With Jenny back in the UK fundraising for Potter's Village, and Ezra in Mbarara with Grunt and Jackson, Ruth and I have been left in charge of the whole of Potter's Village. Of course the children know when the bosses have gone and decided to all get sick at the same time! We know have 3 isolation rooms, 1 for pneumonia, 1 for vomiting and diarrhea and 1 for fragile babies who must not be exposed to any illnesses.
We have a new arrival who was supported by PV in the community but had not been cared for properly. Baby K is 4 months old and weighs only 3.5kg (8lbs). Her mother became mentally ill after giving birth to her and threatens to kill Baby K whenever she sees her. The grandmother had been caring for her, but did not understand how to bottle feed. She was so starved that her hair is a shade of red. For the first 24 hours after being admitted to Potter's, Baby K screamed and screamed. Even feeding her didn’t calm her down because as soon as she had finished she panicked that she would not receive another one for a long time. The next morning we went to see her in isolation and we were so shocked at what we found. She has become the happiest baby ever! (Although slightly creepy looking with her huge eyes!)

Baby K

Grunt and Big J have been on a trip to Mbarara to visit the specialist about their cerebral palsy. J will be returning in a months time for a weeks intensive physiotherapy. Grunt has had some very good news, his hydrocephalus has improved and he is now out of the danger zone. He is still fitting, but not as often and as soon as you talk to him or touch him he laughs and laughs. Last week we took 5 children (2 from PV, 2 who used to live at PV and 1 from a village near by) to brand new children’s home. We drove for 9 hours on roads without tarmac with 5 vomiting children to SOS children’s home. The home can look after up to 120 children between the ages of 0 and 18. Each child lives in a house that has 10 children, 1 'mumma' and 1 auntie. The houses are amazingly equipped with washing machines, fridges and cookers. The mumma lives at the project for 6 1/2 days a week, and is allowed to decorate her house as she pleases so it is just like a real family! It was so sad to say goodbye to P as he had grown very attached to me and me to him, but the place was amazing so I know it is where he will have the best chance at life.


P and Ellie

Baby D is the smallest baby here at the moment, when he was in the incubator he weighed 1.7kg but lost 200g whilst in the hospital. He is now growing well but gets cold very quickly. With the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea we have isolated him in the hope he does not catch any illness that could risk his life.

Baby D

Ruth is going home on Tuesday, which will be very sad to say goodbye as she has been the person that has kept me (kind of) sane here in Kisoro. But when Jenny returns after her 3 week fundraising trip in the UK, 2 more volunteers will arrive so hopefully they will be nice!