Life and death

Synchronicity is a strange concept. Similar things that happen at the same time that make you sit up and take notice. My Dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer which was a huge shock. My Dad is kinda like a superman he drinks but never gets drunk, gets angry but seldom looses his temper, can see through things that others can't, and well is pretty indestructible in my books. So yes the concept of cancer was not easy to grasp, and one of the greatest people I know, Dave Jeffrey lost his life to cancer. Fortunately my Dads seems to be slow growing so all is good for now. Within the same two weeks a good friend told me that she believes she may not have long to go.... Then today a patient asked me if she was dying. I have been asked this before... And I can't help but wonder, at what point do we start dying and stop living?

Wow such deep questions! But I guess what it comes down to is for every day we are alive, we are getting closer to our demise. I did my first half marathon last Sunday, and from about the 3km mark people were clapping and saying "nearly there"! I laughingly pointed this out to a fellow runner, and she responded by saying "well we are closer to the finish than when we started ". So the point I suppose is just to keep trying everyday to do what we can to live well and die content. For me that means not having regrets, for others it may mean something different.

Climbing Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about tuberculosis and to raise funds for the patients at Brooklyn Chest Hospital is something important to me. I have a wonderful and supportive family. In spite of what my Mom is going through, she is still trying to help me raise money and her latest mission is to get onto the local radio station (ECR). I know how important the support of my family and friends is to me, which is why I want to enable patients and their families to be together whether they are living or dying. Please help me achieve this by making a donation through www.tbhivcare.org. And like my Facebook page kileighmanjaro.vs.tb.

I sign off with the advise my Dad gave us every morning "work hard and play hard. Think before you do" Words to live by

Is Tb a problem?

Since starting my Kilimanjaro quest, people have sometimes asked me “is TB really such a big problem?” Well, according to the WHO, approximately 8.7 million people became ill with TB in 2011, 1.4 million people died and 10 million children were left orphaned after their parents succumbed to this disease worldwide. It is estimated that in the 22 high burden countries there are 10 million people living with active TB. Sub – Saharan Africa has the highest proportion of new cases per population in the world. In 2011 it was estimated by City Health that there were nearly 30 000 people in the City’s metro suffering from TB. 

This is a frightening situation. Most people with a reasonable immune system would be able to fight off this infection, but wants it starts to grow and symptoms manifest then treatment is required. 

Today is one of those days when I just feel so powerless in the face of this disease and it feels like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. This happens to us all - yes even to psychologists:-) I know that tomorrow, or the next day this feeling will pass. It helps to know that I am going to leave work today, go and have a great horse riding lesson, and can then choose what I do with my evening. I sometimes feel guilty feeling down when I know that I have so much and yet the patients here have so little. We all have our burdens to carry, and most of us in essence just want to feel that we are loved, that our lives are important and that we are worthy. My patients and I share that struggle- within us we are not that different after all.

The core difference is in our external circumstances - I can go home!!

I am asking for individuals to make a donation to the cause at www.tbhivcare.org. When you consider that our patients are unable to work while in hospital, and while they qualify for a disability grant of just over R1000 per month, the transport cost of R50 for one family member to visit is often a luxury that they cannot afford. Screening for distribution of travel grants will be done by our social workers – but we need your help in the form of a donation. Every bit helps

If you have any further questions, comments or concerns please email me at leigh.rynhoud@gmail.com