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Anna and Edgar’s Story

Anna and Edgar’s Story

Names have been changed to preserve the privacy of the tellers in all of our posts below. Anna and Edgar’s Story  Anna and Edgar come each Tuesday and Thursday to work within the Healthcare HIV Clinic and to receive their meds for AIDS. They have eight children, two of whom have HIV through birth. The couple walks to work and to the clinic starting at 6:00 AM, arriving at 8:00 AM to receive their protocols, a walk that should take less than an hour. They are often too tired to walk faster, especially since their intake is one scant meal a day. Although their meds require 3 good meals a day, the couple does not eat much, as they first make sure that their children have enough to eat.Their immune systems are weak from the disease and it is impossible for them to retain the energy they need to lead active lives. The couple was forced to move from their home village to avoid the stigma of their condition....

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Maria’s Story

Names have been changed to preserve the privacy of the teller. Maria’s Story  Maria Agaro  is a surviving late- stage Sleeping Sickness patient, being treated with Melarsoprol. She lives alone in a nearby village, having outlived her 8 children and husband, who was a tailor. Some of her children died in the insurgence. She is approximately 75-80 years old, not knowing her age along with many who have no records. She has only one bed sheet and a dress to her name and lives on sugarcane, tea and some greens. “Happiness for me at my age, is not remembered. I only see my Life as having been difficult…and feel that surely the young have some moments of joy…as only they can do at their age.” Maria has one tooth, a twinkle in her eye…and looks as if Life will not capture her Spirit…as long as she can and wills the energy to...

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Sister Anna’s Story

Sister Anna…an African “sister,” is a  Senior Nursing Officer at the Hospital. She grew up in another village in the same district, living in a typical hut with a thatched roof. Sister Anna now lives in a small cement structure on the compound. She tells of the story that all the villages fear and remember. It takes place on June 24th, 2003. Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lords Resistance Army, a rebel group originally fighting for freedoms, but as many rebel armies, turned violent toward their own people, was said to be in Northern Sudan. No one had heard that he and his men had reached the outskirts of the area, until a man ran 8 klm. to warn the villages that men were traveling their way carrying guns. “We were scared,” said Anna. “3 Days later, at 11:00 PM. they attacked our village. The parish priest was hurt when he tried to leave, and they beat him until he opened the safe. He implored them to take...

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Dr. Jon’s Story

Dr. Jon Loute, the one and only doctor at the hospital this time, became a fast and interesting friend. At 27, quiet spoken, humorous, and thoughtful, Jon sacrifices time and educated effort to bring a quality level of care to Lwala and its 150,000 potential hospital visitors. Earning only $300 a month, Jon now faces a concern for his newborn son and wife who will soon join him at his thatched- roofed hut on the hospital grounds. He may be forced to consider a city position for a higher pay and conditions that will give his family a better quality of life. Jon is one of ten children, 8 of whom are yet living and educated. His brother died in the Lords Resistance Army, and his sister of malaria. He grew up in a poor village not far from Lwala. He was well- educated in a private school that was paid for by one of his brothers. It is common that each child pay for the next in line,...

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Eve’s Story

 In talking with a student nurses group, the issues of multiple wives  surfaced along with the feelings of jealousy and advantages for women experiencing this custom.“My father has three wives who all live in separate parts of the house. At first, it was uncomfortable; but later, the women felt that they had more women with whom to share the work, and to call ‘Sister.’ As for me, I would not like to participate in this custom. Our generation is getting away from this, and not entering marriages where men feel this way. About one third of marriages still practice this tradition. Often women secretly hope their men will not become wealthy and own many cattle, because what follows is the status and means to have more than one wife.  Eve,an ambitious student nurse with expressive,hopeful eyes stated: “Joy and happiness for me is to have good women friends. We understand each other”. Eve stated that what she wishes for is “to raise the level” of her life, get a...

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Ada’s Story

Academics is something that I cherish. I want to study hard and keep Issac in a good way. My ambition early on was to be a doctor. I began Primary School at 3yrs. old. The Headmaster told my parents not to stop my schooling, because I had potential to be a ‘great lady.’ Through the years,I had much encouragement from my teachers and was allowed to skip over 2 grades. Unfortunately, in Primary 2, I became sick with TB and had to spend 6 months in the hospital. My parents moved to a different location and I had to attend a school without the sciences! I needed to shift my focus to History, Economics, and Divinity. My high school performance went well, and the priest at the school offered to send me to University. But the LRA came, and forced us into camps. That changed my scholarship opportunity. Fortunately, my uncle offered me a loan to attend university in Kampala. After graduating with degrees in Administration, Management, and Human...

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