Going on a Blood Hunt

Sometimes working in Kenya you find yourself doing things that aren't really your role. However, here, my role as a speech and language therapist is really just the tip of the iceberg.

I was so excited to see Florence and Edna today, I was going to be telling Florence that (thanks to the incredible generosity of Tammy, back in Ashby who’s going to pay her wage) I could employ her for 2 days a week to help me set up a women’s group, with her as a ‘mentoring mum’. She’s going to work with other mums modelling to them how to interact and care for their child with disabilities, support them in making medical and educational decisions and empowering them to also be proud of their truly special children. The other great bit about this, is as a result of Edna’s stroke, Florence can’t work anymore as she has to care for her daughter. With this role she can bring Edna with her and earn much needed money to help pay all the medical costs of having a child with sickle cell anaemia.

Unfortunately Edna has been admitted to hospital. Florence called me yesterday to let me know. It was unclear over the phone as to why, something to do with her blood. Me and my student, Kelsey, went to see Edna on the ward today, even though she’s sick, she still greeted us with her beautiful smile and LOVED the little polka dot bag we gave her as a gift from some students from Hong Kong university we met the other week. We were there during ward rounds so I got to hear from the doctor exactly what was wrong with her:

“her blood is too thin and low. Because she has had a stroke already her blood must be maintained above a certain level or else she will have another stroke. She needs a transfusion.”

I asked him why this wasn’t already happening. “we don’t have any blood that match her type in the blood bank”.

‘Russia Hospital’ is the biggest public hospital in the district. How can the biggest hospital around have no blood?? Where on earth are we going to find blood??

The doctors passing comment at the end was “find the blood. Or else she will have another stroke”… I felt sick.

Luckily I get to work with an amazing colleague within the APDK (association for physically disabled people in Kenya) called Tobias. We went to ask him where we could get our blood tested to be possible doners for Edna. He explained it wasn’t as simple as that as it takes about 48 hours for it to be screened in Nairobi.

He phoned around people he knew at we decided to meet up after work to go on a blood hunt.

Another colleague, Steve came along too – they’ve both had the pleasure of meeting beautiful Edna before.

We went to Aga Khan Hospital – the private hospital – there was no blood that matched there.

I was so frustrated – how is there no blood here?? I was told that, especially in Western Kenya, people don’t donate blood. If you donate you find out your HIV status… People would rather not know that. As a result, there are always blood shortages. I love many things about Kenya, but this frustrated me more than almost anything I’ve ever heard here…

We then went to the District Hospital. The Lab Manager was just pulling out of the gate – luckily Tobias spotted him and managed to persuade him to see if he could help.

We explained the situation and he wanted to be of assistance. However, they too have blood shortages so we weren’t hopeful. Kelsey and I crossed everything possible as the technician was called. Reality really hit home when the manager explained to the technician that “a little girl is dying and needs blood”…

They have one bag of blood. Just enough for a transfusion. I almost cried with relief. However, it’s never that simple. We have to hope, pray, keep our fingers crossed and any other good luck superstition that no one needs that blood tonight as it can’t be transported until tomorrow. If they do need the blood, Edna doesn’t get it and we’re back to square one.

I’ll keep you updated…