An Infant May Die Tonight

An infant may die tonight. She is maybe 5 months old. She, her siblings, her mother are covered from head to toe in skin infections. They have lice. They are dehydrated. The baby hadn't eaten in two days. She did not have energy to cry and when she did, she did not have enough hydration to generate tears. The doctors fear her kidneys are in partial failure.

An infant may die tonight. She and her family were taken to the hospital. The hospital separated the older siblings and the mother from the infant as they had to go to separate hospitals. One of our caregivers stayed with the infant. Waited. Waited.

An infant may die tonight. After waiting two hours a yellow form was needed. The yellow form was two buildings away, but must be filled out.

An infant may die tonight. The doctors would not provide an IV or medicines. Those must be purchased on the street and then the doctors may administer them. The mother must stay with the infant as there are no nurses to provide care. The mother must stay for a month.

An infant may die tonight. The mother cannot stay. She has other sick children. She has a sick sister at home. She leaves with her dying child.

An infant may live tonight. Drops of hydration fluid are given to her as she leaves the hospital. After a while she is drinking some. And she eventually urinates a little.

An infant may live tonight. It is not certain.

Pray.

Pray.

Pray.