Halfway through my time here already and other than work there I seem to have done little else! The local restaurants and hotels with swiming pools have been an added attraction and have been visited. One of the local hotels has a 50m pool so I have made use of it about once a week. I also run in the mornings since that's the coolest time of day. There are always at least two of us and I have gone out with our beloved Ghurkas who thankfully have not run too fast!
The last week has seen the government implement a fuel price increase and it caused something of a disturbance. Nothing that the ship's security couldn't handle well and safely. The traffic jams simply meant that staff couldn't get to their clinics and while this does have a knock on effect as they always do at least that was the main problem.
The 2 main surgeries of eyes and VVF continued during the week with us operating on about 18 - 20 patients. These ladies really do just touch my heart when I bcome involved in their care. Whilst not able to speak their language verbally our non verbal communication often works well and they respond to the human touch of gentleness and kindness. I ended up with a very wet shoulder one day as the doctor struggled with a spinal block. My usually stance is to have the ladies rest their head on my shoulder as it helps to put the spine in the correct poistion for the procedure - remembering that I'm just over 5 feet tall so they have to bend their heads down. The lady wept almost silently and we decided a general anaesthetic would be preferable. She held my hand as she went off to sleep still able to realise that we meant her no harm but were seeking to help her. It is such a privilege to be able to serve these ladies in this way.
The arrival of my daughter at the weekend meant a trip to the border of Ghana. People watching is always interesting and seeing how the border guards deal with the community that makes its living around the border. I had one young lady come to me seeming to want help but she was talking in fast french and kept talking into my face even though I tried to tell her I did not understand her. Finally she left me alone and I noticed how the guards indicated to me to move away from her - they obviously knew her well. I was approached by a couple of folk wanting advice about dental clinics and eye problems and with those I was able to help. yet again some of it was non verbal communication but they understood. By the time my daughter was walking through the border gates I was sat under the shelter of a corrugated tin roof with the policeman who had asked me about his eyes!
The rainy season has been particularly bad this year and many of the rivers are swollen and have broken their banks. Some of our day volunteers have had their homes flooded to the extent that they have no dry space at all and yet they still manage to come in and help us and look clean and smart when they arrive at the ship. We continue to lift these men and women in prayer as we could not manage without them and memories of floods back at home enable me to have a level of empathy with them. 3children have died during the week because of the floods.
There have been yet more arrivals and departures which encouraged my gateway group to have a meal together on Tuesday night as one of our group was leaving and we had a great time of laughing and sharing. Gateway was the course I attended in Texas at the beginning of the year, run by Mercyships at their HQ - otherwise known as the International Operations Centre (IOC). Most of the those attending came to the ship in February and it has been great to meet up with them all again and to be able to have a ready made group of friends onboard! More about Gateway next week!
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Friday, 18 June 2010
Saturday June 19
Imagine being 15 and giving birth for the first time. The labour goes on for 3 days and at the end the baby that is delivered is macerated and still born. What is worse you are left with a permanent dribble of urine which leaves you smelling all the time, unattractive and even reviled by those you once thought friends. Family no longer want you in the house and build you a "shelter" near the house...But then 4 years later there is news of a ship where operations can be carried out for free that will stop you from being wet all the time. For a young 19 year old that became the reality this week. Working in the VVF operating theatre for most of this week both in anaesthetics and scrub there were similar stories. Some of our ladies had been wet for over 20 years. I suppose what stuck me most about the 19 year old is that she is 2 years younger than my own daughter. Frightened and yet trusting us to do our best she came into the room and gave us the privilege of serving her in a special way. And yet it is not her that we really serve, but our Father. By serving her we hope we demonstrated that there is a heavenly Father who loves her so much more.
But now imagine the joy when she is given a new outfit to wear, how she can rejoice in not being wet, able to wear something special and it not to be spoilt. The young lady I'm talking about is not in the photo but it is typical of the "gladdie gladdie" celebrations held onboard in the ward when several of the ladies are ready to leave the ship and begin a new life. This is how much it changes their lives, they are now accepted back into their community, can seek work knowing that they no longer smell or are wet all the time.
There are always celebrations going on in the ship life and the Celebration of Sight held at the hospitality centre is another such occasion when there is much singing and dancing, quite sedate all except what has become affectionately known as the "chicken dance" amongst us. The moves resemble something of a chicken fluttering its wings while bobbing up and down at the same time! Many of the patients are older and yet they are happy to move around and sing, clap their hands and give thanks to God for the sight they now have.
This is always balanced out by those who to whom we sadly cannot give the same good news. One of my young patients had cataract surgery several months ago but then had an eye injury to that same eye. She developed a corneal staphyloma which meant she had a large swelling coming out of her eye and we could not save the eye. I have seen her a couple of times now and she is doing OK. Thankfully she has sight in her other eye. She may in time be able to have a prosthetic eye.
Life continues on the ship with people coming and going.There are more staff on board this time that are returning crew - or at least it seems like that. This of course includes myself and it is easier to slip into "ship life" with the relationships already established. It's always good to catch up with old friends and to find out what has been happening in their lives but also to be able to pray with them in a very meaningful way.
But now imagine the joy when she is given a new outfit to wear, how she can rejoice in not being wet, able to wear something special and it not to be spoilt. The young lady I'm talking about is not in the photo but it is typical of the "gladdie gladdie" celebrations held onboard in the ward when several of the ladies are ready to leave the ship and begin a new life. This is how much it changes their lives, they are now accepted back into their community, can seek work knowing that they no longer smell or are wet all the time.
There are always celebrations going on in the ship life and the Celebration of Sight held at the hospitality centre is another such occasion when there is much singing and dancing, quite sedate all except what has become affectionately known as the "chicken dance" amongst us. The moves resemble something of a chicken fluttering its wings while bobbing up and down at the same time! Many of the patients are older and yet they are happy to move around and sing, clap their hands and give thanks to God for the sight they now have.
This is always balanced out by those who to whom we sadly cannot give the same good news. One of my young patients had cataract surgery several months ago but then had an eye injury to that same eye. She developed a corneal staphyloma which meant she had a large swelling coming out of her eye and we could not save the eye. I have seen her a couple of times now and she is doing OK. Thankfully she has sight in her other eye. She may in time be able to have a prosthetic eye.
Life continues on the ship with people coming and going.There are more staff on board this time that are returning crew - or at least it seems like that. This of course includes myself and it is easier to slip into "ship life" with the relationships already established. It's always good to catch up with old friends and to find out what has been happening in their lives but also to be able to pray with them in a very meaningful way.
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Sunday June 12
Probably the youngest patient we have had in the eye rooms turned up unannounced on Thursday morning at 8.00am. No eye surgeries were planned for Thursday as friday was a ships's holiday. However the surgeon, anaesthetist and nurses were all available and so we operated on the child's bilateral cataract eyes. Operating this young gives the child ths best chance of seeing his mother for the rest of his life rather than relying on touch, hearing and smell.
I have spent time this week on the anaesthetic team and sorting through some of the equipment we have. Often people bring bits of equipment with them, some more useful than others. The work for the week has continued with VVF. This is the surgery for ladies who develop holes between the bladder and vagina and as a consequence continually dribble urine, or as the local people describe it "are wet" all the time. Approximately 100 people have hopefully had sight restored as the eye surgeries continue and cleft palattes and lips have been repaired. This next week will see just eye surgery and VVF surgery as the surgeons change over.
The arrival of an english anaesthetist who was here 2 years ago when I first arrived has enabled me to practice skills learned last year. Having looked ahead I see there are yet more english anaesthetists coming that I worked with last year so I look forward to their arrival too. Working with staff from different countries always brings challenges, not necessarily a bad thing as it widens horizons and can demonstrate other ways of doing things but it is easier when "in house" jokes are shared.
Of course the week has seen the start of the world cup football and this has been marked throughout the ship. many of our day volunteers who come from the surrounding areas are mad keen on football and yesterday evening match between US and England saw the largest crowd ever for a football match in the midships lounge with flags, decorated cakes and decorated faces. Football shirts aplenty were worn and of the 1-1result one person commented"just shows that God loves us all equally!"
The week as seen much rain, since it is the rainy season it is to be expected but of course it affects our patients who may then find it difficult to reach the ship with roads becoming impassable. It does however help to cool temperatures down and makes running more pleasant. I have resumed my running with friends that I ran with on my last trip and on Friday morning we actually were given a lift to the Ghanian border and then ran back to the ship, a distance of 6 miles. For one of the group it was several years since she had run that distance so was really pleased to complete it in a very respecatable time.
The photo shows one view from the ship which looks idyllic but sadly is an area where there are bandits and therefore we are strongly advised not to go there. The ghurkhas who supply our security staff were very sure to make sure I understood that as we stood together looking over the rail.
As I look forward to the week and know that I will see some of the young patients that I saw at the eye clinic 10 days ago my prayer is simply that they will see Father through my actions and interactions with them.
I have spent time this week on the anaesthetic team and sorting through some of the equipment we have. Often people bring bits of equipment with them, some more useful than others. The work for the week has continued with VVF. This is the surgery for ladies who develop holes between the bladder and vagina and as a consequence continually dribble urine, or as the local people describe it "are wet" all the time. Approximately 100 people have hopefully had sight restored as the eye surgeries continue and cleft palattes and lips have been repaired. This next week will see just eye surgery and VVF surgery as the surgeons change over.
The arrival of an english anaesthetist who was here 2 years ago when I first arrived has enabled me to practice skills learned last year. Having looked ahead I see there are yet more english anaesthetists coming that I worked with last year so I look forward to their arrival too. Working with staff from different countries always brings challenges, not necessarily a bad thing as it widens horizons and can demonstrate other ways of doing things but it is easier when "in house" jokes are shared.
Of course the week has seen the start of the world cup football and this has been marked throughout the ship. many of our day volunteers who come from the surrounding areas are mad keen on football and yesterday evening match between US and England saw the largest crowd ever for a football match in the midships lounge with flags, decorated cakes and decorated faces. Football shirts aplenty were worn and of the 1-1result one person commented"just shows that God loves us all equally!"
The week as seen much rain, since it is the rainy season it is to be expected but of course it affects our patients who may then find it difficult to reach the ship with roads becoming impassable. It does however help to cool temperatures down and makes running more pleasant. I have resumed my running with friends that I ran with on my last trip and on Friday morning we actually were given a lift to the Ghanian border and then ran back to the ship, a distance of 6 miles. For one of the group it was several years since she had run that distance so was really pleased to complete it in a very respecatable time.
The photo shows one view from the ship which looks idyllic but sadly is an area where there are bandits and therefore we are strongly advised not to go there. The ghurkhas who supply our security staff were very sure to make sure I understood that as we stood together looking over the rail.
As I look forward to the week and know that I will see some of the young patients that I saw at the eye clinic 10 days ago my prayer is simply that they will see Father through my actions and interactions with them.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Sunday June 6
I'm here!! I arrived in Togo on Tuesday having walked across the border at 9.30am. Both the Ghanaian and the Togolese immigration posts were easy to pass through with the correct visas. I was identified a couple of times as "white woman" but it perfectly described me in the crowd and was certainly not offensive in any way, merely a way of distinguishing me from the crowd.
Having checked the price of taxis from the border to the ship, a ride was soon sorted and the officials at the port gate similarly were happy to direct me to the ship. An hour later I was drinking coffee and saying hello to many folk still on the ship from my last visit.
By 2.00pm I was in the operating department having unpacked, had lunch, sorted out my account and bought a telephone card.
In the theatres I found both surgeons and anaesthetists that I knew along with nursing staff and much time was spent catching up with each other.
On call Thursday evening I was called in for an emergency, the patient is doing well, but I was reminded of just how precious our lives are and how Father protects us and keeps his loving arms around us.
Friday was my late shift for the week so in the morning I was free to go to the hospitality centre where the post op eye clinic is also held. The hospitality centre this year is in a cement building unlike the converted warehouse of last year. it has small rooms which house up to 4 patients each with their carers. Patients stay here usually because they live too far away to be able to return each day e.g. for daily dressing changes or physio. Occasionally some patients travel great distances for their surgery and arrive a day or two early and are housed at the centre.
The centre is in a plot of land surrounded by red sandy soil and with the rain on Friday morning had become more of a mud bath. A tent outside the building provided shelter for the "Celebration of Sight" service held each Friday. This involves much singing and dancing along with some speaking and prayers. It is always an enjoyable experience to see how many patients lives are touched by the restoration of sight.
The clinic on Fridays sees over 100 patients and typically includes nearly 100 patients for YAG laser treatment to their operated cataract eye, and some medical eye patients who come, referred from the field clinics during the week. This week we had just 7 slots left for children to receive eye surgery and of the 10 or so young patients 7 could be helped with surgery so there were no heartbreaking decisions to make about which one would be unable to have surgery. So this next week I shall see some of these young patients as I work with the anaesthetists in the eye room.
Saturday evening saw me operating a popcorn maker in Starbucks, probably the only Starbucks to have a popcorn maker. I was asked at short notice and my apprentice status provided some amusement to those waiting. The discovery of just where the corn for popping was kept took some time and meant a delayed start but I just kept "popping corn" until we reached the end of the line. It's a great way to meet people and there were one or two surprises for customers who hadn't yet seen me on the ship!
Having checked the price of taxis from the border to the ship, a ride was soon sorted and the officials at the port gate similarly were happy to direct me to the ship. An hour later I was drinking coffee and saying hello to many folk still on the ship from my last visit.
By 2.00pm I was in the operating department having unpacked, had lunch, sorted out my account and bought a telephone card.
In the theatres I found both surgeons and anaesthetists that I knew along with nursing staff and much time was spent catching up with each other.
On call Thursday evening I was called in for an emergency, the patient is doing well, but I was reminded of just how precious our lives are and how Father protects us and keeps his loving arms around us.
Friday was my late shift for the week so in the morning I was free to go to the hospitality centre where the post op eye clinic is also held. The hospitality centre this year is in a cement building unlike the converted warehouse of last year. it has small rooms which house up to 4 patients each with their carers. Patients stay here usually because they live too far away to be able to return each day e.g. for daily dressing changes or physio. Occasionally some patients travel great distances for their surgery and arrive a day or two early and are housed at the centre.
The centre is in a plot of land surrounded by red sandy soil and with the rain on Friday morning had become more of a mud bath. A tent outside the building provided shelter for the "Celebration of Sight" service held each Friday. This involves much singing and dancing along with some speaking and prayers. It is always an enjoyable experience to see how many patients lives are touched by the restoration of sight.
The clinic on Fridays sees over 100 patients and typically includes nearly 100 patients for YAG laser treatment to their operated cataract eye, and some medical eye patients who come, referred from the field clinics during the week. This week we had just 7 slots left for children to receive eye surgery and of the 10 or so young patients 7 could be helped with surgery so there were no heartbreaking decisions to make about which one would be unable to have surgery. So this next week I shall see some of these young patients as I work with the anaesthetists in the eye room.
Saturday evening saw me operating a popcorn maker in Starbucks, probably the only Starbucks to have a popcorn maker. I was asked at short notice and my apprentice status provided some amusement to those waiting. The discovery of just where the corn for popping was kept took some time and meant a delayed start but I just kept "popping corn" until we reached the end of the line. It's a great way to meet people and there were one or two surprises for customers who hadn't yet seen me on the ship!
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