Attempting Ambition

Your name is Liz! I fathomed even having the energy or emotional capacity to write this post. I still do not believe words will do this experience justice. Today was the first clinic day in the Slums of Niarobi,  Kenya. Baba Dogo to be specific. This isn't the worst slum, in fact, it is actually a hell of a lot nicer than the others we will be seeing, as I'm told. We loaded up the vans with our medical supplies, got on our high American horses and road in like knights in shining armor. It is true, we help these people a great deal to the extent our supplies allow, but their lives would go on despite us not being there today. One fungal infection would have continued to be an annoying itch, one skin ulcer would cause a young HIV mother pain for another day, and one case of Malaria would go untreated. By no means am I saying that we didn't do good things today. Hell, we busted our asses, stepped out of our comfort zones and treated the poor, undernourished, & uncl...

Most of my blogs are written with the intent to inspire...over the next two weeks I can't promise I will have the energy to wrap it all up in a nice to-the-point blog that has deep meaning brought out by my experience in Kenya. For the next two weeks you will be looking for the meaning and I will simply be keeping you all updated. We arrived in Kenya Monday 4/29. You could feel the rich African culture the moment you stepped off the plane. Driving to our hostel was an experience as well, so many people walking to work, selling newspapers in the middle of the highway, women with baskets carried on their heads. We then began to unpack our luggage and get settled. We met the people we will be working with and then began sorting and organizing our medical supplies for our clinics. The atmosphere while sorting through the supplies had an energy that I have never felt before. Future nurses and doctors collaborating on the best possible organization techniques to sustain six, 10-12hr ...

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."- Mister Rogers With the recent bombing in Boston, and my pending trip to Kenya, I felt this post was fitting.  These helpers are not fearless. The fear is pushed aside as their strength and compassion for human life break through. You will find these selfless citizens running directly into disaster, instead of away. They are the helpers that Mr. Roger's mother was speaking about.   The people of Boston went through an unimaginable tragedy that will not soon be forgotten. The fear in the runners and spectators was fierce, I'm sure. Three dead and more than 170 injured. " Patrick and Jessica Downes were married...