Monday 13 July 1998

Last night was terrible. As I started to go to sleep I began to feel sick. I thought the feeling would pass but it didn’t and by 10 o’clock I was throwing up. Luckily I thought of using the little plastic bags for when I have my period - they are designed to be tied up and smell nice.

From 10pm until 6 am I was continually throwing up. I felt so ill I didn’t know what to do with myself. I couldn’t pick up the plastic bags fast enough and missed once. At about midnight, I also got the most terrible diarrhea. The only toilet is a hole in the ground outside which meant forcing myself to get up every 10 minutes to go outside and sit in that stinking hellhole being sick at the same time. The only place to wash or drink at all was outside too. I felt too ill to get help and too ill to sleep.

It went on for hours and hours and hours until the sun came up by which time I ached all over and felt too weak to move. I threw up any medicines I took. I put all this down to the dodgy meal I ate for supper at the orphanage yesterday. I worried continuously about how I would cope the next day at the orphanage or how I would dray myself over there and try to explain that I was too ill. I also had taken the key by mistake, but all I could do now was be sick. I just wanted my Mummy and a cuddle.

Eventually at about 6 this morning Elena’s daughter - I think she is called Ramona came in and ask me what was wrong. I explained that I must have eaten something but as I did I was being sick. She brought me lemon with sugar as she heard it would help. The sugar was meant to take the lemon’s bitterness away but it was the sweetness that was hardest to swallow. A few minutes later I threw up again but for the last time, thank God. And I haven’t thrown up since.

I spent the day lying in bed trying to sleep and forget how ill I was feeling. I took all manner of medicines including pills to stop the diarrhea, sickness and pain. The day passed by slowly but I slept a lot, each time waking to feel a little better.

In the afternoon, Sister Bartholomea ‘phoned to ask for the key. She sent someone round to collect it.

Elena was so kind to me the whole time. Although she and I hardly understand a word they other speaks we manage. She treats me like a daughter and is really sympathetic and caring.