Chronicles of a Hypochondriac

You may have laughed at my references to my plight as a hypochondriac.  But honestly it is exhausting.  I have not researched it nor have I analyzed my own condition too deeply but I guess that it is really about fear.  When something doesn't seem right physically I begin to think of what it will cost financially or how I will be unable to take care of myself or others. And what usually drives me to google for research or a medical facility is the fear of what suffering it will cause me and others if I don't do something.  It's crazy yet not easy to just snap out of.  I live in a tug of war of trust and fear when it comes to my physical health. 

According to my doctor at the annual physical last week, I am in really good health.  Other than a slightly elevated blood pressure which seemed reasonable with the stress of late, my doctor declared that the stats show I am really healthy.  Yet none the less, it is a week later and I have battled with several incidents of fear that something is wrong and I am irresponsible and negligent not to do something.  I will say it again, it is exhausting.  Add to that living in a Pandemic, it is wearing to say the least.   I  don't watch a lot of the news.  It is not because I do not care nor want to live informed but too much disease and disaster can render me unable to function

With this information imagine my anxiety when a higher than normal curb in Franklin Tennessee sends me flying across the sidewalk and landing smack on my right knee.  My first thought was that I had damaged my driving knee and how was I going to get home to Gainesville 4 hours away.  Then I was thinking what if I can't work at the preschool because I am on crutches.  This was quickly followed by the thoughts that I had invested money in virtual runs and I am not going to complete my mileage!!!  Fortunately although these were the thoughts in my head, I managed to call out to my friend across the street to come help me investigate the damage.  When Dora reached me and I told her I fell on my leg she looked at my protruding  ankle and said "oh no did you hurt your ankle?"  That made me laugh because the protruding ankle is just how God made me yet people often ask if I broke it.  I had some scrapes and my knee was screaming but I was able to stand up.  Long story not quite so long, I got to my car where that little first aid kit in the glove box came in handy.  I patched up my knee and thanks to a kind deli waitress, iced my swollen knee while eating lunch.  We didn't let my bummed knee dampen our visit but it did make me a little more sedentary in my approach to the weekend.

My knee is still sore, swollen, and working on a new color palette but I was able to drive home with no issues and worked today with little discomfort or complications.  I did consult a friend with a medical background and I am taking precautions as well as have plans if healing does not seem to be progressing.    I am grateful that the moment that seemed like it might be life altering, has had less of an impact than I imagined at the time.  As I have reflected, I have been so grateful for  a variety of things.  First of all I am grateful for that iced coffee I was carrying.  If I had not been working so hard to keep from spilling it on my white shirt, I may have tried to break my fall with my hands and broken bone in my hand or arm.  That certainly would have been costly and a challenge to getting home.  By the way I didn't get a drop of coffee on my white shirt. I am also grateful to the kind Air B&B hostess who kept me supplied with ice bags and Ibuprofen.  Because I couldn't venture out on a long run while Dora was at the wedding, I read a book and hung out on the porch at the Air B&B.  Rest is a good thing.

Today I am thinking  this knee injury may not be the crisis I thought it was when it happened Saturday.  That is good because I am well occupied with that tickle in my throat and that slight cough I had earlier.

Friday Update on Monday

I keep thinking one day I really am going to write the update on Friday.  But once again it wasn't this week.  

Lets start with mom.  She seems to be doing pretty well.  She hasn't ventured out in her car yet but is walking in the neighborhood and even down to the community mailbox.  Her appetite is returning, she is reading again and started back to tackling some small projects.  This upcoming month is basically doctor appointment free.  It is so good to see things settle into a more normal routine.

Peter's car went back to the shop a week ago Sunday after breaking down on his way home from work Saturday night.  I give the dad and daughter duo at Medina a lot of credit for working so hard to make things right.  Due to a death in their family there was some delay but today we put Peter back on the road in his car.  I am hopeful.  And extremely nervous and antsy over his car working and Peter safely driving it.

Peter's follow up with our naturopath Ricardo was good.  There is evidence that the supplements have made some improvement in brain function as well as Peter's overall health looks good.  There was some good discussion about the impact sleep has on the brain.  Peter has really bad sleeping habits.  We were able to reduce one of the supplements (yeah for the budget) and Peter will be re-accessed in three months.

I started feeling more like my normal self as well and even got back to running last week. On Friday I adventured to Franklin Tennessee to meet up with my friend Dora.  She was attending a wedding and offered for me to explore Franklin with her and stay in the Air B&B farm loft with her all while we socially distanced.  It was a great little excursion.  The You Pick farm where we stayed was peaceful and the hostess absolutely delightful.  And as always it was fun to catch up with Dora. 

Thanks for caring and praying for us.  It means a lot.

Peter Prayer

I do ask that you would pray with and for us regarding Peter.  Let me start with the specifics and then I will expand a bit of my feelings behind it.

• Safety of Peter's car sitting outside of the car lot tonight.
• Clarity for the mechanic to figure out the problems.
• Clarity for how to redeem this situation - fixing it to a good workable vehicle or coming to some compromise and compensation of money already spent so we can start over with different car.  The money is an issue but so is Peter having a safe dependable car.  BUT maybe he isn't to have a car.  I selfishly want him to have one to free me and he thinks he NEEDS one and it is nonnegotiable but what if it isn't.  What if we are trying to make something happen that isn't suppose to.
• That Peter will show up to his video therapy appointment 2:30 Tuesday and participate.
• Peter  will also show up and willing participate with naturopath appointment  4:15 Tuesday.  This is a follow up from our initial appointment in mid March and after 3 months of supplements.
• Wisdom to know whether to continue with the supplements or not.
• That the lawsuit Peter has been thrust into due to minor accident in October will come to an abrupt halt and be resolved without involving Peter.
• The above is the mom desired prayer request but if not the path of most God -glory, then Peter will get the legal support and protection he needs.
• And in all of it, for me to know what is my role and what is not.  Pray that I will have wisdom to know when to step in or when to step back.

As a parent of an adult child it really ishard to know when to step in help and when to let your child handle it. Perhaps even more so that adult is 21 year old male child whose brain isn't fully developed.  I felt like I was making progress in this area until Peter was diagnosed with schizophrenia.  Since then I have had a harder time knowing when he needs my advocacy and when I am enabling.  I don't want to be an enabler.  Nor do I want to abandon the person I am to be advocating and helping.  Fear often makes it hard for me to determine which is which.  And the worry and stress of "am I doing the right thing" is exhausting.  I do appreciate prayers for wisdom.  I pray that God would provide other advocates for Peter, that they will come forward, Peter will accept and I will be able to step back.

If I had written the Friday Update

.....  I would have told you the good news:

Mom is feeling much better.  Says she is feeling almost back to normal.  yay!

I am regaining energy and feeling better.

And Peter is back in his car woo hoo!!!  Funny story though.  As I prepared for bed Thursday evening I was excited to think I didn't have watch for Peter's text as to when to pick him up from work. I came out of the bathroom and found a text from him that said "10:00", the normal kind of text for when to pick him up.  I text back saying "hmmm didn't you drive?"  He responded with "Habit."  It was funny.  

That is all the fun stuff I would have told you Friday.  

But now it is Sunday

Yesterday while helping mom in her flowers I sat down on the pine straw covered hill to pull some weeds.  Evidently I sat on someone small because it bit the fire out of my hiney! After I soaked in the tub, mom looked at it and she felt pretty sure it wasn't a black widow spider bite. She did put ointment on it.  Today although it doesn't look like it is spreading infection in my body, it has developed into a little welt and is kind of painful and itchy.  But no paralysis so still hopeful I will survive.

I was staying over at mom's last night - just because she enjoys my company and I was letting her neighbors dog out while the neighbor was at a family gathering.  I crawled in bed and dozed off to get a call from Peter at 11 pm.  His car broke down not far from our house.  He said it was pulled into a parking lot and he was walking home.  This morning I found the car was in the middle of a driveway into a restaurant.  So we called AAA (third time in about 6 weeks) and had it delivered back to the mechanic.  It is sitting outside the mechanic lot in a not so safe neighborhood.  I am holding my breath it will be there in tact and without a ticket come morning when the mechanic arrives.

Yes I want to beat my head against a wall.  

Good news though, I just called to check on mom and as of writing she is still good!  I am extra grateful for that.

125 Frequent Flyer Miles

Well, I just bought 125 frequent flyer miles.  Pretty much that is what I got and maybe some peace of mind by going to Urgent Care this morning.

Yesterday was a planned day off.  I was grateful as I didn't feel well.  Really felt yucky and the symptoms and scenarios grew with the day.  Upon going to bed my fickle thermometer indicated that I might have a low grade fever.  Combine that with the headache, pressure in my face and aching joints I decided it was time to get checked out.  What I suspected was a sinus infection what I feared was THE VIRUS!    So this morning I called out of work and headed over to my favorite Urgent Care.  I admitted upfront that I was a hypochondriac and laid out all my symptoms of the past week.  The tech determined my temperature to be a good ol  98.7, and my blood pressure to be on target.  The doctor said my heart and lungs sounded great.  He did see some signs of sinus drip in my throat and pressure in my ears.  So he agreed I might have a sinus infection in the making.  He suggested a Z pack and offered steroids which I declined.  I don't like steroids.  He did also offer to sell me another 125 frequent flyer miles with a Covid 19 test but really felt like it was just sinus related.  So I declined that offering.

So what do I make of all of this?  First of all I am grateful for some medication that will hopefully help my symptoms.  I also appreciate the doctor's suggestions which could help combat my sinus issues. I am grateful for the peace of mind of having  a medical professional tell me that he isn't concerned that I have a virus, infecting everyone I am around.  I am also relieved to know that I should be able to go to work tomorrow as there is no fever nor am I considered contagious.  That is the upside.

Yet on the other hand, I am frustrated and embarrassed by my hypochondriac moments.  I knew nothing was wrong and yet something compelled me to go find out. My imagination gets so out of control that  I need a professional to tell me I am okay.  I feel caught in a "woe if I do/woe if I don't" moment.  I felt it was irresponsible to go to work feeling bad in case I had something contagious yet now I feel irresponsible not being at work because I don't have a contagious illness or fever.  Honestly I think a lot of my hypochondriac moments are connected to my fear of being irresponsible.   I don't want to cause others to suffer by my negligence.  Sometimes this plays out in going to work when I feel bad.  And other times it is in going to the doctor when nothing is really wrong.

The truth is technically I am physically healthy.  Yet as a I shared a couple of post ago, sometimes my body starts screaming because it is tired and brings things to a halt.  It's not that it isn't real, but it doesn't show up by medical numbers giving it legitimacy. Then I feel like a fraud.  

There is a lot of feelings going on here isn't there?  I am struggling to wrap this up.  Finding it hard to come up with the words.  There is this issue of truth versus feelings.  I don't think feelings should be denied. Feelings are real and it is often feelings especially physical ones that indicate there is a problem.  Yet feelings shouldn't be allowed control over truth.  

I think there is more to ponder and say on this but for now I will pause.  I think I will go take a nap then maybe work on plan to use those frequent flyer miles.

Two Days Late -- Me

As I talk about me, perhaps you will understand why Friday's post is 2 days late.  Mid last week, my body decided to revolt.  Though the source is not exactly clear, it has manifest itself in several ways that  have distracted and slowed down my pace.  Now let me guess what you are thinking.  "Oh no do you have the Corona Virus!!!????"  RIGHT!!!!

This would be a good place to tell you something that if you don't already know it, might be helpful to know.  I am a long time hypochondriac who has symptoms of whatever I have most recently learned about.  When I was in grade school, I overheard my mom tell my dad about a friend's husband who had been bitten by a black widow spider and was now paralyzed.  Within 24 hours I went crying to my mom, pointing to a freckle, convinced I had been bitten by a black widow spider and was about to die.  My mom assured me I had not been bit by a black widow spider. This phenomena has followed me throughout my life.  I have been to the doctor multiple times convinced I have various ailments- pneumonia, pink eye, strep and yes even a heart attack, simply to be told I am  fine.  The false heart attack took two years to pay off. Therefore, I  have leaned not every symptom of mine points to a medical emergency.

So to answer your question, no I have not been to any medical facility nor have I been tested for COVID 19. This is not to say I was not awake in the middle of Wednesday night preparing text for people to take care of my family as I was struggling with my breathing.  Nor will I deny that Friday night I told Peter if I came to him holding my throat and passed out, he was to call 911.  About every other hour I feel physical pains that have me considering options and trying to figure out what is wrong.  And yes I consulted Mr Googlelies (Thanks Pluto Living for that new phrase) and have narrowed down my problems to about 7 different causes ranging from psychological to life threatening.  

You probably have some questions and concerns so here are a few more important things I will tell you.  First God and I had a talk Thursday morning.  I was wrestling with fear verses sound mind.  The bible says in James if we lack wisdom we are to ask him and he will give it.  Because I know me and my hypochondriac history, I told God he was going to have to be VERY clear if I was sick and needed to stay home or go get a COVID test. I told him I needed a fever to confirm if this was a contagious ailment and if I didn't have a fever I would go to work.  My school checks everyone's temperature at the door and I was normal as normal gets, temperature wise that is, both Thursday and Friday.  And I have not had a fever this weekend. 

Another thing to know is that I have embarked on a 350 miles in 16 weeks virtual run this summer.  For the first 9 days I was running 3-4 miles daily at an intense (for me) pace.  I found it mentally therapeutic in light of concerns for Mom and Peter.  I understand that though the running paired with Christian music in my ears is mentally clarifying, it also could have been an intense shock to my body.  My body might just be rebelling against what it considers abuse.

Something I learned from Mr. Googlelies is that the symptoms of allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, are very similar to the symptoms of stress.  I do have allergy issues and well life of late has felt stressful.  My first real symptomatic night was following the Tuesday that I was dealing with a doctor with whom I was at odds, in the midst of Peter calling and sharing his stress of a broken down, expensively repaired car.  Stress and Allergies are real possibilities.

Here is the good news.  First of all Jesus.  He is always the GOOD NEWS .  He is good when I don't feel good nor life feels good.  Second, it just so happens Tomorrow I have labs and gynecological check up followed by a General Physical next Monday.  If something significant is going on I will be seeing doctors soon.

What frustrates me is that I have had to put the running on hold for a few days.  It also frustrates me that I am not sure what is real.  My imagination is great for being a preschool teacher but sometimes it makes day to day living a challenge.  

More good news in this?  God doesn't waste anything.  He is challenging me about some things in the midst of it.  It is forcing me to lay aside the to do list and engage in a little more rest.  It is challenging me to know that he can take care of other people without me.  It is leading me on my continued journey to deal with "responsibility issues."  

You may not need all this info.  I may regret sharing all this info.  But there it is and thank you.  Your support, care and words have been much encouragement to me.

Isabelle - prayer equest

Several of you have expressed that you are praying for Isabelle and Mama Tulia. Isabelle messaged this week that the medicine 5 of their premature baby moms need is out of stock. Join me in praying that they will have access and funds to get this medicine as well as be able to get it to this moms.

Two Days Late - Peter

We were excited when we got word that we could pick up Peter's car complete with new engine and repaired A/C on Tuesday afternoon.  I took him to get it on my way to get mom for her Heart Doctor appointment.  What a surprise to have him call 5 minutes later to say that the engine light was on and 5 minutes after that he called to say he was broken down.  The repair shop towed the car back and is in process of trying to put in another engine and rectify the situation.  I really like this repair shop and appreciate how they have handled things thus far but to say it has been frustrating is a bit of an understatement.  Meanwhile I am still playing driver to Peter.  

Last October Peter was in a minor accident.  He was at fault but damage was basically some dents.  However the driver is claiming physical injury and when he did not receive the settlement from the insurance company he wanted, he has issued a lawsuit.  I happened to be in the driveway last Wednesday when the sheriff arrived to serve papers.  The insurance company is responsible for representation at this point.  None the less I am consulting with lawyers to see if Peter will need additional representation.  My biggest concern in it all is getting Peter to cooperate with the insurance lawyers etc.  He tends not to return phone calls and blow things off when he does not consider something valid or important.  

Peter is taking his medicine without much hassle.  Progress to him taking this independently is slow but it's probably because it is easier  for me to set it out for him so I don't worry if he remembers. We do have a July 9th Dr's appointment that we pray will be in person.  I have lots of questions about what I need to do to help make sure Peter gets the supports he needs - physically, emotionally and financially.  I do believe I need to talk with a disability lawyer or someone in the field to help guide me.  I have potential resources but its the "doing it" that is the issue.  Not going to lie, I'd rather spend my time washing dishes, trimming the cat's claws or some other dreaded task.

Friday Update - Two days Late! - Mom

As I come to the blog, I am surprised it has been over a week since my last post.  Time flies when little fires seem to keep popping up. I feel like I have lots to say so may try to break it down.  Lets start with an update on Mom.

I am pleased to share that mom seems to be much better than she was a week ago.  Although she is not the energizer bunny of two months ago, she definitely seems to be feeling better.  This past week we met with her Heart Doctor, a General Practitioner, and a Gastrology PA.  It is a good thing the Heart Dr. and I were wearing mask so that the mutual scowling was not visible.  It was not a very warm and fuzzy appointment but mom got what she wanted.  Though a bit reluctantly he agreed to take mom completely off of what we believe were the two offending medications and return her to the one she had prior to the hospital.  This definitely seems to effect how mom is feeling.  The general practitioner confirmed that mom was NOT dehydrated nor had a UTI but was just weak from the ordeal of the past month.  She has prescribed In Home Physical and Occupational Therapy to help her regain strength, mobility and stability.  The Gastrology appointment was educational and led mom and I to reconsider her medication routine to hopefully optimize it.  That PA was my favorite of the week.  

Mom's appetite is returning and we are grateful.  Mom has  caught up on some sleep and is overall sleeping better. I think it is honest to say that both Mom and I are a bit concerned about her falling as she just isn't quite as steady on her feet.  However she exercises caution and we are hopeful that therapy will help.  It is such a relief to see mom not feeling so miserable and regaining some of her spark.  Thank you for the sweet cards, calls and prayers.

Friday Update - a day late

It has been another rough week for mom.  Things do not seem to be improving, if anything she has seemed worse as nausea has turned into throwing up and heaving.  I will spare you all the specifics but we had a video appointment with her kind and sympathetic Doctor on Tuesday.  She added some meds.  Some worked, some did not.  Thursday we physically saw a Nurse Practitioner who gave mom fluids via IV and better nausea meds.  Mom isn't throwing up but is exhausted, weak and sleepy.  Today we tried to seek help at Urgent Care and was told to take her to the ER.  Mom said "no" thank you, get me a Frosty from Wendy's and lets go home.  She is holding out for her Heart Doctor appointment on Tuesday thinking he will remove more meds and things will improve.  So please keep praying for mom's safety, improved health and that this upcoming week's doctor appointments will be helpful. 

Peter is still waiting to hear when his car will be ready to roll.  I will be grateful when that day arrives.  We do pray it will be fixed well and soon.  There are several other scenarios with Peter that are causing me stress.  So I do appreciate your prayers for wisdom on my part and God's intervention.  Sometimes I try to intervene for God and that causes conflict so I need wisdom to know when to do something and when to wait and watch

I am not going to lie, this wasn't the vacation week I had hoped for.  I did get to spend a day at the lake with a friend where I had a nap in a hammock and learned to Paddle Board and I am so am grateful for that.  I also am grateful I have been off this week to be available to mom and Peter when they have seemed to really need it.  I am to return to work Monday so praying we will see God meet everyone's needs when the time comes.

Isabelle

Dear friends, I warn you this one is a bit long.  You might want to grab a snack.  But I do hope you will take the time to read it as for once it isn't about me.  I want to tell you about my friend Isabelle.

Shortly after arriving in Uganda in 2000, I began attending a small church plant in my neighborhood.  Soon I was working with the children along with a young woman named Isabelle.  Isabelle was a recent refuge from the Congo who obviously knew Jesus, loved the children and had a contagious smile.  Isabelle started coming to the BSF class that I taught. She came to study God's word and also work on her English as she was fluent in French and Swahili (and probably some other Congolese languages.) She is one who used multiple bibles and dictionaries translating back and forth to complete her lessons.  She is also one of those who spent more time traveling through public transport to get to class than the actual length of the class.  Her commitment was humbling.

During my second year in Uganda, I became sick.  Doctor simply called it Chronic Fatigue and it really was debilitating for several months.  I no longer had a house helper and was struggling to take care of some basic life chores - shopping, cooking, cleaning - which is just so much more complicated and time consuming in Uganda.  I knew that Isabelle did not have a job and needed income.  But I also knew that she was quite educated and raised at a level in the Congo that really was above being someone's house help.  Slightly embarrassed one night at BSF,  I asked her if she thought she could help me at my home a few days a week.  There is no way to adequately describe the blessing that Isabelle was to me during the next year.  When I picture a time in my life of being well cared for it is during that time that Isabelle cleaned, shopped, and cooked for me.  And in the process we became good friends.  There is so much more I could share but want you to get to the heart of this post so I will refrain.

Shortly before I left Uganda I had the privilege of attending her wedding (wearing a dress made from the family fabric, same as her mother and other family members.) When I returned to Uganda our communication became infrequent.  A couple of years ago we reconnected and I was introduced to the ministry she started.  I have been following ever since.  Today I received an e-mail with this letter about her ministry.  It filled in the gaps on a few things I was not aware of.  I was impressed all over again with Isabelle's commitment to God, her integrity, her humility and love for others.  I am sharing it here with you because I want others to know about Isabelle's work.  She is truly serving the least of these right there where God placed her. 

It is a brand new month. June is not just an ordinary month for us as Mama Tulia Family. It is an exciting one for us because it always reminds us of our own journey, where we have come from, what we have achieved and where we are heading. We would like to take you with us on this amazing journey. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Mama Tulia Ministries were started in June of 2017 during a time when the number of preterm babies dying were rapidly increasing while the awareness about this issue remained low. Mama Tulia is a ministry that raises awareness, resources, and cares for mother’s and their preterm babies. Mama Tulia comes from a Swahili word, ‘Mother take heart’. It was started by Isabelle Furaha after her personal experience of giving birth to two premature babies in 2014 and 2016.

Isabelle and her husband Peter lost their first premature baby in 2014 shortly after birth. In 2016 they were blessed with another baby who was also born prematurely. In fear of losing another preterm baby, Isabelle prayed and made a promise to God that if He would let her baby live, she would vow to help and support other mothers of preterm babies. From her experience with both her babies she was reminded to take heart because God was still in control. After taking heart herself, she now encourages mothers to do the same through her ministry, Mama Tulia.

The primary objective of Mama Tulia was to encourage and pray with mothers with premature babies in the hospitals. Mothers with new premature babies often live in fear that at any moment their babies would die. Some mothers are abandoned by their husbands when they give birth and some feel they were cursed or it was witchcraft for them to give birth to preterm babies. Mama Tulia was started to comfort, counsel, and encourage these mothers to stay strong in these hard times. Above all, it was started to remind mothers to have faith and trust in God.

Isabelle started going to Mulago hospital and visiting mothers that had preterm babies in the NICU. She would encourage them by sharing her story and praying for their own. She would also go with porridge flour and give it out to mothers. Porridge flour is very helpful for breast milk production and benefits preterm babies so she would give it to mothers who were struggling or could not afford it. It wasn’t long into her outreaches to the hospital that she realized that many mothers needed more than hearing her story and the porridge flour. This was especially true for the five young mothers she met.

These five mothers ranged from as young as 14 years of age to their early 20’s. There were three Ugandan teenagers and two refugees, one from Rwanda and the other from the Congo. The teenagers had left school and ran away from home and the refugees were abandoned in the hospital by their husbands. While they each have their own story, they were all new mothers to preterm babies and all alone. Isabelle felt compassion for these young mothers and knew she needed to do more for them. Isabelle made frequent visits to these 5 moms during their hospital stay and supported them even when they were discharged. She provided them with baby clothes and with medication for their babies, but most importantly, she reminded them that they are not alone.

These five mothers were a moving moment for the ministry. Since then Isabelle has continued with hospital visits and now Mama Tulia is currently helping and supporting 78 mothers of premature babies with rent, food, medication, preterm clinical reviews, and much more, each mother depending on her needs. Mama Tulia has found ways to help mothers physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is being done through outreaches, bible studies, and training workshops.

Mama Tulia has several outreaches across the country. Isabelle and her team continue with hospital visits and give out Preemie Kits to the mothers in need. Every year Mama Tulia has given out 200 of their preemie kits to mothers in need. These kits that they created include 8 feeding tubes and cups, 8 preterm diapers, 2 baby blankets, onesies, and kangaroo wrappers. Kangaroo wrappers are needed to practice Kangaroo Care. This care is proven to substantially save the lives of premature babies. The kangaroo wrappers act as a lifesaving gift for the mothers and their babies in need. Mama Tulia has distributed over 500 kangaroo wrappers to hospitals with NICUs. Mama Tulia also reaches out to pregnant women with the aim of raising awareness on prematurity and the risk of preterm births and educating them on how to prevent them. During these outreaches mothers are given Mama Kits. These kits help prepare the mothers for safe births. Each year Mama Tulia with its partner Mercy for Mamas gives out over 1,500 Mama Kits to expectant mothers.

Mama Tulia not only cares for the physical and economic needs of mothers, but also their spiritual and emotional wellbeing. Mama Tulia holds discipleship bible studies every Tuesday and Friday. Tuesday is the main gathering where there is an average of 70 mothers who are taught about the Bible and godly principles. On Friday, an average of 20 mothers gather at the Mama Tulia Training Center to receive additional training in economic and practical skills that can help them become financially stable and provide for themselves and their preterm baby.

In the future, Mama Tulia hopes to reach out to even more mothers. One way of doing that is with the hope of a transition home for mothers with new premature babies. This transition home would offer a place for the mother and baby to stay for 3-6 months until they are stable and in a position to live on their own. This transition home will also have a larger training center. This center would reach out to pregnant women and all new mothers so that they too can acquire the skills that can help them economically. While Mama Tulia has big dreams for the future, they still hold to the original one that was dreamt up in 2017. For the past 3 years and the many years to come, Mama Tulia is a ministry that cares for mothers and their babies by not only encouraging, but helping them to take heart.

Did you like our story? You can share our story with your Family and Friends.

You can also help us achieve Our Goal by donating to Mama Tulia  through  https://allegrosolutions.org/donate/MamaTulia001 Your support is always appreciated.

Mama Tulia Ministries

P.O.Box 37463 Kampala

Tel:256-751-847461 / 256-701-627952

www.mamatulia.org

Thank you for taking the time to read Isabelle's story.  I am so grateful to know this godly woman.