Can you tell I've been working a lot? I'm still learning how to work hard and keep my blog updated at the same time. Thanks for being so patient with me.
We have a full house in our in-patient unit right now and they have definitely been keeping me on my toes.
Running around in fact.
20 patients. 1 nurse. Whew.
Believe it or not, most of our patients do really well after coming to stay with us. In fact, nearly 80% of our HIV clients leave the health care center and resume normal life, taking their ARV medications and hopefully living long, full, healthy lives for years to come.
But the 20% that linger on for months on end in the health care center, never getting better, are the ones that really break your heart. The ones for whom you know that there is little earthly hope.
And you are the one beside them as they die.
It's a painful privilege. A joy-heavy burden.
A privilege to have known them. A privilege to serve in any way you can.
It just makes it hard sometimes to leave "work" at work. Sometimes I would just rather not leave at 7 when my shift is over. When they capture your heart, they tend to stay on your mind.
I've got two patients that I dearly love that are going down the long slow way out in the next few weeks, and I admitted a grown woman today that only weighs 55 pounds. Fifty five pounds. She's just skin over bones with a beautiful face. I spent most of my day wondering how I could stuff her full of more fat and calories.
Worry doesn't begin to cover how I feel tonight.
Pray for all 21 of us in the house, will you?
I need you. They need you.
