To Die is Gain

It has been wonderful to witness the love and care that the women of our group give to the orphan babies. Observing their maternal instincts has been very interesting. I have no doubt that holding the children and taking care of their everyday needs has fulfilled an important role in the children’s development. It is equally painful to see the women’s reaction to the death of one of the babies. Luseko and Elli both passed away this morning. Both were given help, however, I cannot help but feel that more should have been done to save their lives. Sometimes it seems as if there is a somewhat hopeless, fatalistic view of sick babies in Africa. Trey stated, “Maybe I am simply naive, but I feel like more should be done for the dying children. There is a hospital nearby. This being such a nice compound in Zambia, the death of three children in two days is unacceptable.” I agree with him, but unfortunately most women who work in orphanages do not know enough about health care to identify when a child should be rushed to the hospital (not to take away that the aunties here are incredible women.) I feel that spreading primary health care throughout the world is critically important.
Several have shared their thoughts of anger about the situation, but I am not angry. In order for me to be angry I would have to pinpoint a person or thing, but I cannot. I see injustice here in Zambia. I see an economy in shambles. I see children dying simply because there is not enough money to go around. I see things that are the consequence of people allowing sin into the world.
Although the deaths of Request, Elli, and Luseko disturb me, the impact is not the same for the women. The guys in our group spend much time playing with the hyper, healthy children from Eric’s House, while the ladies comfort the smaller children. Obviously the ladies play with the older children and we the younger; but this is the typical pattern. I was around Luseko for several days last week, but mainly from a health standpoint. I helped in the clinic to rehydrate the children and shadowed Dr. Frank as he assessed them, but the ladies in our group change diapers and feed the small children, even the sick ones (diarrhea and vomiting make this quite a job.) So to see the hurt on their faces is very disheartening.
We often view death the wrong way. To die is gain. This is all I wish to say.