I'll be darn if I didn't wake up because of a mosquito bite this morning about 4:30 am. The mosquitos here are tiny and don't really buzz a lot. Then once bitten, the area burns like crazy and itches like hell. If you scratch it, it burns worse. Then it drives you crazy for about two hours. And then it is never noticed again.
Except then I was wide awake and thinking about my mission partner, Martha Ann Flint, sound asleep in the bed on the other side of the room and one of the craziest broads I've ever met. "Ochencheda" is the word for "crazy" in Chechewe - the native dialect here. I have been virtual friends with Martha via email and Facebook for a while now. But we are just meeting in person this trip. She is a long time friend of Stephen's and he put us in contact with each other a while back. One of my favorite posts ever by her was "Jump and a net will appear." Martha is that person who is willing to try anything and everything from balancing a sack of grain or a bucket of mangos on her head, to playing the drums with the choir, to playing soccer in the dirt with the local children in the villages. It has been a riot being here with her. She has the biggest heart of almost anyone I have met. On her first trip to Malawi, she fell in love with a malnourished, ill little boy named Christopher, who she now supports in school.
Today we were busy in Chimwendo but not swamped. I had visited this very poor little village when I was last here in July, 2014 and Martha had been there with Stephen this past April. I saw my first snakebite today. It occurred 5 days ago and fortunately there was only local pain and inflammation - simple as pain meds and antibiotics. We saw cases of children with malaria, but mostly body aches and arthritis because almost everyone in these remote villages farms manually. We played a great game of "don't let the balloon touch the ground" with a blown up latex glove and about 20 kids. And Martha got her but whipped in one on one soccer by a kid she was foolish enough to challenge. Today, after we arrived back from Chimwendo, I found her passed out cold only halfway on her bed. I guess it's good today was our last workday.
And finally, the "shoe that grows". Before my trip here I learned about this awesome non-profit, "Because International" founded by a young man who had spent time in Africa and was touched by the need for shoes for children. One of my FB friends, Marcelena Racatune had actually posted about it. To make a long story short, I did a little research and decided I had to bring some with me. I ordered 100 pair and even had friends pitch in to fund them. They are amazing - weather proof and adjustable over 5 sizes. I gave half of them to my friend, Fr. Levinus, but they have yet to be distributed. He promises to send photos to me.
There was concern that once we started giving shoes away, we would be swamped. But after our clinic in Bowe, there were some young boys, 11 or 12 years old hanging around, and barefooted. I asked if they had shoes and only one had a pair of flipflops. Martha and I pulled out the shoes and fitted them right then and there. You should have seen the delight on their sweet faces. Afterwards I left about 15 pair with Fr. John to distribute at his discretion.
Then yesterday we fitted all the little kids that sang and danced to entertain us. Some people said kids would just sell the shoes if they were given as a gift, and that giving away shoes is not sustainable. Guess what? I don't believe you and I don't care. I'm bringing 100 pair next time, too. I'm not putting a local vendor out of business because none of these families can afford to buy even second hand shoes. I may have to give them away as free raffle prizes since I can't provide shoes to every kid in a remote village in this area but I can protect the little feet of at least some of these beautiful babies. I can't wait to post the pictures of them for you!
Friday, November 20, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Kachigamba
This morning I awoke to the sound of silence at around 4:30 am when the power went off. Dawn is about 5 am and within moments, I realized it wasn't silent after all. There was the chirping of the little birds. There was the wind and the leaves rustling. Then there was a rooster's occasional crow, a child's cry in the distance - so beautiful, these sounds that God gave us that we typically ignore.
We traveled to Kamichanga today. This is a remote village that we had to travel through a huge tobacco plantation to reach. The plantation is of course owned by some westerner and the land is farmed by sharecroppers. Last year there was only two months of good rain and so the crop suffered as did the farmers. They do the work, the landowner gets paid first and if anything is leftover, it's theirs. As a result, families may live indentured to the landowner year after year living in a 10x10 room with one small window. This is what your $7 pack of cigarettes buys in addition to your health problems and the wealth of Phillip Morris - the primary contract.
The team I was on in July, 2014 visited this village so it was quite familiar. We had a great day there seeing patients for follow up from previous teams, and seeing only a few sick children. Once clinic was over, the children decided to ham it up by singing and dancing for us. The natural ability to harmonize is so impressive and their dancing skills were too fun. I will post a video as soon as I get to edit and rotate it on my computer.
Afterwards we told the kids they could ask us anything. They asked if they could touch our white skin and straight hair. What an honest, innocent request. And oh the giggles...
We traveled to Kamichanga today. This is a remote village that we had to travel through a huge tobacco plantation to reach. The plantation is of course owned by some westerner and the land is farmed by sharecroppers. Last year there was only two months of good rain and so the crop suffered as did the farmers. They do the work, the landowner gets paid first and if anything is leftover, it's theirs. As a result, families may live indentured to the landowner year after year living in a 10x10 room with one small window. This is what your $7 pack of cigarettes buys in addition to your health problems and the wealth of Phillip Morris - the primary contract.
The team I was on in July, 2014 visited this village so it was quite familiar. We had a great day there seeing patients for follow up from previous teams, and seeing only a few sick children. Once clinic was over, the children decided to ham it up by singing and dancing for us. The natural ability to harmonize is so impressive and their dancing skills were too fun. I will post a video as soon as I get to edit and rotate it on my computer.
Afterwards we told the kids they could ask us anything. They asked if they could touch our white skin and straight hair. What an honest, innocent request. And oh the giggles...
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Addendum to Clinical days 2&3
We have lovely man, Mr. Weston, who is hired to cook for us during our stay here. He seems to be a gentle soul, and has proven himself a fabulous chef.
On Tuesday, while I broke for a bite of lunch from my work at the clinic, he approached me in distress. He said his wife had awoken in the wee hours having terrible pain in her leg. He had just been to check on her and she was still crying and unable to leave the bed. He asked if I would please go to see her. I recruited my translator, Gloria, and we followed Mr. Weston to his very modest rent house which is about 100 yards from the clinic compound. There we found his wife suffering and crying from pain in her right leg. The leg was swollen and red from the knee down. I pushed up on the ball of her foot and this exacerbated the pain. Hmmm, a positive Homan's sign, which occurs when there is a blood clot in the deep vein of the leg, also know as a deep vein thrombosis. As I felt the back side of her leg, I thought I could feel a cord-like area behind her knee.
Being worried about a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), I knew we had to get her to the hospital. In the meantime I consulted with George and he suggested I give her an injection diclofenac, a medicine not available in the states similar to ibuprofen, but stronger. This should help her pain and perhaps reduce the chance of further clotting.
When Ray returned from Lilongwe early evening, he had Timeyo drive her and Mr. Weston to the hospital. They arrived too late to be seen that evening and so boarded overnight and were seen yesterday. Fortunately, I was wrong and the tests did not confirm a DVT, but instead a cellulitis, which is an infection that is diffuse through the tissue. She received some IV antibiotics and was discharged in the evening to complete her antibiotics at home. Hopefully, someone will be able to retrieve them today.
In the meantime, kudos to Ray's wife, Jennifer, who is here with their four small children. She has taken over the role of company cook and refused to let as subsist on breakfast bars and PB&J, as we have insisted we can do.
On Tuesday, while I broke for a bite of lunch from my work at the clinic, he approached me in distress. He said his wife had awoken in the wee hours having terrible pain in her leg. He had just been to check on her and she was still crying and unable to leave the bed. He asked if I would please go to see her. I recruited my translator, Gloria, and we followed Mr. Weston to his very modest rent house which is about 100 yards from the clinic compound. There we found his wife suffering and crying from pain in her right leg. The leg was swollen and red from the knee down. I pushed up on the ball of her foot and this exacerbated the pain. Hmmm, a positive Homan's sign, which occurs when there is a blood clot in the deep vein of the leg, also know as a deep vein thrombosis. As I felt the back side of her leg, I thought I could feel a cord-like area behind her knee.
Being worried about a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), I knew we had to get her to the hospital. In the meantime I consulted with George and he suggested I give her an injection diclofenac, a medicine not available in the states similar to ibuprofen, but stronger. This should help her pain and perhaps reduce the chance of further clotting.
When Ray returned from Lilongwe early evening, he had Timeyo drive her and Mr. Weston to the hospital. They arrived too late to be seen that evening and so boarded overnight and were seen yesterday. Fortunately, I was wrong and the tests did not confirm a DVT, but instead a cellulitis, which is an infection that is diffuse through the tissue. She received some IV antibiotics and was discharged in the evening to complete her antibiotics at home. Hopefully, someone will be able to retrieve them today.
In the meantime, kudos to Ray's wife, Jennifer, who is here with their four small children. She has taken over the role of company cook and refused to let as subsist on breakfast bars and PB&J, as we have insisted we can do.
Clinical days 2 and 3
Yesterday I worked in the Kasese clinic alongside George Matanpadeu who is the other clinical medical officer that works here full time. I am very impressed with both Wilson and George and their clinical skills and expertise. It has been so helpful to learn from them the way things are managed here.
We are diagnosing and tracking two diseases that really should no longer exist on this earth - pellagra and malaria. It is so heartbreaking to see these sick babies with temperatures as high as 104.8, so ill they cannot even sit up, with severe headaches and body pain. We are seeing several cases a day.
I was quite tired at the end of the day and managed to go to sleep before 9 and other than a little tossing and turning slept really well.
Today the entire team loaded up and went to Bowe. It was quite nostalgic for me as this is where my work in Malawi started back in 2011 and continued through 2013. We met the new priest, Father John, who has been here a year and admitted that his work is quite the challenge. We did not meet his compadre, Father Joseph, as he is away learning Chichewe, the native tribal language in this area.
The people in Bowe were so grateful for our coming as they do not have any other healthcare available in their district. Fortunately, we did not see a large number of very ill people. Many were there for minor problems or medication refills. The children were in school so we only saw a few of them. At the end of the day, we heard choir practice around the corner at the church and went to check it out. Stephen is a musician and sat right down and joined in the drum playing. Video to follow, and it is indeed a "joyful noise".
Tired again and sorry the blog is a bit boring with no photos to post due to my being technologically challenged.
We are diagnosing and tracking two diseases that really should no longer exist on this earth - pellagra and malaria. It is so heartbreaking to see these sick babies with temperatures as high as 104.8, so ill they cannot even sit up, with severe headaches and body pain. We are seeing several cases a day.
I was quite tired at the end of the day and managed to go to sleep before 9 and other than a little tossing and turning slept really well.
Today the entire team loaded up and went to Bowe. It was quite nostalgic for me as this is where my work in Malawi started back in 2011 and continued through 2013. We met the new priest, Father John, who has been here a year and admitted that his work is quite the challenge. We did not meet his compadre, Father Joseph, as he is away learning Chichewe, the native tribal language in this area.
The people in Bowe were so grateful for our coming as they do not have any other healthcare available in their district. Fortunately, we did not see a large number of very ill people. Many were there for minor problems or medication refills. The children were in school so we only saw a few of them. At the end of the day, we heard choir practice around the corner at the church and went to check it out. Stephen is a musician and sat right down and joined in the drum playing. Video to follow, and it is indeed a "joyful noise".
Tired again and sorry the blog is a bit boring with no photos to post due to my being technologically challenged.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Attack of the mosquito net, pellagra and the ride...
In spite of the great night's sleep during the layover in South Africa, I had trouble adjusting last night. I slept soundly from about 9 pm to 1 am and then I was wide awake. I tried to be still and not disturb Martha, but I couldn't take it anymore and sat up to quietly read and answer email. I thought I was being so good, but after a few minutes, she rolled over and said, "Oh good. I was trying to be still and not wake you up". Then we both sat on our beds in the wee hours and typed away.
By about three, I was ready to try for some more sleep. The next thing I knew I was bound and gagged and panicking. As I surfaced to conciousness, I realized my mosquito net had come loose from the ceiling and had me completely entwined. Martha, being the most helpful friend assisted by dying laughing. She did however hold the flashlight for me while I stood on the bed in the dark and resuspended the thing.
Today I stayed in Kasese and worked in our clinic with Wilson Bett. He was great at offering guidance as I don't really see the same problems at home that we see here. I diagnosed and treated three cases of malaria today. This is worrisome because the rain hasn't started, so I don't know where the mosquitos are breeding. We are also seeing an outbreak of pellagra, which is a vitamin B3 deficiency. This was eradicated in the US in the 1930s. It starts as a skin condition and then progresses with time to dementia and even death. Stephen has figured out that it must be associated with the cyclic availability of certain foods. Now how to prevent it?
After clinic, Father Levinus retrieved me as promised. However the 45 minute trip to Kalembe was not 45 minutes as I know them We arrived there around 4:45 pm after a guided commentary of all the small villages along the way. I had a tour of the compound, shared a beer, and then he graciously served the re-heated dinner that had been prepared for us last night once Father Joseph arrived. We had a delightful visit. Then, we started with our farewells and as we moved outside to the truck, it was pitch black. The time was 6:30!!! I'm afraid of very few things, but traveling at night in Malawi is one of them. I will just summarize by saying it was harrowing and surreal. Dolly Parton's "Joleen" is blaring (Fr. L loves country music) and there is no street lighting. There are pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, soccer playing children, goats, chickens, dogs and cattle along the dirt road that is so obscured by dust, that I was reminded of a west Texas dust storm. How in the hell, we did not kill someone or something amazes me. Back to Kasese at 7:55 pm. Forty-five minutes my ___. Thank you dear Lord. I promise to be good from now on.
By about three, I was ready to try for some more sleep. The next thing I knew I was bound and gagged and panicking. As I surfaced to conciousness, I realized my mosquito net had come loose from the ceiling and had me completely entwined. Martha, being the most helpful friend assisted by dying laughing. She did however hold the flashlight for me while I stood on the bed in the dark and resuspended the thing.
Today I stayed in Kasese and worked in our clinic with Wilson Bett. He was great at offering guidance as I don't really see the same problems at home that we see here. I diagnosed and treated three cases of malaria today. This is worrisome because the rain hasn't started, so I don't know where the mosquitos are breeding. We are also seeing an outbreak of pellagra, which is a vitamin B3 deficiency. This was eradicated in the US in the 1930s. It starts as a skin condition and then progresses with time to dementia and even death. Stephen has figured out that it must be associated with the cyclic availability of certain foods. Now how to prevent it?
After clinic, Father Levinus retrieved me as promised. However the 45 minute trip to Kalembe was not 45 minutes as I know them We arrived there around 4:45 pm after a guided commentary of all the small villages along the way. I had a tour of the compound, shared a beer, and then he graciously served the re-heated dinner that had been prepared for us last night once Father Joseph arrived. We had a delightful visit. Then, we started with our farewells and as we moved outside to the truck, it was pitch black. The time was 6:30!!! I'm afraid of very few things, but traveling at night in Malawi is one of them. I will just summarize by saying it was harrowing and surreal. Dolly Parton's "Joleen" is blaring (Fr. L loves country music) and there is no street lighting. There are pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, soccer playing children, goats, chickens, dogs and cattle along the dirt road that is so obscured by dust, that I was reminded of a west Texas dust storm. How in the hell, we did not kill someone or something amazes me. Back to Kasese at 7:55 pm. Forty-five minutes my ___. Thank you dear Lord. I promise to be good from now on.
What do now?
Sunday and we're here!!!!!
So it's not a trip to Africa without some kind of language difficulty. We get through the chaos at the Johannesburg airport after arriving over two hours early, only because Martha has Star Alliance status as a frequent flier and tells them that Stephen is her brother and I am his wife - cut to the front of the line! We ride trams to the tarmac where everyone is scrambling for luggage space and to get to their seats. Stephen witnesses a gentlemen trying to explain to a woman that she is in his seat. She refuses to acknowledge him until Stephen asks for her boarding pass. After she gives him a blank "language barrier" look, he shows her his boarding pass. She pulls hers out and voila! She's in the right seat on the wrong flight. As Stephen shows her the destination on his boarding pass, she jumps up and gathers her belongings shouting "What do now? What do now"? He tried to help her to the flight attendant, but she scrambled over him and the gentlemen whose seat she occupied and disappeared down the isle. I hope she made her flight.
What a coup! Once again all of our luggage has made it. This might be a first. Ray, Orant's in country director, and Timeyo, the right hand man in Malawi met us at the airport. Orant also has a contractor here working on the renovations of the clinic. His name is Jimmy Wilder and he was there as well. Jimmy has spent several months here and is back to finish up the final touches. He drove us to Kasese while Ray and Timeyo completed some errands they needed to run in the city.
I feel it is important to see the friends I've made here in Malawi even though they are no longer working directly with Orant Charities. Timeyo was suppose to take me to Kalembe to visit Father Joseph and Father Levinus and see their mission and parish there this afternoon. But unfortunately, it became too late for me to have more than a half hour or so to visit with them - which wasn't long enough considering I traveled 3 days to get here, it's an hour and half round trip and I have no idea when I'll see either of them again. So the plan is that I will work at the clinic in Kasese tomorrow rather than going into the field and Fr. Levinus will retrieve me around 3:00 or 3:30 and bring me back before dusk (6-6:30). It's best to be off the roads by dark here. Although there are few vehicles, some don't have working headlights and there is no public lighting.
Our team will be split for our clinical work this week, Stephen and I each working with either Wilson or George who are the clinical officers that work at the clinic. Clinical officers in Malawi function as general practitioners use to practice in the states before the age of specialization. They take care of almost everyone and everything, with minimal access to ancillary services including lab and x-ray. They are true clinicians and they do an amazingly excellent job. Although I had hoped to have more of a shared experience with Stephen and Martha, it will be a big help to work one on one with a clinical officer, as there are illnesses here I don't see at home and their guidance and advice will be appreciated.
Ray's family lives here in country with him and Jennifer, his wife, prepared dinner for all of us and had us to their home last night. Homemade chili and homemade bread. The power failed just in time for us to have a candlelight dinner and returned in time for the fan to work while we slept. Whew!
So it's not a trip to Africa without some kind of language difficulty. We get through the chaos at the Johannesburg airport after arriving over two hours early, only because Martha has Star Alliance status as a frequent flier and tells them that Stephen is her brother and I am his wife - cut to the front of the line! We ride trams to the tarmac where everyone is scrambling for luggage space and to get to their seats. Stephen witnesses a gentlemen trying to explain to a woman that she is in his seat. She refuses to acknowledge him until Stephen asks for her boarding pass. After she gives him a blank "language barrier" look, he shows her his boarding pass. She pulls hers out and voila! She's in the right seat on the wrong flight. As Stephen shows her the destination on his boarding pass, she jumps up and gathers her belongings shouting "What do now? What do now"? He tried to help her to the flight attendant, but she scrambled over him and the gentlemen whose seat she occupied and disappeared down the isle. I hope she made her flight.
What a coup! Once again all of our luggage has made it. This might be a first. Ray, Orant's in country director, and Timeyo, the right hand man in Malawi met us at the airport. Orant also has a contractor here working on the renovations of the clinic. His name is Jimmy Wilder and he was there as well. Jimmy has spent several months here and is back to finish up the final touches. He drove us to Kasese while Ray and Timeyo completed some errands they needed to run in the city.
I feel it is important to see the friends I've made here in Malawi even though they are no longer working directly with Orant Charities. Timeyo was suppose to take me to Kalembe to visit Father Joseph and Father Levinus and see their mission and parish there this afternoon. But unfortunately, it became too late for me to have more than a half hour or so to visit with them - which wasn't long enough considering I traveled 3 days to get here, it's an hour and half round trip and I have no idea when I'll see either of them again. So the plan is that I will work at the clinic in Kasese tomorrow rather than going into the field and Fr. Levinus will retrieve me around 3:00 or 3:30 and bring me back before dusk (6-6:30). It's best to be off the roads by dark here. Although there are few vehicles, some don't have working headlights and there is no public lighting.
Our team will be split for our clinical work this week, Stephen and I each working with either Wilson or George who are the clinical officers that work at the clinic. Clinical officers in Malawi function as general practitioners use to practice in the states before the age of specialization. They take care of almost everyone and everything, with minimal access to ancillary services including lab and x-ray. They are true clinicians and they do an amazingly excellent job. Although I had hoped to have more of a shared experience with Stephen and Martha, it will be a big help to work one on one with a clinical officer, as there are illnesses here I don't see at home and their guidance and advice will be appreciated.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Journey Day #3
We arrived in Johannesburg sweaty, tired and generally gross yesterday morning. The flight was crowded and the cabin was really too warm to rest comfortably. Once through customs, we headed to the baggage claim where we patiently waited to collect our bags. We had all but one bag of shoes and one bag of medications and were about to give up when, the last two items to fall onto the carousel were the shoes and the medications - Victory!
Stephen had been here before so knew exactly where we needed to go to catch the shuttle to our hotel. In spite of this, we had to wade through a sea of porters wanting to handle our baggage, and escort us to the shuttles. There have been other times in my life when I have wanted a shower as badly - but not many. On arrival to the hotel, they graciously stored our baggage, but had no rooms available for early check-in.
It is while hanging out in the lobby waiting that I first read of the terrorist attacks in Paris. How can this behavior be explained? Why can't each of us realize that we all have so much more in common than we have differences that set us apart. I am praying for peace and comfort to all those affected by this senseless event, and courage and wisdom for those who will have to determine how we move forward as a result.
So... the only thing I can do is what I can do. Share a burger and fries with Stephen, check into our rooms finally and take a shower. The hotel room design is a bit unusual. I've never quite seen one exactly like this so I decided to take my shower before Martha gets in because we are sharing a room.
Martha arrived uneventfully and we enjoyed a nice dinner and visit. The team is together and onward tomorrow.
Stephen had been here before so knew exactly where we needed to go to catch the shuttle to our hotel. In spite of this, we had to wade through a sea of porters wanting to handle our baggage, and escort us to the shuttles. There have been other times in my life when I have wanted a shower as badly - but not many. On arrival to the hotel, they graciously stored our baggage, but had no rooms available for early check-in.
It is while hanging out in the lobby waiting that I first read of the terrorist attacks in Paris. How can this behavior be explained? Why can't each of us realize that we all have so much more in common than we have differences that set us apart. I am praying for peace and comfort to all those affected by this senseless event, and courage and wisdom for those who will have to determine how we move forward as a result.
So... the only thing I can do is what I can do. Share a burger and fries with Stephen, check into our rooms finally and take a shower. The hotel room design is a bit unusual. I've never quite seen one exactly like this so I decided to take my shower before Martha gets in because we are sharing a room.
 |
| Yes. The shower and tub are right in the middle of the room with a glass enclosure. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)