Since it's been about two weeks since I last posted something on here, I feel that it is about time to put out some more exciting reading material. But, unfortunitely, I've not really had anything all that exciting happen (well......unless you consider fainting and falling out on the floor in the International Lounge in front of 30-40 people while my roommate is giving a presentation, exciting) in the last couple of weeks.

That's really kinda sad actually........I'm living on a hospital ship off the coast of Africa with 400+ people from 35 nations, and I have nothing interesting to write about. I'll blame it on my work schedule; since I have been working straight nights this year, I've not really taken the initiative to get out and do things nearly as much as I did last year when I came. I am already promising myself that I will do better next year (New Year's resolution a bit early?) about getting out and experiencing the African culture.

So, in light of the second sentence of the first paragragh, I thought I would just post one of the patient stories that our lovely Public Realations dept has written. I had the privilege of caring for this patient (Kossin) while he was with us, and so thought it would be a nice one to share. But first I will tell you the story of my fainting episode, since I'm sure you're dying (or fainting) with curiosity. But, even if you're not curious, I hate to pass up the oppurtunity to share an embarrassing story; so here goes:

It happened Friday morning, but it all started when I got sick on Thursday. So got off work Thurs morning, ate breakfast, walked ALL the way home, and went to sleep by about 9am. I kept waking up reapeatedly with stomach cramps and nausea. Got up for work around 5pm, and still felt horrible, so ended up calling out for the night. Anyway, by 8am Friday morning after a little puke, a little poo, and 24 hours of sleep I was feeling great! The other girls were up getting ready for the Programs Reporting Time in the International Lounge (the big meeting room where we have all our......well......big meetings for the crew). Ginger mentioned that Alainie was the person giving the presentation that morning on her work as the Wound Care Coordinator for the plastics patients we have had. I thought "hey, I'm feeling great! I'll go be a good supportive roommie and friend." So got ready, and went on up with Ginger and Becky.

Sometimes when I'm sick I don't eat or drink enough, and my blood sugar drops. So, things were going well, Alainie was being a phenomenal public speaker, giving out some great information, showing lots of good pictures, and telling a few funny quotes and sayings, just crusing along really. I suddenly started feeling funny and knew instantly that I was getting ready to pass out. So, as I have done in the past, I thought, I'll just scoot down in my chair, prop my head on the back of my seat, pass out, come too, and sit back up; fool-proof right? Not this time. Next thing I know I'm laying comfortably in the 'recovery position' on the floor and there are all these chair legs and human legs around, and I hear someone say "is she breathing?" and realize they're talking about me. Becky was kneeling beside me with her fingers on my wrist checking my pulse, being the perfect little nurse.

Then I hear "stretcher bearer team to International Lounge" on the overhead; twice! I sat my woozy self up and said " I am NOT going anywhere on a stretcher" then promptly passed back out. Ok, ok, I didn't really pass back out, but that woulda been funnier if I had. But really, Becky and the crew nurse helped me up and walked me to the back of the room where I had to lay down again (on chairs, not the floor this time) for a few minutes; and then they walked me back to my room (down two flights of stairs and a short hallway) with frequent rest breaks every 10 steps or so. So back to bed I went for about 24 more hours and Alainie continued on with her presentation, not sure if what had just transpired really had happened or not. In retrospect, I think that that may not have been the best way to show my supportiveness to Alainie. But, it made a good story.

So.......here's the real post:

Sixteen-year-old, Kossin Delou, spent four years of his life sheltered by his family and kept out of the public eye due to an enormous tumor that dominated the left side of his face. When the tumor first appeared, Kossin visited local hospitals in Lomé, Togo. But his family could not afford the necessary surgery. So, the tumor, which started from Kossin's upper jaw, continued to grow. It soon covered his eye, hindering his vision.

As the insidious growth enlarged, Kossin's life became more difficult. Kossin's father is a local pastor, and the church is an important part of his family life. But people viewed the tumor as a curse, so Kossin's shame prevented him from attending church. In fact, the children who were once his friends now ridiculed him on the streets and at school. He even felt like an outsider among his own siblings.

His emotional turmoil intensified as his dream for his future began to fade away. Kossin wanted to study at a university to become a teacher. He wanted to enrich the lives of children with knowledge and love. His grotesque facial deformity would prevent him from pursuing his education.

Then Kossin came to our hospital ship, the Africa Mercy . After many hours of surgery, he emerged with a newly constructed face. Joy radiated from Kossin and his family. His father, Pastor Delou, says, "In this life each one of us needs help in some moment of our life. I can say that through Mercy Ships, we have found that help. You can have a bad story - but, before the end of your life, God will open a door and smile deep into your heart. I know that God is working through Mercy Ships for the best in my life and in Kossin's life."

Kossin is ecstatic about his new life. He can go to church with his family and friends. He's no longer an object of ridicule. And - best of all - in September of 2010, Kossin will be able to start school to fulfil his resurrected dream of becoming a teacher.

Written by Joy Clary
Edited by Nancy Predaina

Photos by Debra Bell and Liz Cantu

Waiting in line to be examined
Being examined by Dr Gary Parker
Recieving his appointment card for surgery
Recovering in the Africa Mercy hospital ward.
Three weeks after surgeryStanding proudly beside his father, Pastor Delou.

TIA Nurse

Nursing in Africa is unlike anywhere else. Although this has been said many times, I was quickly reminded again last night when at work on B Ward. I had a patient that was going to be having her VVF repair surgery in the morning, so about 5:45 am, I woke her up so she could get washed up and have a sitz bath. For those of you in the medical field you know what a sitz bath is, but for those of those of you who aren't, it's a setup to wash the........well,.......nether regions. I had never actually dealt with sitz bath contraptions at home, but the procedure here is: 2.5 L warm tap water with 60ml of 20% chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is an "antiseptic and antimicrobial disinfectant." It has many quality features: effective against lots of bacteria and fungi; good for use on floors, walls, and tables; but, the most important it is "gentle and soothing to the skin". Anyway, getting side tracked here. So after mixing this concoction up, we give the pan and a 60ml syringe to the patient and instruct her to cleanse 'down there'.

So I go into the bathroom with my patient to give her instructions on how to use the stuff. That is when I realize how drastically different our worlds are, as I have to start at the beginning, the very beginning - how to operate a syringe. It had never occurred to me before now that there are people in the world that have never seen, much less used, a syringe, which is something I consider very basic and simple. Anyway, that was my "wow! we really do come from different worlds!" moment for the day.

The best part of the shift though, was my other lady's little baby. So when Mama comes to the hospital, baby comes with her. Since mama had just had surgery, she was still on bed rest and wasn't allowed to get up. Well, little cutie pie, started crying and crying. Just couldn't be calmed. Normally he is such a happy baby. Tried feeding him, changing his diaper, rocking him, nothing was working. It sounded like an "I'm in pain" cry, so started thinking, and remembered that earlier in the morning, he had been burping and pooting a LOT - poor little feller had a belly full of gas! After walking him in the hall and patting his little back, I handed him to one of our Day volunteers who thought he might be able to quiet him. Well, it worked, baby burped a really big burp and then spit up all over poor Jean!

Baby was now very happy, but still didn't want to lay down. Jean said he needed to get back to work, so I thought quickly and said "ok, I'll carry him on my back, African style," Jean looked at me in disbelief and said "do you even know how to?" I had watched many African mothers put their children on their backs, and so was prepared for this moment. I confidently said "yep", I bent over to make my back parallel to the floor, took baby by one arm and flipped him around to be lying face down on my back, grabbed a bed sheet and tossed it across baby, brought the top edge under my arms and twisted it on itself, pulled the bottom edge snugly under his little bum and twisted and tucked it in on itself, and stood up. Tada!! Jean was staring open-mouthed and then just started laughing and shaking his head. He said I did it like a pro, and then walked off to get back to work, still laughing.

I don't have any pics of the process, but here is the finished product.

I have discovered that there are two ways to have the baby - arms out, or arms in. If you want the baby to stay awake, put the top edge of the cloth under his arms and he is less likely to sleep; if you're ready for him to take a nap, tuck his little arms into the sling and nap-time has begun!