Journal Entry 2/15/06
So yesterday was really crazy at CAASAH. A lot of whining and fighting. The kids were out of control. It was like a mad house. I felt so bad for them. I mean their beds look so messy..filthy...they're like 5-6 kids to a room, which means the germs will stay and just go around in circles...like an incubator. There's no A/C for them, which just absorbs the germs and keeps in dormant. I mean it's very unsanitary. Not even diapers. They all share the same clothes. There's one size only in diapers for the kids. They don't have their own personal set of toys or belongings. It's like a survival of the fittest. Especially when we bring treats and games in for them. They are all bathed thoroughly, but I don't think they get their teeth brushed. A lot of the kids have rotten teeth. The living conditions are below satisfactory. I wouldn't want my child in these living quarters...sick or not. It's like, the government knows that they are sick and may not live that long, so they do nothing. It seems as if they just leave these kids to rot to death. I sound dramatic, but this is what I'm seeing here. It's like their health and mental state is not important. And the kids need a lot of mental therapy. I was really scared today for my friend "M". He had just returned froom getting his shot. I'm assuming it was like an HIV booster shot...or bloodwork maybe. He was the cutest little thing when he returned. He smiled at me, while chewing happily on his piece of toast, and sipping very meticulously on his hot cocoa. He said, while pointing to his freshly pierced arm covered with a bandage, "Medico...Medico.." He was happy. Obviously it was something that he was familiar with and has come to enjoy. Wow...that's a lot for a 6 year old to deal with. He laughed, chewed, and sipped away. About 15 minutes later, little "M", was stricken with serious pain in his belly. Falling over quenching for air and relief, squeezing his little tummy, with squenched face the size of a prune...He cried, "Meu borriga...Ow!!!" He had just enough strength to gesture to me that he would be right back. He then went off to the bathroom. 5 minutes later he returned claiming he felt better. However, the pain returned and I sensed that this was serious, and there wasn't much I could do but hold him and wait for a nurse, who spoke his language fluently. My Portuguese is ok. Little "M" grabbed my hand and escorted me to his room, where he collapsed on his bed screaming, whining, and clenching on to his stomach for dear life. I was really scared because I had no idea what was going on. My fellow CCS volunteer witnessed this as well and she ran for help. Soon a nurse entered, asked "M" a few questions in Portuguese, and escorted him to another room. Wow, that was a roller coaster ride for me. Well wherever she took "M", and whatever they did to him, he returned as a renewed soul. His eyes were glowing when he returned, and he was smiling from ear to ear. He asked me to assist in his drawing of himself, his amigo(who by the way was me), his amiga(my colleague), and then his irmao(which was me again...that tickled me). Then we drew a casa(house) and a coracao(heart). Now this is the part that really tickled me. He took me by the hand with the drawing and we walked to an office near the front of the hospital. In the office lay a gorgeously voluptuous young lady. Little "M" handed her the drawing. I was a little confused. I thought that may have been his mom. So I asked her in Portuguese(yes in Portuguese...I was proud of myself for that one) if she was his mother. She said "nao," and smiled at me with a wink. A little light went off in my head. Hmmm....what's going on? Well we returned to the play area, and drew a new picture. And after that was complete, we went to the office again, where "M" gave her the second drawing. She smiled and laughed again. Then a third drawing was complete, and YES!!!, the same routine...to the office. By then I figured it out. "M" was smitten by this fairly older woman. Man, I was tickled. This little man is too much!!! Well that really made my day because he was so calm, so receptive, and very cooperative that day. Little "M" was near the verge of tears when I was leaving for the day. I miss him already. Now, "L", who I saw being a piece of work, is my buddy as well. He's so photogenic...the boy loves the camera. I almost got my camera boosted. I"m actually not allowed to take photos of the kids. It's prohibited in Brasil. It's to protect their privacy and family's privacy. I totally understand. Well, "L" had so much fun on my photo set, afterwards he gave me a big ole' kiss on the cheek. That made my day because I made his day. Love...that's all these kids need...unconditional love. That's what I'm all about. Some of the kids are disabled, scarred badly, have sores and rashes over their bodies, but it doesn't phase me. I"m not scared to pick them up, hug them, nor give them a kiss on their cheek...it's unconditional love. Oh, did I mention how hard I was sweating today? Well, little "M" reached down to grab my towel and dabbed my face for me. How cool was that? That's my buddy. I would love to adopt this boy, and show him a great life. Well it's time for cooking class.....
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