My Nonprofit Reviews

The idea of volunteering at Bwindi Community Hospital was planted by Scott Kellermann nearly four years ago. I needed to take a couple years to venture out of my own comfort zone to embrace the idea with open heart and spirit. I am a nurse of 35 years and I was told the hospital could use nursing expertise. My recent experience has been in end of life care and support. I had no expectations and went a very long distance to be welcomed by the wonderful people in the community. The job unfolded with the input of many people and we settled into the afternoon delight of sharing professional practice knowledge with the thirteen nursing students. What a pleasure! They were inquisitive, bright, intelligent, and very patient with our teaching skills. I so enjoyed encountering them outside the classroom, at the hospital; they were open to instruction anywhere. There was such strong professional and personal collaboration with the medical and non-medical staff -- we fast became friends. It is evident a sense of friendly competition is inherent at Bwindi and the two puzzles I brought were always in use at mealtime. I was able to win over the children by blowing giant bubbles and watching as they leaped into the air to touch them. The hospitality team at the Bwindi Guest House was wonderful-- the food delicious, the lodge clean and comfortable and the staff were so helpful. My absolute favorite experience at Bwindi: I was asked to speak to the Community Health Team by Haeven. In a very small room, drowned out by hard rain on the roof, they listened intently as I spoke to them about Hospice and Palliative Care and how it might apply to their community, goals of care, multidisciplinary approach and meeting the comfort care needs within their means. Perhaps, this was my purpose. I know how I felt. I am touched deeply by my three weeks to Uganda and hope to return again next spring with a larger team.

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