It's been a long week... in a few ways...
First of all, this may be TMI (too much information) for some of you, but those who know me well know that I don't hold much back so here it is... I have had a week of dysentery. Monday through Saturday I spent a lot of time running back and forth to the bathroom. I did not share this experience alone as there are many of the ship that had the pleasure of bearing this burden together. The port our ship is docked in is quite polluted... the water has been tested for very high levels of e-coli. Of course this testing was performed after the water was used to spray down the dock the same day that we had a fire drill in which all crew members assemble on the dock. The GI issues being shared by so many have been traced back to this event as the probable cause. Saturday night I reached a pinnacle of discomfort, using the bathroom 8 times in 45 minutes and finally took the one time dose of Azithromycin that my doctor sent along with me for extreme diarrhea. I woke up Sunday morning as a new person! :)
As far as the ship and the screening... Surgery has begun today. Prior to the ship arriving in Sierra Leone a team from Mercy Ship had gone to the northern part of the country and screened patients in need of help. They have been able to bring those patients to the ship to begin surgery this week while the continue to sort out how to further screen those in Freetown after the tragedies of last Monday. Last week they spent some time in the city talking to locals to gain their perspective on what happened. The majority, if not all, they spoke to expressed deep regret, shame, and embarrassment. They are afraid that Mercy Ship will not want to help them because of they way their people acted. Mercy Ship is committed to helping the people here, no matter what it takes but they are committed to safety and not allowing any further injury or pain to come from the effort to help. My first shift as a nurse was yesterday. It was good, though it is a learning process for me as it is definitely a different kind of nursing than I am used to! :)
Life on the ship has been an adjustment for me. In all honesty, this has been probably the most difficult transition... I actually feel more at peace today than I have and I recognize that change is often hard and takes time, so I am thankful and waiting... trying to wait patiently, but I am not always patient ;)
Saturday a rather large group of us from the ship shared an adventure! Imagine the classic 70s VW style van... these are called "boda bodas" and are a very common mode of transportation. Not all are VW, but look the same. The interiors have been stripped and most have four hard benches inside. Well we VERY cozily placed 22 people in one boda boda and 21 in another and took a two hour ride together. This ride was not on paved highway, though sections were rather smooth compared to a large portion of the trip that was over roads undergoing construction with rather large bumps and potholes. And what was our final destination???? A BEAUTIFUL beach! River No. 2 Beach... if you google image there may be pictures (I still cannot upload pictures but will have plenty to show/post in May :) We spent three hours there and I think the four hours round trip in the boda boda was worth it! :) It was nice to get away, it was wonderful to see different areas of the country, even if through a van window. I have mainly been in the city, but we drove past villages and through some amazing country side. The topography of Sierra Leone is stunning.
Lunchtime :) I best be going... I work again tomorrow and then three night shifts this week! I have never worked more than one night shift in a row, so all my SICU night buddies... think of me and send along any words of advice! :)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
March 9th
Thank you all as you keep Mercy Ship in your thoughts. All screenings have continued on hold. Investigation continues in sorting out what exactly occurred Monday causing the difficulties in the crowds that they have never experienced before having done numerous large screenings in many locations.
Most of those injured have been discharged to home. Three remain hospitalized. I did go visit two men, that I assisted caring for, in the hospital yesterday. Mercy Ship is paying for the treatment of all those injured and all have been given appointments to receive further treatment that they were seeking in attending the screening.
The last couple days on the ship have been continued preparation for the hospital to open on Sunday. Tomorrow I will begin orientation to the paperwork, policies, documentation, and equipment in the wards here on the ship. This will extend into Friday. Sunday there will patients admitted for preop preparations with surgery on Monday.
I have been a bit home sick the last couple days... It seems familiarity is something our hearts can long for and when we have it we then hunger for change... I am again thankful for a few kindred friends with whom I shared some silly laughs and giggles with today... a helpful coping mechanism for us all.
Much love.
Most of those injured have been discharged to home. Three remain hospitalized. I did go visit two men, that I assisted caring for, in the hospital yesterday. Mercy Ship is paying for the treatment of all those injured and all have been given appointments to receive further treatment that they were seeking in attending the screening.
The last couple days on the ship have been continued preparation for the hospital to open on Sunday. Tomorrow I will begin orientation to the paperwork, policies, documentation, and equipment in the wards here on the ship. This will extend into Friday. Sunday there will patients admitted for preop preparations with surgery on Monday.
I have been a bit home sick the last couple days... It seems familiarity is something our hearts can long for and when we have it we then hunger for change... I am again thankful for a few kindred friends with whom I shared some silly laughs and giggles with today... a helpful coping mechanism for us all.
Much love.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Screening Day
Please keep Mercy Ship, but especially the MANY people of Sierra Leone and beyond that came to the screening today. Please see the Mercy Ship blog for the full report, but in short the screening was aborted early into the day due to unrest in the crowd waiting. A stamped occurred injuring many resulting in the death of one. It's been a long day in ways not expected. There are also many many details to be sorted out by the leadership as where to go from here.
http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/screening-day-update
http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/screening-day-update
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Restful Saturday
So where to begin???
Today has been a day off from work. The work we've been hardily doing is cleaning cleaning cleaning (for my hospital friends... this is the cleanest hospital I have ever seen... EVERYTHING is being washed and double bleached! Yes the bottom and inside of all garbage cans...). The ship was docked in South Africa for 5 months undergoing extensive engine work. When the ship sails all the hospital contents are placed in large containers. I will post pictures so this makes sense. In fact the ship is now docked at a large container yard, so next to the ship are hundreds of these large metal boxes. All of the supplies and equipment naturally get dusty and dirty after five months, but there was also some heavy water damage that occurred to much of it. So imagine a lot of mold and mildew... stinky. BUT, much got done over the week.
Monday and Tuesday are called screening days. There is a large stadium in the city of Freetown. Monday we will leave at 4:30am and spend over twelve hours at the stadium. Word of Mercy Ship arrival has spread throughout the city and beyond, those in need will somehow make their way to the stadium. Each person will be evaluated, if there is a need that we can help with they will then be scheduled for surgery at some point over the next ten months. Mercy Ship was last in Freetown in 2004... It left an incredible impact when it was last here and will again. There are murals of the ship painted on walls in the city. When town folk see white people walking about, they often call out "Mercy Ship?" with large smiles on their faces. The rest of the week will be our training and orientation and final set up of the hospital. The first patients will come a week from tomorrow, Sunday March 12th, and the first surgery will be the following day.
So life on the ship... This ship was a train ferry in it's past. It has been renovated by Mercy Ship to serve it's purpose. There are various sleeping cabins/bunkers on all levels. The hospital is on the third which there is just one level below that that we use, has a small work out room and a swap shop where people leave things they don't need/take what they may be looking for. I sleep on the third level as well. There bunk beds (yes bunk beds farm boys) in my room, 6 beds in all, but only 2 occupied right now. Myself and another girl from the US, Sara. Fourth level is mainly sleeping. Fifth has the cafeteria... which the food has been great... lots of local vegetable and fruit... mango, pineapple, and banana! Yum. There is a coffee shop and small store, bank, post office, laundry, hairdresser and kitchen for all to use. Sixth has a library... that I really like. And the seventh is the top of the ship. It is not a former cruise ship so the top is a pretty industrial deck, but it is warm and sunny and relaxing... another favorite spot. :) There is a pool, not working at this time though.
I have been spending a bit of time with two Norwegian friends. Marianne and Bowie. Some people are here for a short time like me... Others live here for years. Bowie has been on the ship eight years. He is an engineer. He has been a great help in finding one's way around a large new place and community with it's own culture, lingo, and ways of operating. The three of us took our second jaunt into town this morning. And by town I under exaggerate... Freetown is a large, heavily populated city... It's not easy to take pictures while walking about. First of all it's conspicuous and feels disrespectful, the primary reason. Second of all, most of the time the walking space is jammed full of vehicles trying to move, honking... people, goats, chickens and most of those people trying to make a days wage by selling anything from bagged water, to made in China/Taiwan trinkets and toiletries, to fresh (or not so fresh) fish or other seafood. All ages are trying to sell, there is no one to buy. Lining the streets are shambled homes or shops; women, men, children on the stoop watching the world go by. Children are the most expressive and excited to see a white person, smiles and greetings and waves. We did find a bakery, got some fresh baked goods and juice and sat at a table for quite some time. After four or five hours it's the same over and over and we headed back to the ship...
I am having problems loading pictures, so will post without for now and see what I can do.
Today has been a day off from work. The work we've been hardily doing is cleaning cleaning cleaning (for my hospital friends... this is the cleanest hospital I have ever seen... EVERYTHING is being washed and double bleached! Yes the bottom and inside of all garbage cans...). The ship was docked in South Africa for 5 months undergoing extensive engine work. When the ship sails all the hospital contents are placed in large containers. I will post pictures so this makes sense. In fact the ship is now docked at a large container yard, so next to the ship are hundreds of these large metal boxes. All of the supplies and equipment naturally get dusty and dirty after five months, but there was also some heavy water damage that occurred to much of it. So imagine a lot of mold and mildew... stinky. BUT, much got done over the week.
Monday and Tuesday are called screening days. There is a large stadium in the city of Freetown. Monday we will leave at 4:30am and spend over twelve hours at the stadium. Word of Mercy Ship arrival has spread throughout the city and beyond, those in need will somehow make their way to the stadium. Each person will be evaluated, if there is a need that we can help with they will then be scheduled for surgery at some point over the next ten months. Mercy Ship was last in Freetown in 2004... It left an incredible impact when it was last here and will again. There are murals of the ship painted on walls in the city. When town folk see white people walking about, they often call out "Mercy Ship?" with large smiles on their faces. The rest of the week will be our training and orientation and final set up of the hospital. The first patients will come a week from tomorrow, Sunday March 12th, and the first surgery will be the following day.
So life on the ship... This ship was a train ferry in it's past. It has been renovated by Mercy Ship to serve it's purpose. There are various sleeping cabins/bunkers on all levels. The hospital is on the third which there is just one level below that that we use, has a small work out room and a swap shop where people leave things they don't need/take what they may be looking for. I sleep on the third level as well. There bunk beds (yes bunk beds farm boys) in my room, 6 beds in all, but only 2 occupied right now. Myself and another girl from the US, Sara. Fourth level is mainly sleeping. Fifth has the cafeteria... which the food has been great... lots of local vegetable and fruit... mango, pineapple, and banana! Yum. There is a coffee shop and small store, bank, post office, laundry, hairdresser and kitchen for all to use. Sixth has a library... that I really like. And the seventh is the top of the ship. It is not a former cruise ship so the top is a pretty industrial deck, but it is warm and sunny and relaxing... another favorite spot. :) There is a pool, not working at this time though.
I have been spending a bit of time with two Norwegian friends. Marianne and Bowie. Some people are here for a short time like me... Others live here for years. Bowie has been on the ship eight years. He is an engineer. He has been a great help in finding one's way around a large new place and community with it's own culture, lingo, and ways of operating. The three of us took our second jaunt into town this morning. And by town I under exaggerate... Freetown is a large, heavily populated city... It's not easy to take pictures while walking about. First of all it's conspicuous and feels disrespectful, the primary reason. Second of all, most of the time the walking space is jammed full of vehicles trying to move, honking... people, goats, chickens and most of those people trying to make a days wage by selling anything from bagged water, to made in China/Taiwan trinkets and toiletries, to fresh (or not so fresh) fish or other seafood. All ages are trying to sell, there is no one to buy. Lining the streets are shambled homes or shops; women, men, children on the stoop watching the world go by. Children are the most expressive and excited to see a white person, smiles and greetings and waves. We did find a bakery, got some fresh baked goods and juice and sat at a table for quite some time. After four or five hours it's the same over and over and we headed back to the ship...
I am having problems loading pictures, so will post without for now and see what I can do.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
There's no snow!
3pm EST, 8pm Sierra Leone time :)
Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers over the last 48 hours of travel and my safe arrival to Mercy Ship. I had very uneventful travel (though Kristen K I thought it would especially give you a big smile to hear that my Syracuse flight actually left at 2pm, not 230pm and I still had about 15 minutes to wait before boarding ;). My flight out of Brussels was delayed, so I had 6 hours in the Brussels airport… I was able to nap a little bit and had a few of those great times in life when there is human interaction that is brief, but meaningful and for me is confirming that the world is not without hope or goodness. I had my laptop with the internet for a short bit of time… a beautiful Indian woman dressed in lush green with a scrumptious and lively baby boy of about one approached me… a little panicky as she was in a hurry to not miss her next flight she asked if she could use my computer to send her husband an email… I of course obliged and not only did she get to communicate with her love, but I got to entertain the squirrely one year old :) … This was a short interaction and one to easily be forgotten, but I had a lot of time to think and often travel time is the best time for that for me… space to reflect and search my soul. I read a quote recently "So much of language is unspoken. So much of language is comprised of looks and gestures and sounds that are not words. People are ignorant of the vast complexity of their own communication." I am glad that my gestures were such that made a loving wife and mom feel comfortable to approach me for help. I am now on a ship with 400 strangers of every age, race and ethnicity, background… all with amazing stories I'm sure. Though I am often a gregarious and outgoing person I can also turn inward in my fears and close up, retreat, stay where it's safe… my challenge to myself is to not do so and to be aware of the complexity of my own communication.
So I am now on the ship. My flight landed at 730pm last night… there were 29 other Mercy Ship volunteers on my flight. After landing we didn't actually arrive to the ship until 1130pm and I am glad that part of the journey was not alone. The tiny African airport… a bit disorganized, hot (which quickly turns into smelly), and crowded, would have been a bit overwhelming. We eventually were able to get our luggage and ourselves onto a couple van taxis, over very bumpy dirt roads, to the edge of an inlet… the ship lights were in view, we just needed a boat ride across. We then in groups of 10 were escorted to the end of a dock, assisted with lifejackets and jumped on a ferry… this ferry was a glorified raft with folding chairs and two small engines attached to the back… it took about 30 minutes one way. We were met by Mercy Ship land rovers and driven to the ship… (The drive on land from the airport to the ship would be approximately 3 hours on very rough roads, so this is definitely the better option.) A quick welcome, bunker keys handed out, and after 29 hours of travel ID pictures taken! :)
The ship arrived from South Africa two days ago. The first week on the ship will be a lot manual labor… organizing, cleaning, unpacking, and sorting. We need to actually set up the hospital. Word is spreading quickly throughout Freetown and beyond that Mercy Ship is here. They will begin triaging people March 7th and 8th and surgery will begin shortly after. We took a walk into the city today… me and three other nurses. We ended up having an informal tour of a pediatric hospital in Freetown. I am glad we are here to help. They need it.
Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers over the last 48 hours of travel and my safe arrival to Mercy Ship. I had very uneventful travel (though Kristen K I thought it would especially give you a big smile to hear that my Syracuse flight actually left at 2pm, not 230pm and I still had about 15 minutes to wait before boarding ;). My flight out of Brussels was delayed, so I had 6 hours in the Brussels airport… I was able to nap a little bit and had a few of those great times in life when there is human interaction that is brief, but meaningful and for me is confirming that the world is not without hope or goodness. I had my laptop with the internet for a short bit of time… a beautiful Indian woman dressed in lush green with a scrumptious and lively baby boy of about one approached me… a little panicky as she was in a hurry to not miss her next flight she asked if she could use my computer to send her husband an email… I of course obliged and not only did she get to communicate with her love, but I got to entertain the squirrely one year old :) … This was a short interaction and one to easily be forgotten, but I had a lot of time to think and often travel time is the best time for that for me… space to reflect and search my soul. I read a quote recently "So much of language is unspoken. So much of language is comprised of looks and gestures and sounds that are not words. People are ignorant of the vast complexity of their own communication." I am glad that my gestures were such that made a loving wife and mom feel comfortable to approach me for help. I am now on a ship with 400 strangers of every age, race and ethnicity, background… all with amazing stories I'm sure. Though I am often a gregarious and outgoing person I can also turn inward in my fears and close up, retreat, stay where it's safe… my challenge to myself is to not do so and to be aware of the complexity of my own communication.
So I am now on the ship. My flight landed at 730pm last night… there were 29 other Mercy Ship volunteers on my flight. After landing we didn't actually arrive to the ship until 1130pm and I am glad that part of the journey was not alone. The tiny African airport… a bit disorganized, hot (which quickly turns into smelly), and crowded, would have been a bit overwhelming. We eventually were able to get our luggage and ourselves onto a couple van taxis, over very bumpy dirt roads, to the edge of an inlet… the ship lights were in view, we just needed a boat ride across. We then in groups of 10 were escorted to the end of a dock, assisted with lifejackets and jumped on a ferry… this ferry was a glorified raft with folding chairs and two small engines attached to the back… it took about 30 minutes one way. We were met by Mercy Ship land rovers and driven to the ship… (The drive on land from the airport to the ship would be approximately 3 hours on very rough roads, so this is definitely the better option.) A quick welcome, bunker keys handed out, and after 29 hours of travel ID pictures taken! :)
The ship arrived from South Africa two days ago. The first week on the ship will be a lot manual labor… organizing, cleaning, unpacking, and sorting. We need to actually set up the hospital. Word is spreading quickly throughout Freetown and beyond that Mercy Ship is here. They will begin triaging people March 7th and 8th and surgery will begin shortly after. We took a walk into the city today… me and three other nurses. We ended up having an informal tour of a pediatric hospital in Freetown. I am glad we are here to help. They need it.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Departure day
Heading out of DC in a couple hours. Thanks to my loving family and friends for many great meals and treasured times together this week... all your lovins makes it hard to leave! Will arrive in Sierra Leone tomorrow afternoon NY time, evening Africa time. Will try to update my arrival when possible.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sunday Party
Thank you to the many that made it to the Palace Sunday night. I had a wonderful time and feel incredibly loved and special. And thank you also to so many of you that generously gave financially toward my trip. I truly appreciate your kindness. The ONLY unfortunate happening (besides the many people who wanted to be there and couldn't for one reason or another) was that I forgot my camera! Ugh! So no pictures to pass along. But I PROMISE not to forget my camera when I go to Africa... ;) Much love...
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