Isaac

Meet Isaac. He's six, with an infectious giggle and patience beyond any six year old I've ever known. Confined to their beds for a week to allow tender surgical sites to heal, Issac and his buddies Gideon  (below) and Arnold became the life of A ward for the small time they were there. Every nurse coming in for shift was greeted by a shout of Tata Yovo!! (Auntie white person) and enthusiastically blown kisses. We blew back kisses, made faces at them through the doors, kissed them goodnight, and changed scrubs again and again after the catheters came out and we got accidentally peed on a few times.  Our other patients enjoyed their antics, and instigated several games of balloon volleyball (often involving crutches) between the beds.

Once allowed out of bed, Isaac joined us for shift changes, excitedly hugging one nurse, then reaching for two at once, then beckoning everyone within reach...until there was a laughing huddle of white and brown arms and heads encircling Isaac, with Gideon and friends all climbing through the sea of legs. And as we sang in worship, Isaac joined in wholeheartedly, a half-key off and several steps behind, proud that he knew the words.

 

Although our patients often come and go quickly, sometimes a few find their way to snuggle deeply into our hearts and leave an imprint of themselves.   Isaac, with his unconditional love for everyone he met, has found his way into mine.

 

 

A few of the others in my heart - this snapshot of the A ward crowd was taken a few weeks ago...patients, nurses, and translators all gathered for a bit of fun :-)