Friday with the Island Boys

The Island Boys are a group of former "tough guys".  Some of them had done time at Nyenga prison.  Paul and Pam Hunter rescued these young men from life on the street and living day to day by their wits and set them on a different path.  They get their name from the "island" or in Texas/Oklahoma English, a large divider between the highways.  There they would meet and many of them would work as drivers. In the past, they drove without permits/driver's licenses.  Last July, with your donations and NGM's (Next Generation Ministries) assistance, they were able to become licensed drivers and work legally.  They have become "born again" as they would say in Uganda. They have become followers of Jesus.

It is apparent to even the casual observer that their lives are very changed.  From time to time, they act as mentors to some of the prisoners that are released from Nyenga prison.  They share the gospel and try to extend NGM's prison ministry.  The prison ministry is one of the reasons we go to the prison as often as we can.  They also serve as role models in their community.  They invited us to have a medical clinic in their home office in Buikwe district, not far from Jinja.

Many people were seen that day.  We lost accurate count after 65, so exact numbers are much higher.  A few very unusual things were seen.  I have pictures of a couple of cases that I will have to upload to a consult site to get answers.  Some interesting conditions were encountered along with the routine things.

A young girl had been burned a couple of years ago and the keloid (abnormal scar) that formed is disfiguring.  Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this in Uganda and even in the US there is a low success rate for treating a keloid this large.  Another young boy had multiple fluid filled cysts in various places on his body.  I have never seen a case like this and it will give me something to do when I get back, as I research the underlying pathology and potential treatment.  I know it is presently stable, but, it too is disfiguring.

One of Sara's boys (Sara's orphanage) had an infection that could no longer wait.  She brought the 16 year old to us and we had to do a relatively large incision and drainage of an 8 cm abscess on his leg.  

This wound was irrigated and packed because it was so deep.  We will be doing some wound care for the next few days.  The antibiotics he will be taking will help a great deal.  There is no practical way to get a culture and sensitivity on the bacteria, so, we will need to use broad spectrum drugs for the best coverage. 

 Medicine in Uganda means doing what has to be done with what you have.  It is REAL medicine and is reduced to it's most pure form.  Outdoor surgery would be unheard of in the US.  Here, you just do your best, even if your operating theater is a back door step and a wooden bench.   I supplied the hands (which, by the way, are on loan) and God supplies the healing.  I had to come to Africa to understand what it really means to be a physician.  Many things are too complex to explain without common reference.   The only way to know is to come see for yourself.

Another day is passed and we are one day closer to our departure.  I already miss these people even before we go.  Those that have been here know that feeling.