First Request

Monday, September 2

It was a great weekend, but now time to head back to work.  Morning report was pretty typical. I love that typical here means pausing while the monkeys bounce on the roof and then restarting as if nothing has happened when they leave.

The numbers in the pediatric ward continue to grow. I think there were 20 this am. It was nice today as 2 clinical officers were present. I rounded with Patrick for a while and then with Sam, who is the director for Peds. That allowed me to ask a lot of questions about typical protocols and make plans for patients. I feel fairly competent with anemia, malaria, and malnutrition now. The dietician doesn’t speak much English so that is a little complicated. 

 The diabetic is still feeling good but his blood sugars are all over the place. We may have solved the mystery, though. One of the head nurses thinks that the nurses have been dosing the insulin wrong and so he may not have gotten full doses.  They were not understanding the markings on the insulin syringes. I am hopeful that it is the problem and today he will improve.  

After, the pediatric patients I saw three babies that Nicole from the orphanage brought over. Two of them are twins whose mom died after a C-section from complications. The grandmother has brought them to stay at the orphanage because they are not safe in the village. When a mother dies in childbirth, the babies are often thought to be to blame and are sometimes buried alive with the mother. So they will stay at the Children’s home until it is safe. 

I also had a chance to meet with Catherine, the medical education and volunteer coordinator at length.  Things have just been crazy since my arrival so we really haven’t had the time. Again, I got to clarify some protocols and treatment/billing questions.  I was also able to to over time schedules and expectations for what she would like me to do and was reassured that I am covering all of that and some. I am so concerned about my questions fatiguing her, but she was reassuring with much positive feedback.

During my few weeks here, I have watched Catherine hand out so much money to cover patient bills, medicines, and transportation costs. Most of this is given secretively in the pediatric clinic on Wednesday.  I asked her about where that money comes from. Bottom line, most of it is their family offering. Her husband’s is directed toward discipleship and hers to helping the poor. These are career missionaries that are giving everything and then some more.  I asked if that covered it and she shared a concern that there is just a few hundred left to last through December. So, I am making my first request for financial support to readers of this silly blog. If you feel led to donate toward a fund to cover milk for babies, medicine for babies and moms, and for transportation to follow up visits, please Venmo me or hand off money to Wayne and I will pass it to Catherine in Kwacha.

Lunch was enjoyable.  We have two new Dutch students that have joined us, Lisanne and Marjorie.  They are in the overwhelmed first day state. The patio was packed and conversation light.  

After lunch, I reviewed all the charts and checked on some patients.  I discussed a few topics with my students. Then we started some research for a new protocol that will ensure that babies born to Hepatitis B positive mothers get treatment to stop the transmission of the disease to them.

This evening I got to video chat with my sweet Wayne.  The connection was not great but it made me feel so much better to see him!  I am missing him so badly already.  

The guesthouse kitchen was busy with all 13 of us cooking, eating, and talking.  I should have taken pictures so you could appreciate the spectacle. I headed to my room early than usual and will just do a little journaling and reading before bed.