Back again

"I am back in your hospital" she said quietly.

The lady has gone through so much. The HIV in her just does not seem to give up - and she is fighting a long-drawn out battle for her life.

We started her on TB treatment and on Anti-Retroviral Therapy.

Now she is severely jaundiced. Her liver just doesn't seem able to keep up. The medications need to be stopped, because the liver is where they are processed and enter the blood stream. A bad liver could mean death.

Earlier this week, this dear lady went to the government centre for her monthly visit to pick up her free medications.

The treating doctor wrote: "NAD" on her card.

No abnormalities detected.

Well - that is true at one level. The treating doctor did not detect the gross abnormality that this lady is very very sick. Her eyes were deep yellow. Her liver basically not functioning.

We had no option but to admit her and look after her while we stop her medications.

Credit to the government health folks - they copied exactly what Sheba suggested into this lady's card - and have stopped the TB and ART meds.

Now to see how she can move forward.

"I am back in your hospital" she said. I told her that we were glad she was with us. That she is very very special. We prayed that night.

Today she went home to continue her treatment there. Her dear elderly mother was looking after her - as well as a confident looking young woman - this lady's grown daughter. What a difference having a loving family makes!