Reflecting on Living

I was at teen camp last week. For those of you that don't remember my journey there last year, this is a camp sponsored by an American organization, Hole in the Wall, that took place at a local boarding school. 45 teenagers came together for 2 different sessions (older and younger kids), and about 20 counselors plus some organizers from several different local NGOs plus myself and my colleague Doug (the camp doctors) spent the entire 5 day session living and breathing camp with these kids. I made sure they all got their medicines, two and some even three times a day. We were all there to make sure these children had fun, especially important to me knowing how precious life is to these kids. Just since last December, two children who attended camp have passed away. It is only a matter of time before a similar situation will happen again. Many of these children are single or double orphans. All of them are trying to make it as a teenager in Swaziland.

Some do make it. I am posting a photo of myself with one of our patients, who was thrilled to have her photo taken and has allowed me to share her story. Last year December, on Christmas eve, I thought we were going to lose her. She was admitted in the hospital breathing way too fast and way to sick to have any chance of making it home. But an eventual diagnosis of Kaposi's Sarcoma, a cancer that strikes mostly HIV positive individuals, and the right chemotherapy and blood transfusions, and a whole lot of strength on her part have kept her with us today. She tells me she wants to become a doctor. She is making it as a teenager in Swaziland.