Hope for Thandazile
For the past 15 years, the Hartmann’s have dedicated much of their lives to bringing hope and dignity to the people of Swaziland through home-based healthcare. Together with a team from the Good Shepherd Mission Hospital, they administer medications, treatments, and human kindness to the sick and the dying.
Thandazile’s short life has been ruled by HIV/AIDS. It has been a constant battle. Read how the Hartmanns are helping restore her hope.
Thandazile is a 15-year-old girl who looks about age 10. She is small in stature, with thin arms and legs, and a swollen abdomen and face.
She was born with HIV and has suffered with AIDS for most of her life. Her parents died when she was a toddler and she’s been cared for by an aunt ever since. Her aunt has three of her own children and is also caring for another orphaned nephew who is HIV positive. Together, they live in a very rural and remote area of Maphungwane in Swaziland, about 25 km from the Good Shepherd Mission Hospital. The aunt does what she can to take care of her family, but life is challenging.
When first met Thandazile in the hospital, she could barely breath and was on oxygen. Her abdomen was swollen, she was weak, had a high fever, was unable to walk and had no appetite. We discovered that she had been treated for TB twice and was now probably suffering from pneumonia. No treatment seemed to help.
She was discharged from the hospital and sent home without any real hope. It was at this point that our team decided to place her on our palliative care list of patients to be visited regularly. If you don’t have hope, you don’t have anything.
It was shortly after that we met a woman, Denise Mortlock, who had started a pediatric hospice program in Swaziland called Rocking Horse Pediatric Hospice Program. She worked with health professionals and families to provide care for very sick children. We discussed Thandazile’s case with her and she immediately agreed to provide support. She provided an initiative to get Thandazile seen by pediatric doctors from Baylor University who have a clinic in Mbabane. Transport was provided and Thandazile was immediately admitted to Mbabane Government hospital with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). PCP is a serious infection that causes inflammation and fluid buildup in your lungs. It’s caused by a fungus called Pneumocystis jiroveci that’s likely spread through the air. For a healthy immune system, it is easy to control and treat. However, for someone with a compromised immune system, like Thandazile, PCP can make people very sick.
“It is our mission to help a sick child find comfort, happiness, and health.” – Denise Mortlock, Rocking Horse Pediatric Hospice
Luckily the treatment she received at the clinic in Mbabane proved to be life-saving. Her health improved and she was discharged early, strong enough to complete the treatment at home.
We visit her as frequently as possible. She is now able to walk and has enough happy energy to play with other children in her community. Her appetite has improved and she is now taking a high potency vitamin, thanks to CMMB’s donation. She is not yet able to go to school, but her dream is to return soon. We bring her books to read which always brings a smile.
Thandazile loves reading
Thandazile’s short life has been ruled by AIDS and the devastating opportunistic infections it brings. But we hope that with continued care, support, and proper treatment she will continue to improve. We share her hope that she will be able to go back to school and focus on things other than being sick and fighting illness. We want her to be able to focus on being a kid.
We look forward to continuing working with Denise Mortlock from Rocking Horse Pediatric Hospice Program whose mission it is to help a sick child find comfort, happiness, and health.
Long time CMMB volunteer, nurse Kathleen shares a moment with Thandazile