Back to Work

Before I begin, I feel like I must give a big thank you to my sweet friend Stephanie.  She is an Infectious Disease doctor and my very best friend through medical school. She has been my “phone a friend” consultant and helps me look like I have more knowledge than I do.  Also, thank you to those who have commented on the blog and sent messages in other forms. You make me feel loved and keep me from feeling alone.

Monday morning came seemingly early.  I really wanted to create a place for myself.  Morning report went well except for concerns about some newborns having low temperatures.  The outdoor temperature drops into the 50’s at night and so a newborn that must be carried from the delivery area to the nursery is often quite cold on arrival.  The NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) is kept quite warm but still babies struggle a little and there is only one infant warmer. Some of the cribs have heat lamps underneath.  Typically, there are one to three babies in the warmer at a time.

We went back to the pediatric unit and I was able to talk openly to many of the nurses and medical staff members about my desire to learn from them and be a source of help and support.  This seemed to be well received. There is one Malawian resident and he and I discussed group rounds and he was very desiring of this so we went slowly around the ward seeing and reviewing each patient.  This allowed for open teaching and with German students joining us it took the awkwardness of “who is the learner in this” away so that open discussion should occur. It let me offer opinions and ask questions and learn the procedures and protocols better.  Plus, I feel like the patients benefit when everyone puts their heads together. 

We also were able to round in the NICU and go over some patients there.  It helps when you come in carrying gifts and supplies from amazing people in your home town!  One sweet nurse, named Ivy, who is very pregnant was quick to ensure that one of the baby caps could be saved for her baby.

I also had my first real look at malaria.  We had a few admissions but one in particular with severe malaria who was quite lethargic.  The medications were started by IV and within literal hours he was a different child, alert and playful.  WOW! You read about how deadly this illness is and how simple to treat but to see it was an entirely different thing.  All in all, I was able to leave Monday feeling like I was making some progress.

Back at the guesthouse, we all had dinner together. We have hired a cook, named Elise (I do not know the spelling) who cooks for us Mondays, Wednesday, and Friday.  I pay him and the adoptive moms buy the groceries. It seems to work really well and the food has been wonderful and there are plenty of left overs. My favorite is the nsima that is traditional Malawian dish made from Maize flour with consistency like thick mash potatoes.  It kind of reminds me of the inside of a tamale but white. They serve it with chicken and sauce.

It was a good day!  Thank you all for your prayers.