going on. I won’t be here in person, but I’ll be in America raising money and working with the volunteers here in Kenya. And don’t worry, I’ll come back to Kenya as soon as I can.”

Although I realize the difficulty of that promise -to continue raising money and working with the project while a medical student and promising to come back to Kenya as soon as I can- I know that I’ve worked too hard, invested too much, and began something too great to let it end when I leave Karungu.

The greatest blessing of the week was visiting many of the homes and families we’ve worked with. Almost everyone is jigger free and full of hope. Because of the heavy rains lately, many of the newly constructed homes remain unsmeared. But each of the families promised that as soon as the soil is dry enough to begin smearing, they’ll complete the work. And everyone seemed to understand how to prevent the jiggers from returning. So my unofficial evaluation of the project so far:

SUCCESS!!

While the greatest blessing was visiting all the families, the greatest heartbreak by far was saying goodbye to the neighborhood kids. As I gathered my last few things from the house, the kids drew pictures and wrote “Goodbye Kayla” notes. I managed to hold back my tears just long enough to hug them all goodbye. Of course kissing little Davis on the cheek and realizing I wasn’t going to be around to see them all grow into beautiful adults was too much. As I walked away from my little Kenyan house in the staff compound for the last time, eight months of tears poured down my suntanned cheeks.

Those tears instantly resurface when I think of the life I’ve left behind in Karungu. By far the most difficult, frustrating, overwhelming, lonely, eight months of my life. And yet simultaneously the most transformative, eye-opening, encouraging, unbelievable, indescribable eight months of my life.

So I have to keep reminding myself: Yes I’m going back to America. But it’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.

Kenya: I’m not through with you yet.

Nying’a Kayla Adhiambo na Otati… Kenya Week 32: May 9-15

You can ask my mother: I’ve always hated goodbyes. As a child I preferred crying in bed buried under my covers rather than saying goodbye to family and friends on their way to the airport. Unfortunately such behavior is frowned upon for 22 year old Public Health Officers. But believe it or not, the long, heartbreaking ordeal of saying goodbye has begun. I’m still trying to piece together where exactly the last 8 months disappeared to. As I went to visit and say goodbye to each of the homes and families I’ve been worked with over the past months, I’m witnessing firsthand the fruits of my labor and that of all the donors and supporters of the project.

So I have to pull myself together and search for the right words to express as I hug each person goodbye. Those words usually include praise for their hard work, encouragement to continue preventing the jiggers, and finally a promise to return as soon as possible.

As I look ahead to my last week in Karungu, I can’t help but think about how much more work there is to do. Right now I’m out of time and out of money. But that doesn’t mean I intend to stop working with the Public Health Officers and Community Health Volunteers. I might not be here in person, but with modern technology and a lot of love, I’ll definitely be here in spirit. I plan on continuing to raise money to help the families that were left behind and complete the projects we placed on the “Wish List”.

Next week I’ll give the final count for the project. How many people we treated for jiggers, how many homes we cemented or smeared or roofed, how many classrooms we cemented, etc. etc. But for now, I want to focus on the people. Yeah, the numbers are nice and easy to process. But they reflect the very real struggles, hopes, joys, and dreams of the people I’ve come to know and love.

Last Friday I said a tearful goodbye to my friends in Otati (a small village in Karungu) and promised to return as soon as I find a sponsor to pay my transport. They promised to keep working hard to help those affected by jiggers.

And they once again reminded me and made me promise to never forget:
“Nying’a Kayla Adhiambo na Otati”.

My name is Kayla Adhiambo from Otati.


p.s. Speaking of names: Check it out! My blog made its way onto another blog! http://nameberry.com/blog/2010/05/05/african-names-a-report-from-kenya/

The OTHER Kenya…Kenya Week 31: May 2 - May 8

Some experiences defy description. Being surrounded by over 200 grazing elephants slowly migrating their way across East Africa is exactly one of those experiences.

This week I bid a quick goodbye to Karungu to experience the other side of Kenya: the breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife that most people only watch on the Discovery Channel or read about in National Geographic.

Monday was a whirlwind, two wheeled tour of Hell’s Gate National Park. I shared the sights and the soreness with Guilia Martelli, an Italian medical student who had just completed two months of research for her thesis on HIV and secondary infections (what better place that St. Camillus Hospital in Karungu?!?) We spent the day riding rented bicycles, dividing our awe between the spectacular rock formations, the magnificent gorge that gives the park its name and its eerie resemblance of many people’s imagine of the less preferred afterlife, and the countless wildlife grazing only feet away from the bike path. Don’t worry, there aren’t any predators in Hell’s Gate; the zebras, antelopes, and warthogs were much more afraid of us than we were of them.

Let me just say this about the Hell’s Gate National Park: if you only have one day to spend in Kenya, this is where to spend it.

After 8 hours of hard cycling on rough terrain my rear end slowly recovered over the next few days while I ran errands in Nairobi. Then I completed “The Other Kenya” experience with a two day Safari of the world famous Maasai Mara, accompanied by a dear friend visiting from home. Between the family of lions lounging only feet away, the awkward wildebeests scrambling to their feet to get out of the way of our vehicle, and the countless elephants encircling our comparatively tiny vehicle, I found myself constantly speechless and close to tears. It was truly an unbelievable, unforgettable, “I’m going to tell my grandchildren about this” experience.

Let me just say this about Maasai Mara: if you only have two days in Kenya, this is where to spend them.

After this week, I now see why tourists from around the world spend thousands of dollars to visit Kenya and its indescribable beauty. While I wasn’t exactly thrilled to end my safari and begin the long trek back to Karungu on public transportation, I know that I wouldn’t trade the up close and personal experiences I’ve had a REAL Kenyan life here in Karungu. The scenery and wildlife keep the tourists pouring in and the Kenyan economy stronger than many of its East African neighbors. But the Kenya that I know: the heartbreaking, breathtaking, rural Kenya is the Kenya I will always and forever consider home.

Something of a Silver Lining...Kenya Week 30: April 25- May 1

The rains throughout Kenya continue pouring. I'm continually frustrated by the dark clouds and muddy roads. I cringe everytime we have to change our plans and postpone our activities. Yet the clouds that frustrate me bring joy to most Kenyans: the farmers rejoice as their crops - the well being of their families- grow and green.

As I reflect on this past week, I realize that every dark cloud really does have something of a silver lining...

Wednesday morning, I sat comfortably in the big Land Crusier on the way to Otati for a Jigger Removal Day at the Dispensary. The few other volunteers and health workers also in the vehicle eagerly discussed the events of last night: thugs broke in and robbed one of the biggest business men in the Karungu division, stealing anywhere between $650 and $6,500 depending on which rumor you believe. As they swapped gossip, we came upon a huge crowd gathered in the road. Apparently one of the robbers had been caught and killed during a shoot out with the police in the field only a few hundered meters from the road. As the police proudly walked back to their vehicles, the crowd rushed to see the murdered body, declaring happily that justice has been served.

While I spent the day trying to hold back the nausea I felt each time I saw the image of the murdered robber in my mind, I found out that I had also been the victim of a crime. On Wednesday afternoon, not a small chunk of change of the Jigger Project money was stolen within hours of being withdrawn from the ATM.

My already nauseuos stomach swelled into my chest. My first thought was not anger towards the robbers but rather an overwhelming saddness. How can I continue helping the families plagued by these parasites? My time in Kenya along with the project budget is already running low. Now there's almost nothing left. Do I have to cancel the projects we've already begun? Will we have enough funds to buy the cement we promised for Not Primary School, after the community has worked so hard to raise the funds to prepare the floors for the cementing? And what about the families that we promised to help smear their homes? Do I have to tell them nevermind- we don't have any more money?

And what about the donors that trusted me with their money? What kind of missionary am I to allow such a thing to happen? Can I face them and tell them I used every penny of their money to the best of my ability?

Thankfully there's a silverlining in ever cloud. A sympathetic volunteer doctor at St. Camillus donated $194 to help refund some of the stolen money. And the Catholic Medical Mission Board is giving me an "emergency stipend" this month that I can apply back towards the project. Even with the extra help, I'm still "in the red" when it comes to the stolen money. But since I'm personally responsible for the project funds, I'll make up for the loss from my meager savings. At least that way I don't have to say no to the families we've already promised to help.

Despite the rather traumatic day on Wednesday, I'm still incredibly optimistic about the Project and my reminaing few weeks in Karungu. Its been such a blessing seeing the Before and Afters of each of the families we've assisted. Whether they stand in front of their newly roofed and smeared homes or admire the miraculous healing of previously jigger infested hands and feet, the look of hope and gratitude on their faces is undeniable. So yeah, I'm out a few hundred dollars. But I'm not doing any more that what I've asked my donors to do. At least I get to see the Before and After's first hand.

I still have sympathy for the robbers. They would probably choose to work and earn a living if they had the option. But in a country with almost no jobs and staggering poverty, many people feel forced into theft for survival. Meanwhile, I pray for the family of the murdered man. I hope that someday a reliable justice system will be in place to negate the need for Mob Justice. And I hope that the men that stolen our money use it well.

May they all find some small silver lining in their dark clouds, especially during this Kenyan rainy season.

My name is Kayla Bronder and I have Jiggers...Kenya Week 29: April 18-April 24

At first I thought it was Poison Ivy. The red, swollen, itchy skin reminded me of my almost yearly encounters with that cursed plant back home. But how could I get Poison Ivy only on the tip of my left big toe and my right second toe? That’s weird. But it really itches. And the skin is pretty red. Hmmm...well whatever it is, I’m sure it will go away in a few days.

A few days later I noticed the tale tell quarter inch wide white halo with a black dot in the center. Right on the end of my toe nail.

No.

Absolutely not.

It can’t be.

I ALWAYS wear closed shoes when I’m out in the community. My house has a nicely tiled floor. And I shower everyday, which always includes a thorough scrubbing of my feet.

That CANNOT actually be a jigger. I would have notice before it got that big!

Turns out I was wrong. It was not only one jigger. But four. Two big ones along my toe nails and two small jiggers attempting to sneak their way into the sides of my toes.

My initial reaction was embarrassment. How could I not have noticed bugs digging into my feet? And why did I convince myself for three full days that it was some strain of Africa poison ivy rather than actually taking a closer look? Maybe I shouldn’t wear my flip flops when I go down for dinner. I don’t want the other volunteers or priests to notice!

Right alongside embarrassment was disgust. Those are living, breathing parasites burrowed inside my toes! THAT IS DISGUSTING. That white halo with the black dot in the center suddenly takes on a whole new meaning when it’s inside your own toe rather than that of a 7 year old boy running around without shoes.

So my toes itch, I’m feeling a bit queasy at the thought of the living insects inside my skin, and I’m totally ashamed that I’ve allowed the very parasites I’m working to eradicate dig into my feet.

Now what do I do?

The first step to overcoming a difficulty is acknowledging your problerm. I’ll break through the social stigma and admit that I have a problem. Here goes...

My name is Kayla Bronder and I have jiggers.

Thankfully in the past seven months I’ve become something of an expert jigger remover. Cutting out the little buggers was quite easy although not entirely painless. While digging away at my feet, I thought to myself how different it is to remove your own jiggers rather than someone else’s. The sharp pain as the razor digs too deep instantly tells me to stop. Whereas the poor children can only cry and pray I don’t do that again. And I realized that the removal of the jiggers is only the beginning. The swelling and itching actually worsens for a few days after the flea is removed as the body heals itself. Rather than being relieved to finally have the jiggers out of their hands and feet, our poor patients go home in even more pain than before.

The good news is that I’m three days post operation and I’m healing well. And as I overcome my embarrassment and disgust, the swelling and itching slowly fade.

The small circular scabs ground me in the humanity behind the parasites I’ve been working to eradicate. Tungiasis is no longer a disease that affects only the poorest of the poor living in mud huts. As the saying goes: If you play with fire, you’ll get burned. Or in my case: If you fight jiggers, they’ll eat your toes.

In a way, I’m thankful for the experience. Before I came to Kenya, I told my mother that I hoped I would get just one, mild case of some tropical disease I had studied in my social work class. Of course that comforted any fears she had about her daughter living half way around the world. But I was thinking maybe a bought of malaria or some general diarrheal disease. Nothing serious, just something to make my whole experience in Africa complete. I’ve been here almost 7 months and I’ve never felt healthier in my life. No malarial fevers, not even occasional nausea. A few jiggers qualify as that mild tropical disease I’d hoped for and I’ve escaped relatively unscathed. So don’t worry Mom.

More importantly, the experience has forced me to reflect on the very real dangers that people face everyday in Africa. My white skin or my American passport does not make me immune to those dangers.
Is it worth it? Absolutely.
Would I do it over again? Without a doubt.
Am I looking forward to returning as soon as possible? Definitely.

But next time I’ll pay closer attention to any mysterious, poison ivy-like itching.

What’s in a Name?....Kenya Week 28: April 11-April 17

In Luo culture, the naming of a child is an important and yet strangely flexible process. Unlike American parents, Luo parents often wait days or even weeks before naming their baby. And while the first name is a traditionally Christian or “Western” name, the second name usually indicates the time, weather, or conditions of the child’s birth. Finally, the father’s name (in our context, the last name) is often overlooked and only used for official documents.

For example, a little boy born at noon time could be named something like Michael (Christian name) Ochieng (O for a boy, -chieng for “noon time”).

A baby girl born while it is raining could be named Vivianne (Western name) Akoth (A for a girl, -koth for rain)

My Luo name is Adhiambo. A for a girl, -dhiambo because I was born in the late afternoon.

The majority of children are named just along those lines. Don, Tony, Stephan, Joseph, Mercy, Faith, Camilla, Fenny, followed by Oluoch, Oriri, Odhiambo, Akinyi, Apiyo, Adongo, and so on and so forth.

Occasionally parents feel inspired by athletes, musicians, or world leaders and name their children Clinton, Regan, and countless Barak Obamas. Right alongside our great American presidents are their beautiful wives Hillary and Michelle. I haven’t met too many Georges or Lauras, but I try not to read too much into that.

Unfortunately some parents make drastically horrible decisions when it comes to naming their children. My (least) favorites have included Violence, Morphine, and Dotcom. Thankfully for Luo children, they mostly go by their Luo names, so they need not dwell on the cruel miscalculations of their families.

The final interesting realization I’ve come to concerning the Luo child naming process is the powerful flexibility of the whole ordeal. With hundreds of babies born at home each day in impoverished conditions, the practice of Birth Certificates, embroidered baby blankets, Birth Announcements remain foreign oddities. So a baby’s name often evolves and changes until something sticks. With that introduction to the beauty of Baby Naming here in Karungu, I want to introduce you to some of the beautiful babies born in the past months:

Kayla Adhiambo Remember little Rocky from Otati with jiggers? He’s now a big brother, again! Rocky’s mother delivered a tiny baby girl, at home, sometime at the end of February. At the time of this photo, Emily told me the baby’s name was Dotcom Akoth. “Dotcom?” I asked incredulously. I must have misunderstood! “Yes, Dotcom. Like from the internet.” Alright then...Dotcom...Poor thing.

Two weeks ago we followed up with Emily, Rocky, David, and Baby Dotcom. They had moved into a tiny mud hut that was previously the kitchen of a family member. Emily could no longer pay rent on the small home they’d lived in before and was forced to relay on the meager resources of her impoverished family. We had to do something to help. A single mother witih 3 small children in a mud hut will amostly definitely become reinfested with jiggers.

We discussed with the family and agreed to buy the metal roofing materials if the family came together to build the rest of the house. When we arrived on Monday morning with the roofing materials, a smiling Emily handed me her beautiful baby girl, introducing her as Kayla Adhiambo. When I asked what had happened to “Dotcom”, the rest of the family insisted that the baby’s new name is Kayla Adhiambo, as a sign of appreciation for the help.

Two weeks ago I was given chickens. This week, a namesake.

Fayol Ailleo
Steve the nurse and his gorgeous young wife Martha live two doors down from Amanda and me in the staff quarters. The newly married couple joyfully announced to us in November that Martha was pregnant and due sometime in April. Martha smiling told me that if that baby is a girl, she will name her Kayla. Two weeks ago Martha gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Since Kayla was out of the question, they decided to name him after Amanda. Three day old Baby Ailleo was running quite a high fever and poor Amanda was nervous. But he’s doing well now and Martha, Steve, and Baby Ailleo are back home and happy!

Amanda and I laughed and rejoiced at the honor of both having babies named after us the same exact week!

Phanis Kayla Okoth
Lillian is a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Counselor at St. Camillus. People come to her to find out their HIV status, so she spends her days restoring hope and reassuring devastated patients. When I first met her in October I thought she looked pregnant. But I didn’t want to be rude, so I didn’t ask. So when the other nurses started joking with her that she looked pregnant, I was reassured. But Lillian stubbornly refused to admit she was pregnant for 3 more months, until it was undeniable. When she finally accepted that she was having her fifth baby, after years of not having a child, she jokingly told me she hopes it’s a girl so she can name her Kayla.

On April 10, 2010 Baby Kayla came into the world. Yes, within one week, there are now three Kaylas in Kenya.

Jerry Edward
Titus Okoth is an exemplary Community Health Volunteer in Otati. The bright, hard working 28 year old consistently goes above and beyond his duties as a volunteer to help mobilize the community and assist the most needy families. He’s well spoken, always smiling, and happy to be an integral part of improving his community. And he works tirelessly without any pay, in the afternoons after he’s tended his fields. It’s been a pleasure working with Titus throughout the project.

Titus’s beautiful wife gave birth to a big baby boy March 25, 2010. The proud father introduced me to his family this week and asked me if they could name their son after my father. I honestly did not believe him at first.

You want to do what? You really want to name your son after my father?
No, Kayla really can’t be a boy’s name. (And I already had two baby girls named after me this week.)
Well, it is my father’s 50th birthday this week, so the timing is perfect. And my father never had a son to carry on his name, so I’m honored! My father would be proud!
His name is Gerald Edward, but everyone calls him Jerry.

The rest of the afternoon, I proudly carried Baby Jerry in my arms. Happy Birthday Dad!

So Much To Do, So Little Time...Kenya Week 27: April 4-April 10

My apologies for delaying Week 27’s Blog! I’m five days past due, but for the first time in Kenya, I’ve been too busy to even think about writing. What a blessing! So to commemorate this wonderful occasion, I’ll share with you exactly what’s keeping me so busy! The spare moments I’ve managed to stay in the office, I’ve written a comprehensive workplan January-May, 2010. I’ve caught up on many of my reports, data analysis, and Activity Indicators. They may seem like boring paperwork, but they represent the depth and bredth of the work we’ve accomplished in just a few short months!!

Enjoy!

Nyatike Jigger Eradication Campaign Work Plan 2010

Monday, January 4: Meeting with Otati Sublocation Community Health Volunteers to organize mobilization and spraying for Otati Jigger Eradication Campaign (used MOH motor bike)
Tuesday, January 5: Purchase Otati Campaign supplies in Kisii (used public transportation)
Wednesday, January 6: Reports, Budget
Thursday, January 7: Organize for Otati Jigger Removal Day
Friday, January 8: Otati Jigger Removal Day I (used SCMH and MOH vehicle)

Monday, January 11: Severe Cases report to SCMH, treat Zadox Ouko, Brian Odhiambo, David Otieno, Eunice Juma and 4 children
Tuesday, January 12: Home Visit and Needs Assessment with Eunice Juma and David Otieno, organize cementing and smearing of homes
Wednesday, January 13: Otati Jigger Removal Day II (used SCMH and MOH vehicle)
Thursday, January 14: Reports
Friday, January 15: Kisumu

Monday, January 18: Organizing for fundraising/publicity
Tuesday, January 19: Reports, Research, Meet with Tom Odhong to discuss Project
Wednesday, January 20: Reports, Preparations for Rabare
Thursday, January 21: Rabare Primary Removal Day (used SCMH and MOH vehicle)
Friday, January 22: Organizing for fundraising/publicity

Monday, January 25: Reports, Research
Tuesday, January 26: Reports, Budget
Wednesday, January 27: Research, Follow up with Wambogo Family
Thursday, January 28: Organizing for fundraising
Friday, January 29: Follow up Eunice Juma and family and David Otieno. Organize for nutritional support for David Otieno

Monday, February 1- Friday, February 25: Travel and Fundraising in the United States

Monday, March 1: Follow up Juma family, David Otieno
Tuesday, March 2: Meeting with NJEC Stakeholders at SCMH
Wednesday, March 3: Reports
Thursday, March 4: Home visit Wambogo Family
Friday, March 5: Home visit Wilson and Jackline, Follow up Otati Dispensary and Otati Primary School

Monday, March 8, 2010: Return from Nairobi
Tuesday, March 9: Meeting in McAlder- Nyatike District Headquarters with MOH Public Health Officers concerning Collaboration, Organization, and Way Forward for Nyatike Jigger Eradication Campaign
Wednesday, March 10: Roof Construction for Wilson and Jackline in Otati
Thursday, March 11: Reports, Organizing for CHV Training
Friday, March 12: Reports, Meeting with Tom Odhong to plan for CHV Training

Monday, March 15: NJEC Community Health Volunteer Training I: Gunga, Sori, Otati, and Raga Subdivisions. At Karen Zwickert Children’s Home.
Tuesday, March 16: Home visit and Needs Assessment with CHV Richard Oongo: Misiwi Sublocation: Priscilla Ariri, Eleseba and Samson, Rosa Anyango, Arrange for treatment at SCMH and smearing all three homes
Jigger Removal for Rose Anyango in her home
Wednesday, March 17: Nyora Beads Project, Reports
Thursday, March 18: Bring Priscilla Ariri, Elseba, and Samson to SCMH, begin jigger removal and treatment (used SCMH vehicle)
Friday, March 19: NJEC Community Health Volunteer Training II: Misiwi, Okayo, Alendo, and Ngira Subdivisions. At Karen Zwickert Children’s Home.

Monday, March 22: Write Training Reports
Tuesday, March 23: Jigger Removal for Priscilla, and Nyora Beads Project
Wednesday, March 24: Be the Change Vacations and Karen Zwickert Children’s Home Project
Thursday, March 25: Jigger Removal for Priscilla, Reports
Friday, March 26: Morning: Data Analysis, Afternoon: Wachara Removal Day

Monday, March 29: Morning: Reports, budget
Afternoon: Purchase supplies and return Priscilla Ariri home (used SCMH vehicle)
Follow up with Elseba and Samson
Tuesday, March 30: Reports, organize Removal Day work plan with Tom Odhong
Wednesday, March 31: Needs Assessment Otati Primary School and Rabare Primary School
Follow ups in Otati Sublocation: Wilson and Jackline (used SCMH vehicle)
Meet with Tom Odhong to organize Removal Days
Thursday, April 1: Reports, Analyze Data, Organize for next week
Friday, April 2: Public Holiday

Monday, April 5: Public Holiday
Tuesday, April 6: Cementing Otati Primary and Rabare Primary (used SCMH vehicle)
Wednesday, April 7: Reports
Thursday, April 8: Riat Dispensary Removal Day (used SCMH vehicle)
Friday, April 9: Severe Case removal in SCMH: Regan Owino and Eric Odhiambo

Monday, April 12: Roof Construction in Otati: Emily, Rocky, David, Kayla Adhiambo.
Follow up: Otati Primary, Rabare Primary, Wilson and Jackline. Community meeting with Not Primary board and parents (used SCMH vehicle) Needs Assessment in Otati: Owidhi, John Ogalo and family. Needs Assesment in Not: Thadayo Odongo and family, Daniel Konje and family Tuesday, April 13: Meeting with Tom Odhong to complete April and May Work Plan, Work on Reports, visit admitted patient with jiggers
Wednesday, April 14: Morning: Reports, Establish May and June work plan train Medical 2 nurses on Jigger Removal
Afternoon: Visit severe cases in Okayo (need transport, can take motor bike)
Thursday, April 15: Morning: Purchase materials for Roof Construction: Ogalo family, Follow up with David Otieno, organize for completion of smearing
Afternoon: Write reports, settle budget
Friday, April 16: Morning: Reports, Budget
Afternoon: Follow up completed projects: Otati Primary, Rabare Primary, Emily Roof, Ogalo Roof (need transport, can take motor bike), Needs assessment at Wangara Primary School

Monday, April 19: Not Primary School Cementing Project
Tuesday, April 20: Obware Removal Day (Need SCMH vehicle)
Wednesday, April 21: Riat Dispensary Removal Day II (Need MOH vehicle)
Thursday, April 22: Roofing at Okayo: Julius Ojwang/Rose Atieno/Colleta Adhiambo, and Hellena Omolo
Friday, April 23:

Monday, April 26:
Tuesday, April 27: Raga Primary School Removal Day (Need MOH vehicle)
Wednesday, April 28: Aringo Primary School Removal Day (Need SCMH vehicle)
Thursday, April 29: Roofing at Not: Thadayo Odongo/Mary Anyango and Daniel Konje/Anna Chieng
Friday, April 30:

Monday, May 3: Alendo Primary School Removal Day (need SCMH vehicle)
Tuesday, May 4: Otati Dispensary (Need MOH vehicle)
Wednesday, May 5: Bronder in Nairobi.
Thursday, May 6: Nairobi
Friday, May 7: Nairobi

Monday, May 10:
Tuesday, May 11: Obondi Primary Removal Day (Need MOH vehicle)
Wednesday, May 12: Not Primary (Need SCMH vehicle)- tentative depending on status of cementing the school.
Thursday, May 13:
Friday, May 14:

Monday, May 17: Ratanga Removal Day (Need SCMH vehicle)
Tuesday, May 18:
Wednesday, May 19: Follow up with Elseba and Samson, Priscilla, and Wambogo family
Thursday, May 20: Meeting with NJEC Stakeholders at SCMH- draw comprehensive Work Plan for June-December 2010, organize Management Structure and Way Forward with Liz as new coordinator
Friday, May 21: Kayla’s last day in Karungu, Maternity Wing Inauguration

Two Chickens in One Week: We Must Be Doing Something Right!...Kenya Week 26: March 29-April 4

As we celebrate Holy Week, I can’t help but smile when I think about the gifts we’ve given and the gifts we’ve received this week. By Holy Thursday, Priscilla, Elseba, Samson, Wilson, and Jackline were resting comfortably in their jigger free homes. Otati Primary School and Rabare Primary School were working hard to prepare the floors of their classrooms for cementing. We had all the data collected and we’re making a schedule for the upcoming Jigger Removal Days. And we made an “Informational and Educational Communication” piece, i.e. a small flyer about how to treat and prevent jiggers.

Even more exciting than seeing the project really come together despite bad weather and worse roads is seeing the appreciation and relief in the eyes of the people we help. When Priscilla’s nephew walked up to the home holding a squawking chicken, I thought he was giving it to Priscilla for a welcome home gift. But when he thrust it towards me, wings flapping and feet kicking, I realized he wanted me to accept his feathery display of gratitude. Luckily Richard the Community Health Worker recognized my hesitation and intercepted the bird. We express our gratitude for the gift, and then passed it on to Priscilla. She needs the protein more than we do. As we drove away, the family smiled and waved as Priscilla held the chicken in her lap. Maybe she’ll have a few eggs to eat for Easter.

Two days later we visited Wilson and Jackline to see how the construction of their home was coming along. They’d faced some difficulty with the rains and the floor of their home was more of a mud pit than a floor. But we organized for the work to continue and the community promised to help Wilson finish the walls and floor. As we prepared to leave, Wilson snuck away. A moment later he came back carrying a chicken and a huge smile on his face. As with Priscilla, I tried to say, “thanks but no thanks”. But Wilson would have none of it. Although he only has 4 chickens, he insisted that I take one as a sign of his appreciation for helping him complete his new home.

Although I’m quite sure the chicken-Easter Egg connection was lost on the Kenyans, I chuckled to myself at the thought of receiving two chickens the week before Easter. For all the times I’ve felt discouraged or useless here in Kenya, the chickens remind me that we really are doing something right.

I carried the chicken down to the kitchen and proudly handed it to Dominic the cook. The questioning look on his face revealed his suspicion of how and why I was handing him a live chicken. When I told him about Wilson, he smiled approvingly and went into the kitchen for the knife.

Please Don’t Rain on My Parade...Kenya Week 25: March 21-28

Yet another slate gray cloud head roles its way towards the hospital. Will this one let loose its power like last night? Or will sneak past and spare us the drama? What happened to Karungu’s nearly perfect, always sunny weather? Where did my nice running trails sink away to? Why does everything have to be constantly dirty, muddy, and musty?

I can’t help but feel bad about my irking feelings of annoyance: the women quickly place their troughs and basins outside the house to catch all the clean, fresh water the heavens bless them with. Tomorrow morning they won’t have to make the long heavy trek to the lake to fetch water. And rain means growth, so their children won’t starve when it comes time to harvest.

But the more it rains, the less anything happens. And in rural Kenya, that’s an impressive statement. I never imagined LESS could happen here, but apparently it can.

The roads are muddy in the morning after the nightly downpours. And by the afternoon- just when the sun has dried the roads to make them passable- the next storm creeps in. Women can’t bring their babies to the immunization clinics. Children can’t walk to school. Motorbike drivers can’t manage the slippery mud. So while everyone else settles into the customary Rainy Season Lethargy, I beg the heavens to clear for a few precious hours.

We can’t collect the data the community health volunteers gathered. We can’t visit the severely affected families. The homes and schools we’re cementing can’t continue their work because nothing dries. And so I sit in the office hoping these clouds silently pass overhead so that tomorrow I can go out.

This Is Africa.

A Good Thing Has Been Done Today...Kenya Week 23: March 7-13

By the time we arrived with the roofing poles and metal sheets, the walls were up and the men were ready to start building the roof. A smiling group of Community Health Workers arrived carrying shovels and pushing a wheel barrel full of soil to reinforce the wooden beams for the walls. The women sat under the shade trees stirring huge pots of noyo and rabolo, the traditional foods prepared for large groups. Wilson worked tirelessly with the other men despite his age and HIV+ status. The smile on his face and energy in his work revealed his pure joy at finally completing his new home. Wilson’s wife Jackline sat shyly in the shade, talking quietly with the neighbor women.

I met Wilson and Jackline back in November when the Otati Community Health Workers asked me help the couple severely infected with jiggers. We removed the parasites and sprayed their home, but within one month, the jiggers had returned. We removed the jiggers a second time, re-sprayed the home, and gave them closed shoes to protect their feet. But when I visited the couple last week, the jiggers had returned for the third time. Obviously, something more needed to be done. Their poor health status combined with Wilson’s age and Jackline’s slight mental handicap made it nearly impossible for them to get back on their feet without extra help.
The community recognized the need of this struggling couple, but it seemed useless to make any improvements to their home. The thatched roof desperately needed repairs and the mud walls slowly crumbled around them. Structurally the home was beyond repair and the only real option to improve their quality of life and prevent the jiggers from returning was to build a new home.

Wilson had planted the Bluegum trees needed for the poles and was slowly collecting the wood for the walls. He had dug the holes for the beams and leveled the ground where he hoped to build the home. But it would be months before he had enough wood beams for the ceiling and probably never before he’d save enough to actually finish the house. Without a new home, the jiggers would continue to return, causing him and his wife constant physical and psychological pain.

Wilson’s efforts stirred something in me. He was obviously working hard to improve his life and needed just a little help to really become self-sufficient. So we came up with a plan: If the community comes to help Wilson build his home, I’ll buy the metal sheets for the roof and the cement for the floor. All in all, Wilson and Jackline could get a new home for around $500 of building materials, a few days hard work from their neighbors, and a small contribution from Wilson’s extended family.

While the men labored in the hot sun, I sat under the trees with the women learning to sosa- pull the corn off the husks. As they prepared lunch, they taught me practical Dholuo words for the day...kornindo: bedroom. korbudho: sitting room. musmal: nail. dirisha: window. dhot: door. Once I’d mastered the essential words for building a home, the women taught me the seven planting seasons: 1. beto: clearing the bushes. 2. puro: preparing the soil. 3. yoro: re-digging 4. komo: planting 5. doyo: weeding 6. dumbo: preharvesting 7. keyo: harvesting.

Hearing the women discuss their work as farmers, I realized that after almost 6 months in Kenya, I still have almost no idea of the reality of life for a typical Luo in Karungu. They eat what they grow in their fields, they build their own homes, and they pray that the right amount of rain comes at the right time. At times they become so focused on their own survival that they don’t have the energy or resources to help their struggling neighbors. But today reminded me and everyone there of the beauty of coming together to help those in need. Some people can donate money, others time, others corn, and others water. All equally precious, all equally necessary. I couldn’t help but think that this is exactly the type of development work the world needs.

By 4 pm, the roof was complete. The women agreed to return next Thursday to place the mud in the walls. Wilson’s extended family will prepare the ground for cementing. By the following week, we’ll be ready to cement the floor and move Wilson and Jackline into their new home. As we stood in front of the nearly finished home for the group photo, the smiles emanating from each face gave away their inherent joy. Everyone knew that a good thing has been done today.

Before and After...Kenya Week 22

Pictures really are worth 1,000 words, so I'll let these photos do the talking. The Befores and Afters of the families we've helped so far with the Jiggers Eradication Campaigns show how powerful a little help can really be.

The Wambogo family was covered with painful parasites locally called jiggers and struggled to survive in their dilapidated and parasite infested home...

















Three months later, the Wambogo family back is on their feet in their new home...and jigger free!



Zadox (on the far left, soaking his jigger invested hands and feet in antiseptic) is a slightly mentally handicapped total orphan. Different families in the Otati community take care of him when they can. Sadly, this lack of consistent familial care led him to becoming severely infected with jiggers. The parasites covered his hands and feet, making it too painful to walk and too humiliating to go to school.

The severity of Zadox's jiggers forced us to bring him to St. Camillus Hospital. We removed hundreds of the parasites with Zadox under sedation. He went home the next day bandaged but walking.

Two months later, Zadox is back in school and doing well. His hands and feet are jigger free and once again he’s smiling happily.


Wilson and Jackline have long suffered the horrible itching and debilitating pain of jiggers. Both are HIV+ and their home is nearly falling apart. All of their children have passed away, leaving them vulnerable and extremely needy. We brought them to the Otati Dispensary to remove the hundreds of parasites from their hands and feet.

Even after removing Jackline’s jiggers and spraying their home with powerful pesticides, the jiggers retrned. Below I’m removing the fleas from Jackline’s feet the second time.
After removing Jackline's jiggers a second time, she managed to keep most of them at bay. But Wilson and Jackline's case requires a bit more help. Read Week 23's story to see what happens next!


Over 180 children and adults from the Otati Community came to have the jiggers removed from their hands and feet on the two Otati Jigger Removal Days.

Two months later I went to follow up at the nearby Otati Primary School. The head teacher proudly reported that the students are doing much better. According to him, the quality of life and health of the entire community has improved after the Otati Jiggers Eradication Campaign.

0 to 60, then 60 to 0...Kenya Week 21: February 21-27

If I went from 0 to 60 the moment I landed on United States soil, I went from 60 to 0 the second I stepped off the plane in Nairobi. Talk about whiplash…

I got back to Karungu on Wednesday and I expected to hit the ground running once I got back to work on Thursday. But I forget that I’m in Africa…where…everything…happens…just…a…bit…slower…

Restarting the Karungu Jiggers Eradication Campaign has to wait till Tuesday when I can meet with Tom, Barnabas, and Teresa- the other leaders in the Campaign. I guess that’s one of the realities, benefits, and disadvantages of working at the community level. I depend on so many other people that sometimes I have to wait patiently. I’ve often heard, “They’ve had jiggers for years. They can wait a few more days.” While that sentiment nearly drives me nuts, I understand the deeper reality behind the seemingly heartless words. I can’t eradicate every jigger this week and we have to plan well to make the Campaign lasting and effective. Luckily my co-workers have told me that many lists have been compiled of individuals with jiggers, so that’s a great start. Its happening slower than my “go get ‘em” attitude prefers, but I’m excited to see what we can do!

In the mean time, just a few reminders that I’m back in Kenya:

1. We took a shuttle, a bus, a pseudo-taxi, and a motorbike to get back to Karungu. Luckily the nine hours of horribly uncomfortable traveling conditions passed in a jiffy as I slept away my jet lag!

2. I was greeted by cheers and hugs by my precious neighbor kids the moment I stepped into the gate of the Staff Compound.

3. I've finished my book, started another, updated my photos, returned all my emails, and had free time to take a nap, go for a run, and play with the kids. This is Africa.

4. Two of my co-workers had family members pass away while I was gone. Both were middle aged men who had been battling AIDS for about 4 years.

5. The interesting tragedy of the week: a man was attacked and killed by a hippopotamus in a nearby village. Fantasia lies…turns out hippos aren’t sweet and nimble like ballerinas.

Thank You, From the Bottom of My Heart...Kenya Week 20: February 14-20

Fourteen days ago I endured 28 hours of cross continental travel while anxious excitement coursed through my veins. I knew I had two weeks to cherish my sister’s wedding, pull off a fundraiser presentation at my church, and complete as many tasks as possible on my endless, “TO DO WHILE HOME” list.

Today my deep sighs and droopy eye-lids merely hint at the whirlwind of activity, fun, and hard work that dominated my two week “vacation” back home. My flight back to Nairobi leaves in a few short hours and I’m desperately trying to process everything that just happened.

I can’t express my deep gratitude for the love, encouragement, and support I received from family, friends, neighbors, and strangers alike while I was home. My 1.5 Minutes of Fame was just enough to gather some excitement about my presentation at St. Marks. Over 85 people came to hear my story, ask probing questions, and become a vital part of the project. Many others that couldn’t make it out asked how they could also contribute.
So for those of you following along on this crazy “Kayla in Kenya” that to help me continue fighting jiggers, here’s how:

Checks can be written to St. Marks Mission with “Kayla in Kenya” in the memo.

Please mail the checks to:
St. Marks Catholic Church
c/o Hilda Beck
3736 S. Lee’s Summit Rd.
Independence, MO 64055

100% of your donation will go to projects to assist the poorest of the poor afflicted by jiggers in Karungu. I’ll continue to write about the people we help and the efforts we make to educate and mobilize the community against these parasites.

In the faithful irony of life, I’m looking forward to getting back to Karungu for some much needed rest. At the same time, I know I have a busy few months ahead of me establishing the Eradication Campaign. Thankfully Kenyan live by the mantra: “Haraka haraka ahinya Baraka” roughly translated into English: “Hurry hurry has no blessing”. i.e. I can recover from my lightening speed two weeks in America while eradicating a devastating public health burden one pesky jigger at a time.

Kayla in Kansas City talking about Kenya...Week 19: February 7-13

Going from Karungu (where the most exciting event is when the white lady comes to remove jiggers) to Kansas City has been overwhelming to say the least. More has happened in one week than I can wrap my brain around: the Saints won the Super Bowl, my sister got married, and apparently people are really interested in what I’m doing in Kenya.

Turns out the Independence Examiner caught wind of what I’m up to and decided to write an article about me. I talked the reporter’s ear off and on Saturday, all of Independence got to read about Kenya, jiggers, and what I’m trying to do... http://www.examiner.net/features/x626055883/Shes-finding-her-mission-in-the-great-unknown#comments

NBC 41 read the article and before I knew it, my photos of Kenya and my story about the Parasite Eradication Campaign are neatly tucked between traffic and the weather! http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Metro-Woman-Makes-a-Difference-in-Kenya/QHqoKIyL9EaSceo98nop-g.cspx

And to top it all off, the Lee’s Summit Journal front page shows the photo below the heading, "Lee's Summit North grad working in Kenya".
http://www.lsjournal.com/100/story/44259.html

With all this publicity, I’m humbled...and slightly embarrassed. While the attention seems silly, I appreciate the uniqueness of my experience and I hope it can inspire someone to do something more. And it’s great publicity for people to come to my presentation at St. Marks on Thursday!

Speaking of that...if you’re in town, come hear my story first hand!

Kayla in Kenya Presentation
Date: Thursday, February 18th
Time: 7 pm
Location: St. Marks Catholic Church, the Upper Room
3736 S. Lee's Summit Road
Independence, MO 64055

Leaving...Kenya Week 18: February 1-6

As I pack my bags to fly back to the States, I can’t help but think about what I’m leaving and what I’m going home to. I’m leaving my summer clothes and perfect weather for winter coats and snow storms. I’m leaving my mosquito-netted bunk bed for my mosquito-free bed in my own room. I’m leaving my co-workers, patients, and beautiful neighborhood kids for my real family and friends. I’m leaving relaxing weekends of reading and exploring for fun filled weekends of weddings and festivities. And I’m leaving my work of eradicating parasites to raise money to eradicate more parasites.

Thankfully even though I’m leaving Karungu for a few weeks, the Jigger Eradication Campaign will continue. Tom the Public Health Officer is continuing to organize Removal Days at local schools. Barnabas the Assistant Chief is continuing to help jigger infected individuals in our area get the extra assistance they need. And Teresa the Director of Hope and Life is continuing to find those with jiggers and bring them to the hospital. And my family and friends in Kansas City are working hard to organize and publicize the presentation I’m giving at St. Marks on the 18th. Van made a great flyer for the event. Joe is talking to everyone and anyone about the event and organizing interviews for me in local newspapers. My mom is contacting neighbors and friends to help spread the word.

And all the while, I got to spend a few days at the beach with the Karungu Mzungus. The timing was perfect: Amanda flew into Nairobi on Saturday after her arm completely healed; I needed to be in Nairobi to fly home; Lauren and Christy had a few days between their travels before flying out of Nairobi; and Angela wanted to say hello and goodbye before we all go our separate ways. We all converged on Nairobi and traveled to Diani Beach to spend our last few days together. So I managed to sneak in a few days with my dear friends at the beach. But don’t worry; I kept working on the Campaign reports, prospectus, and presentations!
Angi, Lauren, Amanda, Me, and Christy at Diani Beach.

So I’m leaving Kenya. But only for two weeks. Which is a good thing because I’ve got jiggers to remove, families to help, and Public Health interventions to implement.

We’ve Got a Good Thing Going...Kenya Week 17: January 24-31

It’s amazing how a series of small, yet related events can evolve into a full blown public health intervention. I’m seeing it happen before my eyes. Or rather, I am seeing how my actions are making it happen. It started when I couldn’t get the story of the destitute Wambogo family out of my head. So we removed their jiggers and built them a new house. Then beautiful little Rocky with 5 jiggers in his feet led to the discovery of the jiggers outbreak in Otati. Then Wilson and Jacklin, 150 children and adults in Otati, and 45 school children in Rabare. And just when we thought that jiggers only affected individuals in remote areas, the severity of the problem hit close to home when we found 2 families in Sori Town, only 3 km from the hospital.

Eunice, a beautiful young widow, and her 6 children slept on the floor of their barely livable mud hut on the outskirts of Sori. After we removed their jigger and bought them new shoes, we realized we needed to go a step further. Her young children not only suffered from jiggers, but also constant respiratory infections from sleeping on the dusty floor. and cemented their floor. Eunice told me that you never know when God will answer your prayers. But for her, He did when we first knocked on her door.
Eunice's young daughter at the door to their newly cemented home. The family is sleeping soundly and away from the fleas in the soil

David was so poor he swallowed sand to make his stomach feel full. Neighbors brought him homemade beer, when they had extra, and he drank to ease the hunger pains. His feet and hands were so covered with jiggers he could barely walk and couldn’t sleep at night from the unbearable itching. Since we’ve removed his jiggers, bought him a good pair of shoes, smeared the floor of his home to keep the jiggers away, and bought him food and cooking supplies, he’s regaining his strength and his dignity. He hasn’t drunk alcohol in 2 weeks since the day, as he put it, that the two white ladies (Lauren and I) told him to quit drinking. And the smile on his face tells the story of a man ready for a second chance.
David proudly displaying his jigger free feet!

Everyday we are getting reports from Community Health Volunteers, Social Workers, and concerned community members about jigger cases throughout Karungu and beyond. So now that we’ve opened the Pandora’s Box of a major public health concern, what do we do about it? Currently nothing is being done to help those infected or prevent further infections. And we’ve realized that jiggers are plaguing hundreds, if not thousands of our neighbors

So I sat down with Barnabas Wajiwa, the Assistant Chief of Sori, to develop a plan. Working with the District Public Health Officer, St. Camillus Hospital, and the Provincial Authorities, we’ve designed a systematic, sustainable program to not only help those infected with jiggers, but to implement major prevention efforts and educational activities. It’s even got a catchy name: Karungu Jiggers Eradication Campaign, or more conveniently, KJEC! It won’t be easy and it won’t happen quickly, but little by little, we can drastically reduce the health burden caused by jiggers in Karungu. And what is particularly appealing to me is that since jiggers most significantly affects the poorest of the poor, these pesky parasites are a direct way to reach the people in our community that most need our assistance. We can do more than just extract the fleas from their feet. We can give them shoes, help them clean their homes, and in severe cases, even cement the floor of their mud huts.
The only real kink in the whole program is that we need funds to really make it effective. We don’t need millions of dollars. For about $3 we can give a child a good pair of shoes to protect their feet. For about $300 we can cement the floor of a home and permanently prevent jiggers from returning. For about $600 we can cement the floor of a classroom to protect school children from getting jiggers from their classmates.

In another series of well-timed events, I’m flying home next week for my older sister’s wedding. But instead of putting the project on hold till I return, we’re taking advantage of this priceless opportunity. My home parish, St. Marks Catholic Church in Independence, Missouri, has agreed to let me host a fundraising event for the project. Talk about good timing! My family, friends, and neighbors who made it possible for me to come to Kenya can hear and see first hand what I’m doing. Anyone who’s curious can come learn more about living and working in a developing country. And anyone who wants to help drastically change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and forgotten can find out how.

Here are the details!

Kayla in Kenya Fundraiser
Date: Thursday, February 18th
Time: 7 pm
Location: St. Marks Catholic Church, the Upper Room
3736 S. Lee's Summit Road
Independence, MO 64055

I’ll write more about the event and the Karungu Jiggers Eradication Campaign as we go along. But in the mean time, clear you calendars and I’ll see you at St. Marks on the 18th!

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun...Kenya Week 16: January 17-23

Rabare Primary School Jigger Removal Day.

It’s amazing how time flies when you’re having fun.

And when you’re staying busy.

And when you’re removing Jiggers.

It’s really just amazing that time can fly in Kenya...I guess there’s a first for everything.

After firmly establishing myself as the local “Jiggers Expert”, I spent all week organizing to remove jiggers, removing jiggers, or writing reports about removing jiggers. I’ve learned some great lessons. For starters, I’ve learned that for every hour you spend “in the field”, you have to spend 2 hours researching, coordinating, and fundraising beforehand, then 2 hours writing reports and following up. For the first time in four months, the week passed quickly and I finally felt like I was really gettin’ in the groove of things here in Kenya.

Thankfully, I love what I’m doing. Well...blood curdling screams from small children having live insects extracted from their toes isn’t so fun. But knowing that in ten minutes their feet will be jigger free and they’ll have long forgotten the pain makes it all worth it.

On Thursday teams from St. Camillus and the District Public Health Office met at Rabare Primary School to remove jiggers from 50+ students. We’re becoming much more organized and efficient and by 2 pm, all hands and feet in Rabare Primary were jigger free.

The teachers and community were incredibly grateful for the assistance and receptive to the health education and instructions we gave concerning jiggers prevention. Unfortunately six of the nine classrooms have a dirt floor, which explains why so many students have jiggers. I talked to the Head Teacher and we’re going to work to see if we can find a way to cement the floors.

While we waited to go back to St. Camillus, the kids invited us to jump rope and play soccer with them! I guess their feet weren’t too sore after being de-jiggered!!

Now I’m back in the office writing reports and getting ready for our next step. And I can’t believe it’s already time for lunch.