Pediologist in the Making

If you ask Anna what she wants to be when she grows up, she replies, “Maybe an ophthalmologist or maybe a pediologist.” Somehow it is not surprising when children of Tenwek aspire to careers in medicine. After all, most of the adults they know here are doctors, and much of the conversation they overhear involves medical topics. And we have required a variety of medical treatments at home as well:

Abi experienced a bout of probable pneumonia a few weeks ago. Here she is modeling her Kenyan-style inhaler. It’s a plastic Coke bottle. Ingenious, no?

Anna hosted some scabies last week. Yuck.

I have been sporting this orthopedic boot for the last two months (and I’m very happy to report that I can now walk and carry Abi without crutches again).

So it seems only natural that imaginative play here at Tenwek includes scenes like the following (fairly realistic) scenario:

Doctor examines patient.

Doctor wonders what in the world to do for this unusual case presentation.

Doctor asks for a consult with a more experienced missionary doctor.

Doctor re-examines patient with whatever diagnostic tools are available.

Doctor determines the need for surgical intervention and prays for a good outcome as she begins an operation she has never performed before.

Anna seems eager to launch her medical career. If any of you are looking for an inexpensive tonsillectomy, Anna the future pediologist would be happy to help.