M Part 2

The next afternoon, I picked up B and we drove to the hospital. On the way, the conversation was minimal. I don’t think either of us knew what to expect. As we got out of the car at the hospital, B asked me, “what do I ask, where do I go?” I was once again reminded that I was with a 16 year old. He was still a boy himself and was still learning simplistic adult experiences.
We eventually figured out where to go and we walked through a couple of children’s wards before finding M. As I walked through the children’s ward, I experienced very dark feelings: a sense of fear and of disparity. There have only been a couple occasions when this certain intensity has happened to me in Africa, and this was one of them. All of the children were so tiny, and some were crying. The hospital is dirty and run down. Old paint, worn beds and a dirty floor. By one of the sinks next to the children’s bed I noticed a large cockroach-shaped bug crawling in the sink.
As we walked along, B signaled that he saw M. And there he was: asleep in his hospital attire, in his small bed, nothing else. I couldn’t help but imagine the boredom and loneliness he must have gone through over the past five days. B gently woke him and when he saw his older brother’s tears, started streaming from M’s eyes. I tried to comfort him by rubbing his back and telling him that we were here to take care of him and that we were going to keep him safe. Later M told B that he was getting very afraid that no one would come for him because other parents and relatives had come to see the other children.
B and I decided that we would go talk to the nurse about the situation. We informed her about the situation and that B was his older brother and was the only one that should take M home. B did not want M to go back to the camp and M did not want to return either. M was very afraid because the man from the camp said he was going to come back to see him. B and I then decided to go get M some food and something to keep him busy.
When we returned, M seemed in better spirits and was even more excited as we showed him the coloring and puzzle books we had got him. As we started taking items out of the bag, other children noticed this and started to surround M. He was making friends very quickly. B and I then decided that we would come back the next morning to hopefully talk with the doctor. M needed surgery and we wanted to find out when this would take place and when he would be discharged.
The next day, I along with B, and two others: Carly, a women from Australia, and Jabulila, a Masoyi resident and child care volunteer, went to visit Maxwell. On the ride up, B informed me that his uncle and a leader of the camp stopped by his house to inform him that M needed to return to the camp when he was out of the hospital. I could tell B was very upset by this.
When we got their, M seemed better. But, after a short discussion, M told us he was very afraid because the man from the camp was supposed to return that day. M became very upset and started to cry. This affected B and I could see he was struggling with the situation of seeing his little brother in such fear and pain. I then put my arm around him and we both started to weep. I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I cannot imagine what these two boys have dealt with over the past four years alone and parentless. For B to cry, I knew the situation was bad.
B had to go to school, so it was decided that Jabulila and I would stay incase the man from the camp decided to stop in for a visit.
At this point, I had a chance to observe the other children. Next to M, on the left, was a young boy with two swollen black eyes and a contusion in his head. How does that happen? On the other side was the cutest little girl (must have been two) with a huge burn on her arm.
I would guess half, if not more, of the children in this ward were burn victims. As I thought why this was, it hit me. It was another strange but tragic result of AIDS. These children had to make fire and use paraffin to cook and keep warm. Their parents were gone and couldn’t do this for them, so the children are forced to grow up too quickly and are not taught how to develop these skills safely. Concerning AIDS, we are all infected or affected.
As Jab’s and I waited, two other ladies from Hands at work came: Ma Flo, the director of Masoyi Home Based Care, and Enercy, a youth director at one of the day orphanages.
Miraculously, after only a few minutes, a group of doctors came in and I was able to ask about M. They said that he would be discharged that day! The doctors had to wait until the wound had healed over before they could perform surgery. So, unfortunately he would have to return at a later date.
We would also have to take M back the hospital on Monday to deal with a chronic eye problem he has had since we was young.
M and a couple other children who were also being discharged became so excited and bounced around the room. We then left leaving M behind. He would have to be picked up later in the afternoon because he had no clothing.
When we got back, Ma Flo called B about the situation and also phoned B’s uncle. Ma Flo decided that the next step was up to the family. Unfortunately, as mentioned, the uncle wanted M to return to them camp. However, Ma Flo was right - this was a family issue. Although I was nervous and wanted to lend support, it was not my place. It is just such a travesty. B is his brother’s care giver. His uncle rarely visits the boys and I felt this was B’s decision. Unfortunately, he is only 16 years old.
Ma Flo and Jabulila then left to go pick up B and his uncle. They were then going to talk about the situation and go get M to bring him home.
For now, he is at home and he is safe. It was decided that M will not return to the camp until after the surgery. At this point, it is unknown how long he will have to go to the camp: could be a day, a week, or possibly longer. The hospital has put me and Jab’s in charge of M’s wellbeing during this time so I will keep you up to date.
Please pray for B and his two brothers.
This is not a story; it is life, it is reality. Please remember that. This is one of the millions of realities across sub-Saharan Africa and they all involve real people.
We are either infected or affected. I encourage all of you who read this to remember that YOU are affected by this.

P.S. I just received word about an hour ago that the people from the camp came and took M back to the camp yesterday. He will likely have to be there for a week. Please keep him in your thoughts.