Today was an emotionally challenging day for the most of us. We visited Baylor Pediatric AIDS Clinic in Maseru, the capitol of Lesotho, where they began by giving us a tour of the facility. They currently have 3000 patients (their maximum capacity to care for), most of which are children (about 2500 along with 500 parents who are HIV positive as well who do not have the means to travel to other facilities to receive treatment). They have fourteen doctors along with many nurses. Although the facilities are quite nice and the treatment and medications are free for all patients, the reality of it all is extremely hard for us to process. After getting a full tour, we held a "carnival" for the children waiting to be seen. There were various stations including a coloring station, a jewelry making station (foam beads), a rub-on tattoo station, soccer, and a parachute. It took a little while for the kids to warm up to us, which is very different from what we've experienced thus far, but once they did we all had a blast. There was a language barrier, but luckily, play is the universal language. While playing with the children it was hard to remember that every single child we encountered was sick, which is something, no matter how much we try, we cannot change. One child stuck out particularly to many of us. He was a young (maybe two years old) albino boy who had many sores on his face and had poor vision, only being able to see things clearly when objects were just a few inches from his face. He didn't say anything while we made bracelets for him and placed tattoos on his hand, later realizing he had sores in his mouth making it painful to eat and speak. Other children had difficulty running for long periods of time while playing soccer and duck, duck, goose. However, when those children smiled, whether because of being able to tag another child, or beaming with pride at the necklaces they made, it was as if the whole world lit up. When they smiled or giggled with one another, it was easy to forget they were combating such a serious illness, and we only recognized them only as what they are: children. It's easy for anyone to stigmatize those with HIV and for us "healthy" folk to make an "us" and "them"; those with the disease and those lucky enough to not. But one thing this trip has really started to make us come to grips with is a saying we keep hearing over and over: "We Are ALL the Same."
Lots of love from Africa to the rest of the world, those healthy and sick, rich and poor,
Hannah Kinney and Nicole Johnson
Mom, Dad, and everyone else: Just wanted to say hi! A very happy birthday Dad and a (almost...at least here in Africa) happy birthday Bethany! PS Evan, if you're reading this, the bracelets you told me to make and bring for the kids, they were a hit! Love and miss you guys and can't wait to see you all soon! Love, Nicole