Waiting in pain

5 1/2 years later and medical apathy is still one of the most frustrating things about living here. I honestly don't know how most people are still alive in Lesotho. We had a child who was struggling to breath on Saturday so I had to make the call whether we take the child to the government hospital or the private hospital (government one is free for kids in care centers, private is not). Thinking of what I would want for my own kid in that situation, I went to the private one where the wait is usually minimal. After a short time the child was on oxygen and getting medical help, and another hour later, the child was admitted. I got back to BG and there was another child who was having some pretty bad symptoms, but not immediately life threatening, so I took that child to the government hospital. We waited for a couple hours just to be seen by the triage doctor. Then a couple hours for an x-ray and admission. I thought to the first child and really began to think that had we not taken them to the private hospital, the child may have died. Waiting several hours could be the difference between life and death, and every time I am in this situation, my heart is sad. Most people in Lesotho can't afford the private hospital. I was informed by the nurse that the oxygen alone was going to be M8 a minute which is M480 an hour. Many people make less that M1000 per month so they could never afford to give their kid private health care.


The amount of pain and suffering I witnessed in my 5 hours in the government emergency room was really heartbreaking. The blood, the moaning, the seizures, the coughing, the crying, and so much more. Seeing people in their deepest hour of need and knowing that they were going to be suffering for many more hours, it just hurts. Everyone waiting for their turn no matter the depth of their pain. What I do know is that the Basotho are a very strong group of people, to suffer as they do, and yet they still praise God. To walk through that kind of pain must force them to lean closer to God. I am grateful for the health we have been fortunate enough to have, and I am reminded to pray more faithfully for those who are hurting in Lesotho. Please pray for our 2 kids who are in the hospital and for the people who are providing their health care. Pray for the health care professionals to see their patients as people who desperately need their care, and not as a bother.