a chance happening

I was just walking down the stairs to my room, the stairs are shared with the hospital traffic... as I was descending the little boy I have told you about and his mom, with baby brother in popo on her back, were coming up.  He was dressed in his normal clothes versus the familiar hospital gown.  He is headed home.  I had no idea they were leaving today and it was mere coincidence to run into them, but I got to say goodbye.  He started talking and laughing a bit the last two days I have heard, but when I am around he gets quiet and serious, so I still have not heard him talk.  I hugged him and squeezed him anyway... he will be forever on my heart and I will always wonder about the life he has before him.

Had the day off yesterday.  Relaxed on the ship most of the day.  I did walk to the market and visit my friend Flora and her family.  Katrine went with me and she showed us her few treasured photographs.  Last evening my friend Corina... a fellow nurse from the Netherlands... Katrine and I walked to "The Hope Center".  This is a building not far from the ship where the Dental Clinic is held and also a space where patients that travel from far away can stay before or after surgery.  There are quite a few of our patients there right now that don't need daily hospital/nursing care, but come to the ship for a dressing change every day or every few days or are waiting for a follow up appointment of some sort, so they have a safe and close space to be home in the interim time.  It was fun to sing and play with some of the children, many of them are getting fat!  They are not used to the nutrition and faithful heavy meals they get here so one little girl and her brother who have been at the ship for almost two months now look quite different than their arrival!

I work evening shift all week.  Katrine's husband Ruben arrived on Sunday.  He is in the Danish army so is on leave for a couple of weeks and is a general steward on the ship.  It's nice to finally meet him and he is definitely as kind and sweet as his dear wife has painted him out to be!  :)