I apologize for the post date posting…I’ve just been able to
access internet and only because apparently the network is only functional at 3
am (I was woken up for a cesarean section at 1 am so I was up J). The way I’m using
phone and internet here is so far removed from iMessaging that even dial up
seems like advanced technology right now. I currently have to use the SIM card
from my 1997 TECNO phone (which I have to buy scratch off cards to load more
data on every other day), put the SIM card into
a USB modem, plug it into my computer, then cross my fingers, pray a lot
and then patiently wait to see if maybe I can download an HTML formatted
webpage. Aside from being internet
silent (which has not really been all that bad I must say), my stay in Tanzania
has continued to be peaceful and full of warm, welcoming people. “Karibu”
meaning “You are welcome” is said to me everywhere I go and all these villagers
continue to do whatever they can to make me feel at home.
My week at the hospital was somewhat eventful, but
definitely not as crazy as I was used to at Mulago. Every morning I report for
morning report/prayers at 7:45 am (this is of course after my delicious Spanish
omelet, chapatti and African tea breakfast). After the entire hospital has been
filled with the Swahili hymns, we start morning rounds. First, we go to the two
antenatal rooms that are filled with approximately 20 mothers waiting to go
into labor (as I said before they come early so that they don’t have to climb
the mountain when they go into labor and risk having a baby under an ant
infested tree). We do our Leopold’s maneuvers and find baby’s heart beat with
the fetoscope; after doing this on so many women here in Africa, I’m so
surprised at how much my manual diagnostic skills are improving. I even was
able to tell a mom that she was carrying twins on Friday-just by feeling her
stomach!
Theatre |
I think the head doctor has picked up on my interests
because usually after (or actually, most times during) rounds he sends me to
the OR to help out with a C section or appendectomy. Here, I usually work with
an amazing grab bag of nurse midwives, nurses, nursing assistants, nursing
students and two physicians, Apenda (which means to love everyone) and Mama
Msewo. Mama Msewo is status post 5 children of her own and is now serving as
the general surgeon/OBGYN for Gonja. I really struggle to look at her as an
intimidating attending because she acts, talks, walks and jokes more like my
beloved Great Aunt Mali than my normally gruff surgical attendings. She is so
patient with me and has let me be her one and only assist on many surgeries.
While she definitely is using some old school (I mean really old school)
surgical techniques, she also gets the job done and does a darn good job at it.
She is an amazingly dedicated, smart, humble and compassionate physician and I
feel so lucky to have her as a mentor here.
I also gave away the rest of my donations last Thursday, and
as soon as I get the pictures I will post them. While my reception in Uganda
was very thank-full, my reception in Tanzania was made for a movie. The entire
staff got up, sang a song, clapped for me, took pictures and shouted “oo’s and
aa’s” like they were watching fireworks every time I pulled out another nasal
cannula or box of gloves. The ophthalmoscope and otoscope were again huge hits
and I honestly thought they were going to make me crowd surf when I brought
them out. At the end, Sister Dora said to me, “Thank you so much, this just
shows us that no matter if we are black or white, or rich or poor, we all
belong to Jesus and are here to serve him and his people in love and unity.”
Thank you again to all you wonderful donors, your impact has been astounding
and you deserve a special spot in heaven!
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