When the Homily is about Immunology

"You Saved my Life, Take this Rooster!"

The Infectious Disease Institute is where our little lab is located; apart of the Mulago Hospital complex. This picture was taken in from the front door of the IDI looking toward Mulago during one of our frequent thunderstorms.

I am indeed seeing far more rain here than back in Seattle...it is cooler here too. Everyone back home seems to ask: "Is it hot?" And the answer is, not really. It is however muddy. Here is a pic of one road we managed to climb on the way up to St. Nicholas Cathedral: don't be fooled, the main thrust of water is running down a virtual canyon about 2-3 feet deep. Our driver did VERY well in his Toyota Corolla.


Wandering through the hospital and the Cancer facility is exceptionally difficult. We really have no idea how bad things can be. People come from all over Uganda seeking care for something their "witch doctor" could not cure. They camp on the hospital grounds waiting to be seen...the lines are long, VERY long and the doctors and nurses do the best they can with what they have to work with. But the people wait and wait.. and some out of necessity or otherwise, abandon their children here. Food is generally expected to be provided by the family and it doesn't always happen. The kids up at the cancer center are particularly heartbreaking...so very many of the diseases these people are dying from are completely curable were but a little more money available. As if this weren't enough, these people also face the threat of some of the most brutal and incurable diseases we have ever known. Even now we are hearing news of a Marburg outbreak. LORD...seriously...have mercy.

It is heart wrenching. Like I needed more perspective? Apparently so. A little more than halfway through this trip and Africa is clearly not finished with me.