Posting from Kenya

Hello everyone. Sorry for the delay in posting. Internet access is much more difficult here than in Uganda. We have to dial into a microwave connection to a satellite dish in the valley, which then connects to the capital city...

We're in Kijabe, about an hour north of Nairobi, on the edge of the Rift Valley. We're visiting Richard Bransford, a surgeon at Kijabe Hospital and Bethany Relief and Rehabilitation International. Also located here is an orthopaedic centre and Rift Valley Academy.

Richard's main role is leadership of BRRI, partnering with another surgeon to do surgeries that are not offered elsewhere in Kenya. About 70% of their workload is dealing with disabled patients. They do surgeries for debilitating disorders such as cleft lip and club foot, as well as neurological disorders like Spina Bifida and Hydrocephaelus. They treated 180 cases of Spina Bifida and 100 of Hydrocephaelus last year. Of the various children's wards, there are 66 beds kept full and a few dozen staff kept busy.

Though not a main part of our trip, seeing the work here has been an incredible experience. Seeing first hand a one-month old baby with a huge sack of fluid full of nerves from the spinal cord ballooning out of their lower back... this is the stuff of fiction or T.V. I've seen a lot of places this year. This one has really left a mark.

Because of the slow connection I can't upload any pictures, but the pictures are stunning. Not only are there incredible cases in the ward, but it is absolutely gorgeous here. We're at 7300 feet, thousands of feet above the floor of the Rift Valley. Kijabe means 'place of the winds'... they're not kidding.

This post has been a bit all-over the place... that's been the experience here. Richard has so much energy, and we're always on the move. I need to get off this connection, so I'll post more when I'm able.

Trevor.