Chapter 5 Analysis

At Kenyatta national hospital ward 3,it was on the third floor we used lift or stairs to get in the ward.On the first day I used the lift and my son was help to enter into the lift for the first time.He also enjoyed staying in the ward the first day because it was a new environment and change is better than rest.

Supper was served ugali,beans and cabbage for caregivers and milk for babies.My son refused to eat completely claiming hospital food isn't good.It forced me to go to the canteen to buy bread for him.At 8pm the doctors went around in the ward examining patients,nurse administering drugs.They moved from bed to bed.When they reached on the bed where we were they took there for more than thirty minutes discussing the results which they received from ultrasound.

The following day in the morning,the doctor called me in their room and started to explain to me what investigation they want to do so that they can know the cause of blockage of the urine.They said , they are going to do MRI, which is magnetic resonance imaging.It is a type of x- ray but more stronger because it shows image of brain, nervous etc.My son is going to be lied in a cylindrical chamber for 30 minutes.MRI may look at different parts of his body horizontally, vertically, or across multiple level of the his body.It was supposed to be done as soon to help Robert get well.

Second investigation was to take blood for complete blood count.They would like to know red blood cells count,white blood cells count and haemoglobin and platelets count.They also wanted to test malaria because we come from western part of Kenya where malaria cases are many.I informed my husband what was needed and we agreed to move in speed.His father came from upcountry to help me because it was disgusting receiving such reports.

We did MRI and CBC .CBC results were positive but MRI they saw disorder in urinary system- bladder was thick, ureter with wounds and twisted, ureter on the left side looked longer and twisted with few wounds.When we heard what was happening on our son we wouldn't hold it but we started to cry.We lacked words to express our sorrow.

I had no one to turn to if not Almighty God for healing.I called upon the name of the Lord and trusted God for healing.From that day I told my God let His will be done in Robert's life.

I thank Kenyatta national hospital doctors,they were friendly,ready to explain to us what they doing.May God in heaven bless them wherever they are abundantly above all.

After receiving MRI results the doctors decided to do another test VCUG.A thin plastic tube called catheter was placed in urethra and the bladder is filled with a special fluid which is seen on a x-ray.The movement of the fluid from urethra to the bladder is seen on a screen.VUR is diagnosed when the fluid goes in different direction.

My son image on the screen showed bladder full and fluid going upward to the ureter.O heard doctor saying it is vesicoureteral reflux.I asked one of the doctors what that word means.He told me that the urine flows backyard.

What had caused of VUR?.It would be genetic factor a condition a child is born with.

The doctors had treated Robert urinary infection that was causing Robert to have high fever and cry all day long.Robert would now play,laugh and talk happily though he was still having catheter.We were now used to hospital life- enjoyed their food,made friends with patients like mama Brian and Njoroge.Njoroge was a big boy in that all ward who's parents left him there because they didn't have enough money to pay hospital bill.He was12 years of age and other children were 5 years and below.Every mother used to send him to the canteen to buy them personal effects.He would help nurses to issue files to every patient when the doctors are ready to go around to see patients.Collect every file and return it to the office with the help of the nurse on duty.Njoroge was a hard working boy and friendly to all patients and their caregivers.Mama Brian was from coastal part of Kenya.She was a Taita by tribe,we used to talk stories about our community when our children Robert and Brian were peacefully sleeping.We became good friends until my siblings would come in the hospital and associate with her as part of our family.

Brian had a stomach disorder called gastro paresis, where the stomach cannot hold the food for long.He used to vomit all the food he used to eat.Brian was thin and pale.After two months of going home his mother called me to tell he had passed on.Rest in peace Brian.Another investigation was to be done to know the effects of VUR.The doctor ordered DMSA because Robert had a lot of UTI (urinary tract infection)and fever as when he was an infant.DMSA is dimercaptosuccinic acid scan.It was to give more details about whether kidney have developed scars as a result of kidney urinary tract infections . This scan evaluate the size,shape and position of the kidney.

Kenyatta national hospital didn't have the equipment for doing the scan thus the doctor referred us to another hospital.

The doctor told the nurse the prepare us so that we can go to Western diagnostic nuclear center in Nairobi.Within one hour the ambulance was hooting at the park ready to take us at Western diagnostic nuclear center.We took a left down accompanied by a nurse to the ambulance.It was Robert and I to board an ambulance.

I learned on that day ambulance is a moving clinic where there is a nurse and some medication to be administered on the way to the hospital. On the way I was thinking on what type of x-ray and how it's going to be done.