The other day a few of the girls and I spent the day in Limilunga, at an infant feeding clinic. Despite the many heartbreaking and tear-jerking things we have witnessed so far in our trip, nothing prepared me for what I saw that day. A dad came in with his two children, a boy, about 3 or 4, and a baby girl around 1 year. As he spoke with the nurses about getting food for his youngest, his story started to come together, causing me to force back tears as we sat in the tiny office. The man’s wife had died 2 days prior, and he no longer had the means to support his daughter. While he told us of his hardships, he never once made eye contact with us; instead he focused on his two children, especially the baby girl who sat happily on her father’s knee. The man explained that without his wife, he could not care for his daughter and that he would have to take her to an orphanage in order for him to care for himself and his son. While he told us this, he continued to look at his daughter, but his face changed from loving-father to the most heartbroken and devastated man I have ever seen. The decision to give up his daughter was, I’m sure, the hardest decision he will ever have to make. His decision made me realize that he was the strongest person I have ever met.
I wish this man could know how amazing he is, for giving up his daughter so that she can lead a better life; one where she won’t be struggling day to day for food or clean water. And that because of his decision, his daughter will have the opportunity to go to school, something that may not have happened if he had tried to support both children. I can’t imagine the pain of having to choose one child over another, and I pray that the father will one day have the means to return to the orphanage and take his daughter home to reunite their family.
I would like to close with a big thank you to all the parents (especially the dads-that’s you Chris Malloy!) for all of the sacrifices you have made for us, and for the constant support you have given us. We love you all.
All my love to everyone back home,
Alexandra Malloy
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Pediatric nursing
I love kids.
There is something about the simplicity of life, the joy in play, and the innocent imagination of children that wraps me up and melts my heart. The children here are gorgeous and have my heart hopelessly trapped in their little fingers. As I bike the half an hour or so ride to Lewanika hospital I pass throngs of children calling out in their sweet high pitched voices "Makua!Makua!!! How are you?" They jump up and down in just barely contained excitement and collapse into giggles when I respond "I'm fine, how are you?", to which they respond "I'm fine, how are you"; this goes back and forth about 3 times. The little toddlers peek out from behind their older siblings back with big eyes, while nearby children come running when they see that I have stopped to say hello. When
I pull out my stickers I have about 20 children clamoring for one, which they proudly display on their foreheads. Sometimes, if I have enough time I'll pick up the older ones and twirl them around. The younger kids get over their fear and cling to my legs until I have one child hanging off every limb. I am getting STRONG!
At the hospital I am in both a piece of heaven and a personal hell. Strong words, I know, but I can't describe in words how helpless you feel when you gaze on a skin-and-bones baby that is struggling for every hard breath and passes away from malnutrition, knowing that another child will, if the last 3 week trend continues, pass away tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. And still, work goes on. You have to pull yourself together because the other 30 children need you, the families need you, and if you wallow in grief nothing would ever get done.
And so, Alexandra and I COVER childrens faces in sparkley animal stickers, blow up balloons and toss them around, sit on childrens cots and teach them how to make animals out of plastercine. Babies that have never seen a white person before cry at the sight of us, but we win their hearts over with blowing bubble after bubble after bubble. We hand out colored paper and crayons to the terribly bored children with their limbs immobilized in traction. When the hord of 8 nurses/doctor/students clad in white do rounds, Alex and I sometimes stand behind them and make funny faces at the overwhelmed child. Already some of them have learned to stick their tongue at the doctor! My favourite is greeting the children by waggling my eyebrows at them, and now they do the same back to me every time I see them.
I wish I could post pictures of some of the children. There's the little girl who dances with us/ The boy with his whole face burned after falling into a pot of scalding water-who can't see because his eyes are swollen shut but who delights in stroking the teddy bear I gave him-the first toy he has ever been able to call his own. There's the 13 year old who can't walk because a disease has attacked the bones of all 4 limbs, but loves having me sit with him and learning secret handshakes. There's the baby girl with a head the size of a watermelon from encaphalits, but smiles the sweetest smile when I stop to play peek-a-boo. There is the 12 year old girl who is so hard to look at as half her face is burned off, but who I tickle and hug to let her know that she is still loveable. I don't know the words to say this in her tribal language, but I think my touch communicates this-her laugh lets me know that I am loved as well.
Sometimes I catch myself thinking how hard it is to work here, catch myself getting homesick for the supplies and nursing ratio and policies of KGH. It's hard to smell stale urine every day, knowing there are not enough clean sheets to go around, to see bugs crawling on the walls, to not have pain medication ordered or available to children in agony. But then there are nurses who step in and clean along with us, doctors who have shown me how to palpate splenomegaly without needing to use an ultrasound. People are so resourceful around here and I am embarrassed at how much I waste back at home. I am learning so much here. My heart gets bruised at times, but it is growing and able to love more than I ever have before. And at the end of the day when my shift is over, I find myself wanting to go back to the pediatric ward and hang out with the children. Sometimes I do!
~Hannah Viejou
There is something about the simplicity of life, the joy in play, and the innocent imagination of children that wraps me up and melts my heart. The children here are gorgeous and have my heart hopelessly trapped in their little fingers. As I bike the half an hour or so ride to Lewanika hospital I pass throngs of children calling out in their sweet high pitched voices "Makua!Makua!!! How are you?" They jump up and down in just barely contained excitement and collapse into giggles when I respond "I'm fine, how are you?", to which they respond "I'm fine, how are you"; this goes back and forth about 3 times. The little toddlers peek out from behind their older siblings back with big eyes, while nearby children come running when they see that I have stopped to say hello. When
I pull out my stickers I have about 20 children clamoring for one, which they proudly display on their foreheads. Sometimes, if I have enough time I'll pick up the older ones and twirl them around. The younger kids get over their fear and cling to my legs until I have one child hanging off every limb. I am getting STRONG!
At the hospital I am in both a piece of heaven and a personal hell. Strong words, I know, but I can't describe in words how helpless you feel when you gaze on a skin-and-bones baby that is struggling for every hard breath and passes away from malnutrition, knowing that another child will, if the last 3 week trend continues, pass away tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. And still, work goes on. You have to pull yourself together because the other 30 children need you, the families need you, and if you wallow in grief nothing would ever get done.
And so, Alexandra and I COVER childrens faces in sparkley animal stickers, blow up balloons and toss them around, sit on childrens cots and teach them how to make animals out of plastercine. Babies that have never seen a white person before cry at the sight of us, but we win their hearts over with blowing bubble after bubble after bubble. We hand out colored paper and crayons to the terribly bored children with their limbs immobilized in traction. When the hord of 8 nurses/doctor/students clad in white do rounds, Alex and I sometimes stand behind them and make funny faces at the overwhelmed child. Already some of them have learned to stick their tongue at the doctor! My favourite is greeting the children by waggling my eyebrows at them, and now they do the same back to me every time I see them.
I wish I could post pictures of some of the children. There's the little girl who dances with us/ The boy with his whole face burned after falling into a pot of scalding water-who can't see because his eyes are swollen shut but who delights in stroking the teddy bear I gave him-the first toy he has ever been able to call his own. There's the 13 year old who can't walk because a disease has attacked the bones of all 4 limbs, but loves having me sit with him and learning secret handshakes. There's the baby girl with a head the size of a watermelon from encaphalits, but smiles the sweetest smile when I stop to play peek-a-boo. There is the 12 year old girl who is so hard to look at as half her face is burned off, but who I tickle and hug to let her know that she is still loveable. I don't know the words to say this in her tribal language, but I think my touch communicates this-her laugh lets me know that I am loved as well.
Sometimes I catch myself thinking how hard it is to work here, catch myself getting homesick for the supplies and nursing ratio and policies of KGH. It's hard to smell stale urine every day, knowing there are not enough clean sheets to go around, to see bugs crawling on the walls, to not have pain medication ordered or available to children in agony. But then there are nurses who step in and clean along with us, doctors who have shown me how to palpate splenomegaly without needing to use an ultrasound. People are so resourceful around here and I am embarrassed at how much I waste back at home. I am learning so much here. My heart gets bruised at times, but it is growing and able to love more than I ever have before. And at the end of the day when my shift is over, I find myself wanting to go back to the pediatric ward and hang out with the children. Sometimes I do!
~Hannah Viejou
Birthday in Zambia
Last Monday was an extremely special day as I celebrated my 22nd birthday with an amazing bunch of girls. After saying to the girls that I just wanted to have a low key night after such an adventurous safari, they all still surprised me anyways. Lynnelle, our master chef, somehow concocted a teriyaki stirfry…my fav… with our limited resources as the market is not stocked until Tuesday or Wednesday. It was a challenge I say with the power going out in the beginning every few minutes. We had a few scares but it always came back on. Our back up plan was to use the propane stove which we set by the open door while keeping the propane tank outside. As she cooked in the kitchen I got to be in charge of the IPod and played all my favourite songs. We danced and singed and just had a great time. All the while I was in the kitchen some of the other girls decorated the dining area. With a lovely construction paper place mat and crown I was set at the head of the table. On the light fixtures they hung balloons and when they ran out they blew up medical gloves. It was definitely a nurse’s bday.
I guess my biggest surprise came when Jessana came in saying “who is your best friend?” with a bag of flour in her arms. She was met with puzzled stares from everyone in the kitchen. Apparently the girls wanted to surprise me with FLOWERS but with shotty cell service and the message being passed between four people I ended up with some lovely white flour with flowers drawn on with a sharpie. It was quite priceless.
Fay, Mary and Jessica all joined us for dinner as we devoured Lynnelle’s cooking. And for dessert the girls also managed to get the icecream home before melting which was quite a miracle. All in all it was a fabulous evening as we ended off the evening watching another episode of glee.
Thanks everyone!
Gabby
I guess my biggest surprise came when Jessana came in saying “who is your best friend?” with a bag of flour in her arms. She was met with puzzled stares from everyone in the kitchen. Apparently the girls wanted to surprise me with FLOWERS but with shotty cell service and the message being passed between four people I ended up with some lovely white flour with flowers drawn on with a sharpie. It was quite priceless.
Fay, Mary and Jessica all joined us for dinner as we devoured Lynnelle’s cooking. And for dessert the girls also managed to get the icecream home before melting which was quite a miracle. All in all it was a fabulous evening as we ended off the evening watching another episode of glee.
Thanks everyone!
Gabby
The other side of the river:
"We've reached the Zambezi," my friend Tibour tells me over the loud hum of the boat engine behind us. I emerge from under my pile of protective clothing that I have draped over me to keep me from burning in the intense sun to take in the view. Miranda and I are on our way to Kalabo on the other side of the Zambezi to help Lihanna, a nurse from South Africa living in Mongu, start up a feeding program there for malnourished children. I wish I could post a picture to give an idea of what the flood plains look like, but even then it wouldn't do it justice. In every direction that I look all I can see is water, grass and sky. On the two hour boat ride that it took to get to Kalabo, only five minutes was spent on the Zambezi River. The rest of the time the boat navigated through the tall grass on watery roads that had been cut by the boats. It was beautiful.
Our time in Kalabo was short but we managed to do a lot. Our two full days that we spent there consisted of visiting the hospital, helping in an under five clinic, training volunteers to run the feeding program, launching the program and admitting the first 8 children and then visiting them in their homes. It was my first time actually going into a village and visiting people in their homes. Some families had cement houses, others had grass or mud houses. All the families that I visited took such good care of their homes and what little they had. Their house was clean, and yet their shelves were empty. One family that we visited had no source of income and so they ate only when they could find food. The baby that was on the feeding program was almost two years old and still unable to walk. His twin sister on the other hand was walking about the whole time we were at their house. It was heartbreaking to see, and yet we spent an hour laughing and talking under a tree outside their house. It always amazes me that I have found so much joy in the most bleak situations. I left that house feeling helpless, knowing that there was nothing that I could do to save them from their circumstance. We had given them a bag of powdered cow milk to feed the baby that was malnourished. At least we did something. I have learned to think more like the people here: do what you can with what you have, and pray for the rest. With the feeding program we trained the women that we had in the amount of time that we had, we took on the number of children that our supplies could feed, and we prayed that it would continue successfully.
-heather.
Our time in Kalabo was short but we managed to do a lot. Our two full days that we spent there consisted of visiting the hospital, helping in an under five clinic, training volunteers to run the feeding program, launching the program and admitting the first 8 children and then visiting them in their homes. It was my first time actually going into a village and visiting people in their homes. Some families had cement houses, others had grass or mud houses. All the families that I visited took such good care of their homes and what little they had. Their house was clean, and yet their shelves were empty. One family that we visited had no source of income and so they ate only when they could find food. The baby that was on the feeding program was almost two years old and still unable to walk. His twin sister on the other hand was walking about the whole time we were at their house. It was heartbreaking to see, and yet we spent an hour laughing and talking under a tree outside their house. It always amazes me that I have found so much joy in the most bleak situations. I left that house feeling helpless, knowing that there was nothing that I could do to save them from their circumstance. We had given them a bag of powdered cow milk to feed the baby that was malnourished. At least we did something. I have learned to think more like the people here: do what you can with what you have, and pray for the rest. With the feeding program we trained the women that we had in the amount of time that we had, we took on the number of children that our supplies could feed, and we prayed that it would continue successfully.
-heather.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
To Communicate Without Language
I've had some amazing experiences over the last couple of weeks and have worked with some fabulous professionals who do incredible things with the few resources they have. I'm learning a ton and while it's difficult at times, I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything in the world.
Last week I was out at Mutoya Camp. While there I got to help teach in the school: hand washing, teeth brushing and a little bit of music. The children are adorable and were definitely a highlight of my week. I got to help with a feeding clinic for malnourished infants and todlers which meant that I got to teach the moms about why babies cry and play peek-a-boo/make faces with the little ones. I also had the opportunity to do home visits. It was great to see everyday life and what it looks like here, I was also a little spoiled.
While at the camp I worked with individuals who could translate from Lozi to English for me so I was able to ask health questions, to teach and to connect. This week has been a lot more difficult. This week I'm in the ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) clinic, an area of the hospital that is packed starting at 08h00 every weekday. Everyone starts with their vitals being taken before continuing on for assessments, blood work, consults and medications for the coming days. I started off doing vitals. I've been taking vitals since first year, so the skill itself wasn't difficult, but it was difficult not understanding what my patients were telling me when I said "good morning" and they went into a big monologue. It was difficult wanting to connect with people and not really knowing how. It was difficult to be missing the stories and the art of nursing which I love, and having to find new and different ways to connect. Not only am I learning a lot about a disease I've rarely seen before now, but I'm learning to transcend an incredibly large language barrier. Recent cab rides and waiting for friends have turned into meeting new friends and having Lozi lessons. Eventually I hope to be able to say more than "Netewmezi" and "Mosile shwani."
Jess W
Last week I was out at Mutoya Camp. While there I got to help teach in the school: hand washing, teeth brushing and a little bit of music. The children are adorable and were definitely a highlight of my week. I got to help with a feeding clinic for malnourished infants and todlers which meant that I got to teach the moms about why babies cry and play peek-a-boo/make faces with the little ones. I also had the opportunity to do home visits. It was great to see everyday life and what it looks like here, I was also a little spoiled.
While at the camp I worked with individuals who could translate from Lozi to English for me so I was able to ask health questions, to teach and to connect. This week has been a lot more difficult. This week I'm in the ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) clinic, an area of the hospital that is packed starting at 08h00 every weekday. Everyone starts with their vitals being taken before continuing on for assessments, blood work, consults and medications for the coming days. I started off doing vitals. I've been taking vitals since first year, so the skill itself wasn't difficult, but it was difficult not understanding what my patients were telling me when I said "good morning" and they went into a big monologue. It was difficult wanting to connect with people and not really knowing how. It was difficult to be missing the stories and the art of nursing which I love, and having to find new and different ways to connect. Not only am I learning a lot about a disease I've rarely seen before now, but I'm learning to transcend an incredibly large language barrier. Recent cab rides and waiting for friends have turned into meeting new friends and having Lozi lessons. Eventually I hope to be able to say more than "Netewmezi" and "Mosile shwani."
Jess W
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Safari Weekend
This past weekend we got to go to a Safari resort in Kafue National park...which is about the size of Switzerland! The lodge we stayed at is not well known by tourists, so we almost had the whole place to ourselves. Unfortunately we had to take a 6 hour ride in a mini bus to get there (we were so squished in there, our shoulders were overlapping). Well worth the trip though! The resort was on the edge of the Kafue river and we went on a sunset boat ride as soon as we arrived there. We didn't get to see any alligators, but the sunset was phenomenal and there was a full moon that night too! All the outings included snacks and drinks, and the all-inclusive food served for breakfast/lunch/dinner was by far the best food I have tasted since I've been in Canada. We seriously stuffed our faces...there is really no fear of us losing weight on this trip lol.
Our accomidations were in separate huts near the lodge, but we had to be escorted to our rooms by guides after dark because wild animals often hangout nearby. The first night there I heard elephants trampling nearby in the middle of the night and heard growling (lion?) early in the morning. Oh and we met the hippo named Basil who hangs out in the lodge once in a while...somehow he believes it is part of his natural habitat? :)
I went on two drives the next day. The first was at 5:30 - 8:30am and we saw elephants, jackels, puku, antelope, multiple birds, buffalo, baboons, and wild dogs - which are super rare (only 3000 in the world, and only 300 in Zambia...and we saw a pack of 12!). One of the trails had Tsete flies (often spread Sleeping Sickness) swarming around us...to the point where I had to cover up so that only my face and hands were exposed because they bite hard! Lots of us got bit, but no one got sick!
On the second drive from 4:30 - 8:00pm we saw some of the same animals, but we also saw lots of zebra and even a cheetah - so exciting! In between the game drives I spent my time tanning by the pool...So it made for a very relaxing weekend!
~ Michelle
Our accomidations were in separate huts near the lodge, but we had to be escorted to our rooms by guides after dark because wild animals often hangout nearby. The first night there I heard elephants trampling nearby in the middle of the night and heard growling (lion?) early in the morning. Oh and we met the hippo named Basil who hangs out in the lodge once in a while...somehow he believes it is part of his natural habitat? :)
I went on two drives the next day. The first was at 5:30 - 8:30am and we saw elephants, jackels, puku, antelope, multiple birds, buffalo, baboons, and wild dogs - which are super rare (only 3000 in the world, and only 300 in Zambia...and we saw a pack of 12!). One of the trails had Tsete flies (often spread Sleeping Sickness) swarming around us...to the point where I had to cover up so that only my face and hands were exposed because they bite hard! Lots of us got bit, but no one got sick!
On the second drive from 4:30 - 8:00pm we saw some of the same animals, but we also saw lots of zebra and even a cheetah - so exciting! In between the game drives I spent my time tanning by the pool...So it made for a very relaxing weekend!
~ Michelle
Thursday, February 17, 2011
"Nothing could be worse than to fear that one had given up too soon..."
02/17/2011
"Nothing could be worse than to fear that one had given up too soon and left one unexpended effort which might have saved the world" - Jane Addams......
Food for thought I guess. Today was the last day of our first week working in Lewanika hospital, tomorrow we all go on safari in kofu national park (sp?)! It is a much needed vacation, after only one short week on the wards. It has been a struggle. An amazing learning experience, and a total warp on our thinking.
So much about the world is difficult and unknown. Never is that more apparent then on a ward you are unfamiliar with. Especially when it also contains a culture and language that is alien to you. It is strange to navigate our new terrain, I feel more expert and more novice at the same time. Like I have nothing and everything to give, and somehow I am confidently unsure of how to go about doing anything.
This is discouraging and difficult. When I feel that way, it makes me want to leave and never go back. Forget that a place I don't understand even exists. But we can't abandon that which we don't understand, for in the end it has so much more to offer us than the everyday routine we are used to. A few days ago I struggled with this, and with all of the uncertainty.
Hard things have taken place while we have been here. Things that make it very difficult for us to fill our role as nurses, in the way we have at home. Very hard to advocate for what we beleive is right, although perhaps sometimes we aren't always right either.. The worst though, is knowing that something more could have been done and wasn't. Or harder, that we could have done more but some how didn't or weren't able to. The trying gets exhausting, and the giving up, actually more exhausting...
Yet it is the struggle that builds strength ... and sometimes also apathy, or resentment. The later I try hard to escape.. and hopefully somehow grow some strength. (Proof of this would be great, any day now... )
And yet today I had a really good day on the ward. A great last day on my surgical rotation here. I had fun with the students, learned along with them, and accomplished more than I feel we had in the days before. And that was very cool. So despite all the difficulties. All the things we failed at. I am taking this one positive for me! And we have to remember to still have fun despite the struggle.
The girls all curl up in the evening and giggle through episodes of glee, blare music while doing the dishes, or have headlamp dance parties in our rooms (Kelso and Leah! ;) So we are all learning, and having fun. Although some duet or solo in glee might bring tears a little easier than it used to, thats ok. We are all ok, underneath it all.
Africa is hard, not in every way but in many, and in a strange sense it is softer because of this.
Thank you for all the support back home <3 Missing you all dearly.
~ Jess
P.S Safari tommorrow! Yeeeaahh! Might be out of touch for a few days as we are in the park till Sunday <3
"Nothing could be worse than to fear that one had given up too soon and left one unexpended effort which might have saved the world" - Jane Addams......
Food for thought I guess. Today was the last day of our first week working in Lewanika hospital, tomorrow we all go on safari in kofu national park (sp?)! It is a much needed vacation, after only one short week on the wards. It has been a struggle. An amazing learning experience, and a total warp on our thinking.
So much about the world is difficult and unknown. Never is that more apparent then on a ward you are unfamiliar with. Especially when it also contains a culture and language that is alien to you. It is strange to navigate our new terrain, I feel more expert and more novice at the same time. Like I have nothing and everything to give, and somehow I am confidently unsure of how to go about doing anything.
This is discouraging and difficult. When I feel that way, it makes me want to leave and never go back. Forget that a place I don't understand even exists. But we can't abandon that which we don't understand, for in the end it has so much more to offer us than the everyday routine we are used to. A few days ago I struggled with this, and with all of the uncertainty.
Hard things have taken place while we have been here. Things that make it very difficult for us to fill our role as nurses, in the way we have at home. Very hard to advocate for what we beleive is right, although perhaps sometimes we aren't always right either.. The worst though, is knowing that something more could have been done and wasn't. Or harder, that we could have done more but some how didn't or weren't able to. The trying gets exhausting, and the giving up, actually more exhausting...
Yet it is the struggle that builds strength ... and sometimes also apathy, or resentment. The later I try hard to escape.. and hopefully somehow grow some strength. (Proof of this would be great, any day now... )
And yet today I had a really good day on the ward. A great last day on my surgical rotation here. I had fun with the students, learned along with them, and accomplished more than I feel we had in the days before. And that was very cool. So despite all the difficulties. All the things we failed at. I am taking this one positive for me! And we have to remember to still have fun despite the struggle.
The girls all curl up in the evening and giggle through episodes of glee, blare music while doing the dishes, or have headlamp dance parties in our rooms (Kelso and Leah! ;) So we are all learning, and having fun. Although some duet or solo in glee might bring tears a little easier than it used to, thats ok. We are all ok, underneath it all.
Africa is hard, not in every way but in many, and in a strange sense it is softer because of this.
Thank you for all the support back home <3 Missing you all dearly.
~ Jess
P.S Safari tommorrow! Yeeeaahh! Might be out of touch for a few days as we are in the park till Sunday <3
Zambian Baptism
Have you ever been in an African rain storm?
We have had them almost every afternoon since we arrived in Mongu. Usually there is so much lightening we are worried about our power going out, but last Sunday night we embraced it.
As soon as we saw the penny sized raindrops falling down we ran outside! A good 15 minutes was spent in child-like play- cooling down and soaking up the rain. Within minutes our hair was soaking and puddles had formed...oh what fun it was!
We went back inside and proceeded to make a mess of the floors- but we didn't care. Floors can be cleaned. Hair can be dried. Clothes can be rung. We didn't care because our souls were rejuvenated!
Needless to say- no one felt the need to take showers this morning :)
Love Jessana
We have had them almost every afternoon since we arrived in Mongu. Usually there is so much lightening we are worried about our power going out, but last Sunday night we embraced it.
As soon as we saw the penny sized raindrops falling down we ran outside! A good 15 minutes was spent in child-like play- cooling down and soaking up the rain. Within minutes our hair was soaking and puddles had formed...oh what fun it was!
We went back inside and proceeded to make a mess of the floors- but we didn't care. Floors can be cleaned. Hair can be dried. Clothes can be rung. We didn't care because our souls were rejuvenated!
Needless to say- no one felt the need to take showers this morning :)
Love Jessana
Monday, February 14, 2011
Zambian Birthday!
Happy birthday to me!
It was my birthday last Wednesday (February 9th). And let me just say that it was one I will remember for a long time. I woke up to birthday cards from friends and family back home, much love to Jessana for lugging them over here for me! It was hard to read the warm wishes from loved ones so far away, and made me miss home a lot. But we kept busy at the hospital, and the girls over here made the day as special as could be for my 22nd.
It is tradition here in Zambia to call the person celebrating their birthday “the baby,” as their birthday celebrates their rebirth. Of course the girls loved this, and referred to me as the baby all day (along with taxi drivers, nurses, and anyone else who got wind of the occasion). It is also a tradition to bath the baby…in cold water…luckily, the girls couldn’t find a bucket to dump on me, I don’t think I would have appreciated the surprise cold shower. I also think the less-then-lukewarm showers at the Cheshire Home were sufficient in keeping with tradition!
Fay, Jess, and Mary were kind enough to get me flowers and a bracelet, and Lynnelle got me a massive bouquet. The girls and I went out for a birthday dinner, and they surprised me with a cake when we got home. My birthday reminded me of how amazing my friends and family are at home, for sending cards even though I’m an ocean away. I also realized just how lucky I am to be travelling with such an amazing group of women, who go out of their way to make my birthday special.
To all my friends and family back home, as well as “The Team,” I love you, you all made my day.
Lots of hugs and smooches to everyone back home, we miss you guys like crazy
The Baby
(Alexandra Malloy)
xo
It was my birthday last Wednesday (February 9th). And let me just say that it was one I will remember for a long time. I woke up to birthday cards from friends and family back home, much love to Jessana for lugging them over here for me! It was hard to read the warm wishes from loved ones so far away, and made me miss home a lot. But we kept busy at the hospital, and the girls over here made the day as special as could be for my 22nd.
It is tradition here in Zambia to call the person celebrating their birthday “the baby,” as their birthday celebrates their rebirth. Of course the girls loved this, and referred to me as the baby all day (along with taxi drivers, nurses, and anyone else who got wind of the occasion). It is also a tradition to bath the baby…in cold water…luckily, the girls couldn’t find a bucket to dump on me, I don’t think I would have appreciated the surprise cold shower. I also think the less-then-lukewarm showers at the Cheshire Home were sufficient in keeping with tradition!
Fay, Jess, and Mary were kind enough to get me flowers and a bracelet, and Lynnelle got me a massive bouquet. The girls and I went out for a birthday dinner, and they surprised me with a cake when we got home. My birthday reminded me of how amazing my friends and family are at home, for sending cards even though I’m an ocean away. I also realized just how lucky I am to be travelling with such an amazing group of women, who go out of their way to make my birthday special.
To all my friends and family back home, as well as “The Team,” I love you, you all made my day.
Lots of hugs and smooches to everyone back home, we miss you guys like crazy
The Baby
(Alexandra Malloy)
xo
Valentine's Day at Lewanika Hospital, Mongu
Today was our first clinical day at the Lewanika Hospital. We have our tentitive schedules for the upcomnig 4 weeks, and we rotate around quite a bit. This week I will be spending time in the intensive care unit. The patient I cared with today had a previous poisoning, and had to have surgery to fix her stomach from the damage. Currently the patient is receiving food through a tube directly into her intestine, as her stomach is left to heal. There was no prognosis communicated, so I plan to follow this patient and see what the doctor's plans are for the week. While re-starting an IV on the patient, I began to gain insight on how limited supplies really are here. The needles used to insert an IV are different than the ones in Canada - which retract the needle quite nicely to prevent the nurse from being poked - and of course no fancy dressings to keep the IV site clean. Instead the IV is just taped in place, and we hope that it won't get infected... Something I noticed today that really gave me a good feeling about my practice was the look of my patient after we washed and re-made the bed with clean blankets. We sat the patient up to assist with breathing and make feedings easier, and she/he looked unbelievably better when we were finished. I can't wait to follow the patient this week and see what happens, and also continue to open my eyes to the Zambian culture. I met a nurse from the US today who has been working here for 5 months, and she gave me some medical Lozi words (the local language) to help me communicate better with my patients - we will share the notebook around the house this week and hopefully will have a better grasp on Lozi soon! It's not as simple as the Zambians say.
At the end of the day a few of us also had a quick discussion about pain control. Pain medication is very limited here... my patient only had two days with pain medication post-operatively, and it is clear it is still very painful to move (there is a long abdominal incision healing still, the patient had surgery 5 days ago). Especially with having my own recent surgery this past summer, I had a hard time not having anything to give my patient as she/he grimaced in pain with even the slightest change of position. Life, and hospital work, just is not the same here as in Canada.
I love you and miss you all back home in Canada, and look forward to seeing you in 5 weeks. Until then, I will continue on with my practice and Lozi lessons! <3 Happy Valentines day to you all,
With love, Melanie
At the end of the day a few of us also had a quick discussion about pain control. Pain medication is very limited here... my patient only had two days with pain medication post-operatively, and it is clear it is still very painful to move (there is a long abdominal incision healing still, the patient had surgery 5 days ago). Especially with having my own recent surgery this past summer, I had a hard time not having anything to give my patient as she/he grimaced in pain with even the slightest change of position. Life, and hospital work, just is not the same here as in Canada.
I love you and miss you all back home in Canada, and look forward to seeing you in 5 weeks. Until then, I will continue on with my practice and Lozi lessons! <3 Happy Valentines day to you all,
With love, Melanie
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The road to Mongu!!
It is february 12th today and Leah, Kelsey, Shannon and I are sitting in an internet cafe in Mongu scrambling to get in touch with family and freinds before out taxi driver picks us up ( at a different internet cafe) in thirty minutes! This post might be kinda short as a result...
We arrived in Mongu (Western Province) on the eveing of February 10th... so that was... Thursday! We all pilled our luggage into the bus at chesshire home in kubalangua (through the back window since the back of the bus didn't open). Once the two back rows of seats were piled to the ceiling with bags, all 17 women, 1 driver, and 1 co- pilot were crammed into our bus we began our journey to Mongu! The girls were crammed in there, 5 people to a row of seats. In the very back where I was sitting, some of us perched on the back rest and the bags behind us. The windows were wide open, traffic pollution streaming into the cabin along with the "fresh air", however teh temperature was ok and we were all in high spirits.
A few hours later we had left the city behind us and entered kofu national park!! The entire area is a wild life reserve and I for one was determined to see a lion or an elephant... or a bird maybe? I stared out the window intently for 2 hours. Wind blowing in my hair, sun burning my face slightly and the heat radiating from the pavement. One of the girls announced she saw a deer, but I still hadn't seen anything :( well, excep for a volture!
Then suddenly spring bock or heart beasts or antelope ( I think they were one of those) began popping up all over the place! I was pretty excited and peered into the underbrush more intensly... and occassionally looking up into the trees... perhaps we would see a leopard?
Soon after we stopped for lunch so Shannon, Hannah, and I went to explore. Jess Barker warned us all to be careful, the last time they had stopped at this particular spot, there had been a pride of lions lying in the grass. Soon the girls and I spotted a baboon ni the tall grass!!! I actually managed to take a very grainy picture of it! :)
We finished all of our snacks and climbed back on the bus. On the road again, for who knows how many hours! Then suddenly the drivers said something at the front of the bus and everyone was scrambling to look ahead of the bus, then it was announced that there was an elephant on the road!!!
I stared straight ahead and could make out a dark shadow on the road ahead of us. \but it was huge! Shurely that was a truck and the drivers were confused? My mind raced to make sense of the scene in front of me, as we got closer my eyes adjusted and I made out the shape of two large elephants crossing the road!!! the bus slowed and we watched for a moment as these massive creatures wandered into the brush. Then suddenly another huge buck began crossing the road behind us, seperated from it's heard. It flapped it's ears slightly, in a sign of agitation and a few moments later our buss pulled away.
I was flabbergasted! Minutes later I had to check my camera again to see if it was true. had three elephants really just walked across the road in front of us!? The whole experience was kinda surreal and I am so excited to go on safari now!!
Anyways after an 11 hour bus ride we finally pulled into Mongu in the dark!
Runnning out of time, so I will leave it upto another one of the girls to continue the story from there. Needless to say it includes, frogs, cockroaches, and snake gaurds!
We are off to the wedding tonight. Hope you enjoyed the blog!! Thanks for reading
~ Jess (L)
We arrived in Mongu (Western Province) on the eveing of February 10th... so that was... Thursday! We all pilled our luggage into the bus at chesshire home in kubalangua (through the back window since the back of the bus didn't open). Once the two back rows of seats were piled to the ceiling with bags, all 17 women, 1 driver, and 1 co- pilot were crammed into our bus we began our journey to Mongu! The girls were crammed in there, 5 people to a row of seats. In the very back where I was sitting, some of us perched on the back rest and the bags behind us. The windows were wide open, traffic pollution streaming into the cabin along with the "fresh air", however teh temperature was ok and we were all in high spirits.
A few hours later we had left the city behind us and entered kofu national park!! The entire area is a wild life reserve and I for one was determined to see a lion or an elephant... or a bird maybe? I stared out the window intently for 2 hours. Wind blowing in my hair, sun burning my face slightly and the heat radiating from the pavement. One of the girls announced she saw a deer, but I still hadn't seen anything :( well, excep for a volture!
Then suddenly spring bock or heart beasts or antelope ( I think they were one of those) began popping up all over the place! I was pretty excited and peered into the underbrush more intensly... and occassionally looking up into the trees... perhaps we would see a leopard?
Soon after we stopped for lunch so Shannon, Hannah, and I went to explore. Jess Barker warned us all to be careful, the last time they had stopped at this particular spot, there had been a pride of lions lying in the grass. Soon the girls and I spotted a baboon ni the tall grass!!! I actually managed to take a very grainy picture of it! :)
We finished all of our snacks and climbed back on the bus. On the road again, for who knows how many hours! Then suddenly the drivers said something at the front of the bus and everyone was scrambling to look ahead of the bus, then it was announced that there was an elephant on the road!!!
I stared straight ahead and could make out a dark shadow on the road ahead of us. \but it was huge! Shurely that was a truck and the drivers were confused? My mind raced to make sense of the scene in front of me, as we got closer my eyes adjusted and I made out the shape of two large elephants crossing the road!!! the bus slowed and we watched for a moment as these massive creatures wandered into the brush. Then suddenly another huge buck began crossing the road behind us, seperated from it's heard. It flapped it's ears slightly, in a sign of agitation and a few moments later our buss pulled away.
I was flabbergasted! Minutes later I had to check my camera again to see if it was true. had three elephants really just walked across the road in front of us!? The whole experience was kinda surreal and I am so excited to go on safari now!!
Anyways after an 11 hour bus ride we finally pulled into Mongu in the dark!
Runnning out of time, so I will leave it upto another one of the girls to continue the story from there. Needless to say it includes, frogs, cockroaches, and snake gaurds!
We are off to the wedding tonight. Hope you enjoyed the blog!! Thanks for reading
~ Jess (L)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Okay, okay...so I MAY have been putting off posting on this blog...I've never been much of a "blogger"...I feel so exposed, ha ha! All right, well here goes nothing...
As our plane began its decent into Lusaka it all finally began to feel real. Up until that point it seemed like a distant dream, not tangible by any means. Stepping off the plane your senses are immediately bombarded by this foreign climate; the air is thick with humidity, green foliage and palm trees flourish in every direction. It is a stark contrast from the grey, concrete jungle we have just spent a couple days exploring in London.
The first couple days here are relatively sedated. We settled ourselves in at the Cheshire home for disabled children in Lusaka. The nuns have been kind enough to rent out a room for us for only 75, 000 Kwacha a night ($15 CAN). There are kids running around everywhere! They are all so adorable; however, only a couple of them speak English and so there are a lot of hand gestures used! Getting around town has been an adventure, seeing as the cabs we take are just people’s cars which all seem to make rather ominous rattling noises that may or may not indicate engine failure... On that note, my cab was in a fender bender this morning (don’t panic Mom and Dad, I’m fine!). Let’s just say they don’t really partake in the whole exchange of information thing here. Instead, they scream at each other and someone drives away rather quickly.
Speaking of car accidents, Leah and I were at the Sunday market and a mini-bus was side-swiped by another car (which drove away of course). You wouldn’t believe the reaction the pedestrians had! About 30 people ran across the highway to see if they were okay, and the whole market by the road came to a standstill! In Canada I’m certain everyone would continue on about their day, assuming it was someone else’s responsibility. That is the beauty of this country though; there is a sense of connection between the people and when engaging with Zambians there is an undeniable sense of genuine interest in the interaction at hand. It’s so refreshing, seeing that in Canada we have the “stranger danger!” attitude, and, thus, you may be perceived as annoying to most people if you attempt to strike up a conversation with a stranger on the bus, etc.
On Saturday we were invited to the Zambike farm. It’s run by a group of young American men who employ a bunch of local Zambians to help build bikes and ambulance trailers that will later be sold/ donated to various NGO’s/ charities, etc. They have even perfected the art of the bamboo bike frame! Very cool looking! These bikes vastly improve the lives of their recipient, as they offer a low cost means of transportation, and the ambulance trailers allow for a speedy transport to the hospital in an emergency.
I had a super awesome time there! We played some beach volley ball, had a delicious braii (African for bbq), learned some African dance moves, played with some adorable little kiddies, and watched an amazing sunset from the roof-top deck. Life is good.
Our first day at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) was a blur! I’ll paint a picture for you...Imagine a hospital built in the 1960’s, and has only had fresh coats of paint as a means of renovation. We were lucky enough to get the grand tour of the whole place, and let me tell you it is an absolute labyrinth! The Nurses here all wear the traditional starched white dresses and caps, or pressed shirt and pants for the Murses (male nurses- which is apparently more common here). Very professional looking...needless to say I felt a little out of place in my wrinkly blue scrubs!
Shannon and I had the opportunity to spend our three clinical days at the Cancer Center. It is the only one in the country, and is therefore quite busy! We spent a day on the chemotherapy ward, a day in consultation clinics, and finally a day observing the various diagnostic imaging machines (CT, MRI) and also Brachy therapy ( used to deliver localized radiation to the cancerous region...mainly oesophageal and cervical seen here). On that note, there is a ridiculous percentage of patients with advanced cervical cancer here, being that they simply do not have the same screening methods we have back home (get your pap’s ladies!!!). The staff was all so friendly and made such an amazing effort to include us and teach us all they could! It was a great experience, and I cannot believe how much oncology knowledge was packed into three days.
Tomorrow we leave for Mongu! We are all very excited about this as we will be driving through a game park on the 8 hour drive there. Crossing my fingers to see some wildlife (c'monnnn Lyger!!! hahaha). All right folks, I’ve got to skedaddle for now...
Much love from Africa...
Kelso
As our plane began its decent into Lusaka it all finally began to feel real. Up until that point it seemed like a distant dream, not tangible by any means. Stepping off the plane your senses are immediately bombarded by this foreign climate; the air is thick with humidity, green foliage and palm trees flourish in every direction. It is a stark contrast from the grey, concrete jungle we have just spent a couple days exploring in London.
The first couple days here are relatively sedated. We settled ourselves in at the Cheshire home for disabled children in Lusaka. The nuns have been kind enough to rent out a room for us for only 75, 000 Kwacha a night ($15 CAN). There are kids running around everywhere! They are all so adorable; however, only a couple of them speak English and so there are a lot of hand gestures used! Getting around town has been an adventure, seeing as the cabs we take are just people’s cars which all seem to make rather ominous rattling noises that may or may not indicate engine failure... On that note, my cab was in a fender bender this morning (don’t panic Mom and Dad, I’m fine!). Let’s just say they don’t really partake in the whole exchange of information thing here. Instead, they scream at each other and someone drives away rather quickly.
Speaking of car accidents, Leah and I were at the Sunday market and a mini-bus was side-swiped by another car (which drove away of course). You wouldn’t believe the reaction the pedestrians had! About 30 people ran across the highway to see if they were okay, and the whole market by the road came to a standstill! In Canada I’m certain everyone would continue on about their day, assuming it was someone else’s responsibility. That is the beauty of this country though; there is a sense of connection between the people and when engaging with Zambians there is an undeniable sense of genuine interest in the interaction at hand. It’s so refreshing, seeing that in Canada we have the “stranger danger!” attitude, and, thus, you may be perceived as annoying to most people if you attempt to strike up a conversation with a stranger on the bus, etc.
On Saturday we were invited to the Zambike farm. It’s run by a group of young American men who employ a bunch of local Zambians to help build bikes and ambulance trailers that will later be sold/ donated to various NGO’s/ charities, etc. They have even perfected the art of the bamboo bike frame! Very cool looking! These bikes vastly improve the lives of their recipient, as they offer a low cost means of transportation, and the ambulance trailers allow for a speedy transport to the hospital in an emergency.
I had a super awesome time there! We played some beach volley ball, had a delicious braii (African for bbq), learned some African dance moves, played with some adorable little kiddies, and watched an amazing sunset from the roof-top deck. Life is good.
Our first day at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) was a blur! I’ll paint a picture for you...Imagine a hospital built in the 1960’s, and has only had fresh coats of paint as a means of renovation. We were lucky enough to get the grand tour of the whole place, and let me tell you it is an absolute labyrinth! The Nurses here all wear the traditional starched white dresses and caps, or pressed shirt and pants for the Murses (male nurses- which is apparently more common here). Very professional looking...needless to say I felt a little out of place in my wrinkly blue scrubs!
Shannon and I had the opportunity to spend our three clinical days at the Cancer Center. It is the only one in the country, and is therefore quite busy! We spent a day on the chemotherapy ward, a day in consultation clinics, and finally a day observing the various diagnostic imaging machines (CT, MRI) and also Brachy therapy ( used to deliver localized radiation to the cancerous region...mainly oesophageal and cervical seen here). On that note, there is a ridiculous percentage of patients with advanced cervical cancer here, being that they simply do not have the same screening methods we have back home (get your pap’s ladies!!!). The staff was all so friendly and made such an amazing effort to include us and teach us all they could! It was a great experience, and I cannot believe how much oncology knowledge was packed into three days.
Tomorrow we leave for Mongu! We are all very excited about this as we will be driving through a game park on the 8 hour drive there. Crossing my fingers to see some wildlife (c'monnnn Lyger!!! hahaha). All right folks, I’ve got to skedaddle for now...
Much love from Africa...
Kelso
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Yesterday was our first day emersed in the Lusaka hospital for our clinical experience. Many of us felt nervous, and unsure how to help, but as the day progress I think we all began to feel more comfortable where we stood. The Lusaka hospital is huge, but we divided into a few groups and each had an instructor nearby to watch over us. I was assigned to pediatrics, and spent thee first part of the day on the malnutrition ward, and the second part at the Maternal Child Health clinic.
The malnutrition ward is very hard for me to put into words. Imagine a large room with rows of metal cribs, babies crying, families chattering, crowding, heat, smells, bugs crawling on the flors, flies around the children and their bits of food... witnessing children carried into the ward that look to thin it astounds me that they are still breathing.... watching a babe lay limp and her eyes roll back while her mother changed her diaper, because she had no strength left... a small boy brought in with ribs not only showing through the skin but actually protruding, he was so thin. There must have been 30 or so families brining their malnourished children to the wrd for treatment, even though the ward was already full. It is hard to even imagine. Some of the children are frequent patients, as they begin to become nourished in the hospital they go back home where there is no food for them, and arrive back on the ward months later. These children usually suffer from a disease or condition that contributes to the malabsorption of food, such as HIV/AIDs, TB, or other parasitic illnesses. Children most acute are kept closest to the nurses, and are fed by nasogastric tubes (inserted through the nose, these tubes lead to the stomach and allow high-caloric feeds to be directly passed to the stomach). The feeds were made from sour milk, sugar, mineral/vitamin powder, water, and oil -- a mixture made up by the nurses every 12 hours. These sickest babes are too exhausted to eat anymore. The next row of cots has children who are starting to have more energy to eat, and the remanding two rows of cots the children are starting to eat and play again, almost ready to go home.
The majority of my day was spent in public health, helping immunize healthier babies, and make rounds on the pediatric wards to teach mothers the importance of vaccinating their children. I could not help with much of the teaching, since all was spoken in a Zambian dialect, but i was able to give injections to the babes brought into the clinic. About half the mothers bringing their babies in were younger than 20. The nurses in this clinic were extremly welcoming and happy to have me along with them, and we had an opportunity to sit and discuss some of the differences between Canadian and Zambian health care. They laughed and could not believe that in Canada, men and women are on the same ward and even in the same rooms! They had me repeat this to doctors that came in, to see their reactions. The also were shocked that I had never seen a case of TB or malaria in Canada. These are two very prevelent diseases here.
All in all it was a good day, despite the sweltering heat and surprises along the way. As we all came together at the end of the day, it seemed that everyone saw unbelievable sights and had new experiences. This is only the beginning of our journey here as nurses...
This Thursday we will be travelling to Mongu, our resting place for the next 5 weeks or so, and we will try to keep you readers as updated as we can on the sights we see here. Love and miss you all back home,
~Melanie
The malnutrition ward is very hard for me to put into words. Imagine a large room with rows of metal cribs, babies crying, families chattering, crowding, heat, smells, bugs crawling on the flors, flies around the children and their bits of food... witnessing children carried into the ward that look to thin it astounds me that they are still breathing.... watching a babe lay limp and her eyes roll back while her mother changed her diaper, because she had no strength left... a small boy brought in with ribs not only showing through the skin but actually protruding, he was so thin. There must have been 30 or so families brining their malnourished children to the wrd for treatment, even though the ward was already full. It is hard to even imagine. Some of the children are frequent patients, as they begin to become nourished in the hospital they go back home where there is no food for them, and arrive back on the ward months later. These children usually suffer from a disease or condition that contributes to the malabsorption of food, such as HIV/AIDs, TB, or other parasitic illnesses. Children most acute are kept closest to the nurses, and are fed by nasogastric tubes (inserted through the nose, these tubes lead to the stomach and allow high-caloric feeds to be directly passed to the stomach). The feeds were made from sour milk, sugar, mineral/vitamin powder, water, and oil -- a mixture made up by the nurses every 12 hours. These sickest babes are too exhausted to eat anymore. The next row of cots has children who are starting to have more energy to eat, and the remanding two rows of cots the children are starting to eat and play again, almost ready to go home.
The majority of my day was spent in public health, helping immunize healthier babies, and make rounds on the pediatric wards to teach mothers the importance of vaccinating their children. I could not help with much of the teaching, since all was spoken in a Zambian dialect, but i was able to give injections to the babes brought into the clinic. About half the mothers bringing their babies in were younger than 20. The nurses in this clinic were extremly welcoming and happy to have me along with them, and we had an opportunity to sit and discuss some of the differences between Canadian and Zambian health care. They laughed and could not believe that in Canada, men and women are on the same ward and even in the same rooms! They had me repeat this to doctors that came in, to see their reactions. The also were shocked that I had never seen a case of TB or malaria in Canada. These are two very prevelent diseases here.
All in all it was a good day, despite the sweltering heat and surprises along the way. As we all came together at the end of the day, it seemed that everyone saw unbelievable sights and had new experiences. This is only the beginning of our journey here as nurses...
This Thursday we will be travelling to Mongu, our resting place for the next 5 weeks or so, and we will try to keep you readers as updated as we can on the sights we see here. Love and miss you all back home,
~Melanie
Monday, February 7, 2011
Some things are universal.. others not so much!
Yesterday we got back to the place where we are staying in Lusaka, it's called The Cheshire house. The night before we slept over at the zam bikes farm. Basically Jess and Mary (two instructors we are here with) know these guys from the states who run a company that builds bikes in Zambia and employs many of the people in the surrounding village. They have a large house on a wide open property and so all 14 of us climbed in the back of a flat bed truck once again, and drove 45 min to their farm. Once there, we soaked up the sun, played vollleyball, climbed the tree fort and learned about their bike factory. We also admired their many fruit trees. They grow papaya, limes, lemons oranges... the list goes on!
IN the evening we had a braiil (which is an African BBQ) the food was amazing. The evening ended with african dancing, of course modeled for us by the zambians at the party ( as well as their adorable tiny children) It was lots of fun and by the end of the night my face hurt from laughing and smiling!
Later we started to figure out where all 17 of us would be sleeping so we went to explore the bed rooms. Leah pulled the pillow off one of the beds and we discovered a large lizard asleep underneath! We all laughed and I tried unsuccsessfully to catch it. This was all hilarious untill a few hours later when it was decided that I would be the one sleeping there!
Then on the way home we went shopping! All of us had our first hand encournter with bartering, Zambian style :) Many beautiful things were bought at the sunday market... along with a few things we probably didn't need! The prices atarted high and as soon as one thing was bought, it seemed we had a massive sign on our foreheads reading "I will buy anything you offer if you try hard enough"! However we all began to get the hang of their interactions, learned to say no, and thank you! The underlying feel of the interactions for me was always a firm urge to sell, but once you were also firm, even comfortable with what you wanted, things went much smother. I laughed with people and learned about their home towns, and I think spent a fair price on the things I bought. So I was happy, and had fun :)
After our shopping we returned from the zam bikes farm and began to prepare for a day at LTH (Lusaka teaching hospital). Some of us were sunburned ( me, just a little) and I think many were nervous about what we would encounter the next day. Fay, Jess and Mary did a great job of calming our nerves and assured us that we would be with one of them the whole time. I still woke up with sight butterflies in the pit of my stomach.
So this morning at 0715 Elvis and his crew of taxi drivers picked us up and drove us to the hospital. Our group was split into four and we all wandered off to find either the surgical, medical, pediatrics, or oncology ward.
I was on the surgical ward with Mary, Heather, Gabby, and Maranda. I must admit on our first tour I was taken back by the state of the hosipital, however I strongly beleived that I could handle it and everything would be fine... Turns out, my body disagreed with my mind intensly.
For the first hour and a half I was fine. One of the nursing students took us under her wing and taught us how to clean the treatment room, and then all of the stretchers. An hour and a half into our shift and I still hadnt been required to speak to a patient! Very different from what we are expected to do at home. After we were finished cleaning the bed frames then we joined the doctors for rounds and went bed to bed learning about the patient conditions and treatments. The routine in the morning was different for each of us. It is not to say that the patient's were not assessed or cared for while we were cleaning, simply that another group of people were responsible for that.
Many of the patients on the ward we were on had gaping open fractures, external traction, burns to more than 20% of the body, osteomyalitis and infected wounds.
Might I add, it was probably 25 degrees on the ward and the assault of smells we encoutered were totally foreign to me. I've always considered myself to have a horrible sense of smell, but it seamed that the heat had no mercy, and every sent was hightened and intensified.
My mind felt fine, I could handle the images, scents, sounds in front of me, or so I thought. For the next two hours I spent 2min on the ward and then 20 - 30 minutes recovering in the staff room as I fought my bodies urge to knock me off my feet. I felt like the hugest baby as I struggled to keep from fainting. Not to mention the wonderful nurses who came to check on me... which made me feel guilty.
Things got better around 11 3o, and we were only there till 13:00. So I guess the day went ok, I never actually passed out cold, although I was close many times.
It was a difficult day physically. It was also very interesting mentally. The sights we encountered were unlike anything I had seen at home. Wounds deeper than I had encountered before, burns covering surfaces that I hadn't imagined could peel away. I am not the most squeemish person however the open fractures were a sight I could have done without.
The people were so brave, crowded on the ward. Sometimes on mattressess on the floor. I watched as people grit through the pain of dressing changes without medication, watched the nurses fearlessly face conditions in which I would not have the slightest idea where to start.
All the while smiling and joking amongst each other; patients, families and staff alike... of course with a few exceptions. The doctors and nurses taught us as if they were investing in the future of their own staff. The kindness was incredible and of course very touching. Some things in nursing are universal <3
There was a moment I felt like crying, couldn't control my body and began to doubt whether it wasnt linked to the unconscious occurings in my mind. Questioned whether I was really ment to be there... Then a nurse came in to chat with me and teach me some of her language. And soon the moment was passed.
I love it here in a wierd way. It's awkward and hot at times, cold and crammed at others. But underneath it all I can't help but feel as though I am in the thick of things. That day to day life here is so much more eventful in a quite kind of way... in a sense a more colourful way.
I have barely begun to understand what life is like here, but I am starting to navigate my own. Tomorrow we have another day on the ward and I can only hope to learn even more in the morning, and perhaps hope that this time, my body will cope!
hope things at home in Canada are going well for everyone :) Thanks for reading, and for supporting us.
~Jess (L)
IN the evening we had a braiil (which is an African BBQ) the food was amazing. The evening ended with african dancing, of course modeled for us by the zambians at the party ( as well as their adorable tiny children) It was lots of fun and by the end of the night my face hurt from laughing and smiling!
Later we started to figure out where all 17 of us would be sleeping so we went to explore the bed rooms. Leah pulled the pillow off one of the beds and we discovered a large lizard asleep underneath! We all laughed and I tried unsuccsessfully to catch it. This was all hilarious untill a few hours later when it was decided that I would be the one sleeping there!
Then on the way home we went shopping! All of us had our first hand encournter with bartering, Zambian style :) Many beautiful things were bought at the sunday market... along with a few things we probably didn't need! The prices atarted high and as soon as one thing was bought, it seemed we had a massive sign on our foreheads reading "I will buy anything you offer if you try hard enough"! However we all began to get the hang of their interactions, learned to say no, and thank you! The underlying feel of the interactions for me was always a firm urge to sell, but once you were also firm, even comfortable with what you wanted, things went much smother. I laughed with people and learned about their home towns, and I think spent a fair price on the things I bought. So I was happy, and had fun :)
After our shopping we returned from the zam bikes farm and began to prepare for a day at LTH (Lusaka teaching hospital). Some of us were sunburned ( me, just a little) and I think many were nervous about what we would encounter the next day. Fay, Jess and Mary did a great job of calming our nerves and assured us that we would be with one of them the whole time. I still woke up with sight butterflies in the pit of my stomach.
So this morning at 0715 Elvis and his crew of taxi drivers picked us up and drove us to the hospital. Our group was split into four and we all wandered off to find either the surgical, medical, pediatrics, or oncology ward.
I was on the surgical ward with Mary, Heather, Gabby, and Maranda. I must admit on our first tour I was taken back by the state of the hosipital, however I strongly beleived that I could handle it and everything would be fine... Turns out, my body disagreed with my mind intensly.
For the first hour and a half I was fine. One of the nursing students took us under her wing and taught us how to clean the treatment room, and then all of the stretchers. An hour and a half into our shift and I still hadnt been required to speak to a patient! Very different from what we are expected to do at home. After we were finished cleaning the bed frames then we joined the doctors for rounds and went bed to bed learning about the patient conditions and treatments. The routine in the morning was different for each of us. It is not to say that the patient's were not assessed or cared for while we were cleaning, simply that another group of people were responsible for that.
Many of the patients on the ward we were on had gaping open fractures, external traction, burns to more than 20% of the body, osteomyalitis and infected wounds.
Might I add, it was probably 25 degrees on the ward and the assault of smells we encoutered were totally foreign to me. I've always considered myself to have a horrible sense of smell, but it seamed that the heat had no mercy, and every sent was hightened and intensified.
My mind felt fine, I could handle the images, scents, sounds in front of me, or so I thought. For the next two hours I spent 2min on the ward and then 20 - 30 minutes recovering in the staff room as I fought my bodies urge to knock me off my feet. I felt like the hugest baby as I struggled to keep from fainting. Not to mention the wonderful nurses who came to check on me... which made me feel guilty.
Things got better around 11 3o, and we were only there till 13:00. So I guess the day went ok, I never actually passed out cold, although I was close many times.
It was a difficult day physically. It was also very interesting mentally. The sights we encountered were unlike anything I had seen at home. Wounds deeper than I had encountered before, burns covering surfaces that I hadn't imagined could peel away. I am not the most squeemish person however the open fractures were a sight I could have done without.
The people were so brave, crowded on the ward. Sometimes on mattressess on the floor. I watched as people grit through the pain of dressing changes without medication, watched the nurses fearlessly face conditions in which I would not have the slightest idea where to start.
All the while smiling and joking amongst each other; patients, families and staff alike... of course with a few exceptions. The doctors and nurses taught us as if they were investing in the future of their own staff. The kindness was incredible and of course very touching. Some things in nursing are universal <3
There was a moment I felt like crying, couldn't control my body and began to doubt whether it wasnt linked to the unconscious occurings in my mind. Questioned whether I was really ment to be there... Then a nurse came in to chat with me and teach me some of her language. And soon the moment was passed.
I love it here in a wierd way. It's awkward and hot at times, cold and crammed at others. But underneath it all I can't help but feel as though I am in the thick of things. That day to day life here is so much more eventful in a quite kind of way... in a sense a more colourful way.
I have barely begun to understand what life is like here, but I am starting to navigate my own. Tomorrow we have another day on the ward and I can only hope to learn even more in the morning, and perhaps hope that this time, my body will cope!
hope things at home in Canada are going well for everyone :) Thanks for reading, and for supporting us.
~Jess (L)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Settling in Lusaka
Hello everyone! Day three in Zambia and I feel like I havent stopped sweating! The scenery here is amazing, and it has been sunny ever since we've been here (knock on wood, I prefer the sunshine to rain!) As Jess already said we still be going to a BBQ and volleyball game today. We plan to stay in lusaka for this week, and head to mongu thursday perhaps. The internet is very slow here and cuts out often so please be patient with our blogs! Love you all back home, and miss you like crazy.
~Melanie
~Melanie
Friday, February 4, 2011
"you know from the pounding in your chest that love is important"
It’s 9:00 am on Feb 5th and i’m sitting hunched over in Hannah’s bed. Kelsey’s computer is heating my legs and my back is cool from the wind outside our open window. I would climb into my own bed, but the power cord won’t reach 6 rows down to where my single bed is resting. .... Well here goes my first attempt to fit the first portion of our trip into thoughts. Then organized those thoughts into sentences. Needless to say, forgive me for my horrible grammar and one sided opinions!
We arrived in Lusaka and then completed the half hour high way drive in the back of a flat bed truck! As gabby updated everyone last night, we got many interested looks from the local people. I am still unsure if this is because 14 white girls was an unusual sight or if the sight of any fourteen people in the back of a flat bed truck would be unusual. Then of course the truck we are in broke down on the side of the highway and Jess came and quoted our favourite saying TIA (“this is Africa”). Although this was a minor inconvenience the people are resourceful, and quickly the entire front portion of the truck was flipped forward. The driver and some bystanders quickly got on cell phones (everyone has one) and the issue was solved in minutes.
Shortly after, we arrived at Chesshire House in Kabulonga. The catholic sisters run this home for physically disabled children, and have set us all up in one bedroom! All fourteen of us have single beds which are lined up side by side. I think we are all feeling a little like sardines, but we are also haveing tons of fun. Multiple girls have brought up how we feel like we are in summer camp The rest of the day is a blur of playing with children, napping, and getting used to our new setting. Fay graciously treated us for dinner at the Irish Pub where we had dinner, and by the time we were done the conversation at my end of the table was sparse. All of us tired and no longer feeling the need to fill empty spaces with idle chatter.
The first night in our “dorm” was really fun. All of us hung our mosquito nets and dragged the things we needed out of our over stuffed packs. Most girls dragged out their headlamps and I must say we looked like a sexy bunch ;) When the over head lights went out, the room seemed to be swimming with jellyfish, the underbellies of our mosquito nets illuminated with the glow of headlights. It was pretty cool.
Day two we went and toured the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. This is the largest hospital in all of Zambia and contains the only MRI and CT in the entire country. Our guides were wonderful and shared with us details on each of their many departments. What we all assumed would be a short, half hour to fourty five minute tour, turned into a three and a half hours! We were all very grateful for the information, however personally I was a bit overwhelmed, hungry, hot and tired by the end of it.
The woman who showed us the tour of the paediatric wings, informed us before we walked in that “ we do not have the resources that you have in your countries, however we do the best we can with what we have.” This is definitely true, at first the difference in equipment is evident in the extra space they seam to have in the halls, however is even more obvious when faced with the patient to nurse ratio. Aprox 40 patients per nurse in each of the wards, except for the “high cost wards” which were mostly empty.
In the evening we went out for Mexican food and everything tasted amazing. Then all the girls caught taxis back to Cheshire home. I have no idea what the other girls experiences were like in the taxis last night, but Kelsey, Leah, Lynnelle and I had a fun filled ride home. Our taxi driver, Elvis, chatted animatedly with us, and shared his advice on life, Zambia, taxis, and Partying!
“Can I tell you,” he said in his beautiful Zambian accent, “ Life is a challenge. However you know from the pounding in your chest that the heart’s love is important. You must find someone to love to share the challenges of life”. I was sold! From now on we will be calling him everytime we need a taxi. He gave us hints on how to know when you are at increased risk of being pick pocketed, taught us not to get into taxis with two men in the car. And gave us general tips about going dancing! Not that we have been dancing, but you never know He finished his speech by telling us that “he must tell us, or we won’t know, but now we have a choice to follow his advice or not.” Really we don’t have much of a choice, you have to be safe, and so we are grateful for his words.
Today we are all going to the Farm where the Zambike guys live. We have been challenged to a game of Volleyball and our more talented women are ready to rock the court... or whatever you call it! Anyways, this has gotten extremely long.... thank you for taking the time to share in our stories and read what we write. There will be many more stories when we get home.
Loving it here, missing those I love.
~ Jess (L)
We arrived in Lusaka and then completed the half hour high way drive in the back of a flat bed truck! As gabby updated everyone last night, we got many interested looks from the local people. I am still unsure if this is because 14 white girls was an unusual sight or if the sight of any fourteen people in the back of a flat bed truck would be unusual. Then of course the truck we are in broke down on the side of the highway and Jess came and quoted our favourite saying TIA (“this is Africa”). Although this was a minor inconvenience the people are resourceful, and quickly the entire front portion of the truck was flipped forward. The driver and some bystanders quickly got on cell phones (everyone has one) and the issue was solved in minutes.
Shortly after, we arrived at Chesshire House in Kabulonga. The catholic sisters run this home for physically disabled children, and have set us all up in one bedroom! All fourteen of us have single beds which are lined up side by side. I think we are all feeling a little like sardines, but we are also haveing tons of fun. Multiple girls have brought up how we feel like we are in summer camp The rest of the day is a blur of playing with children, napping, and getting used to our new setting. Fay graciously treated us for dinner at the Irish Pub where we had dinner, and by the time we were done the conversation at my end of the table was sparse. All of us tired and no longer feeling the need to fill empty spaces with idle chatter.
The first night in our “dorm” was really fun. All of us hung our mosquito nets and dragged the things we needed out of our over stuffed packs. Most girls dragged out their headlamps and I must say we looked like a sexy bunch ;) When the over head lights went out, the room seemed to be swimming with jellyfish, the underbellies of our mosquito nets illuminated with the glow of headlights. It was pretty cool.
Day two we went and toured the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. This is the largest hospital in all of Zambia and contains the only MRI and CT in the entire country. Our guides were wonderful and shared with us details on each of their many departments. What we all assumed would be a short, half hour to fourty five minute tour, turned into a three and a half hours! We were all very grateful for the information, however personally I was a bit overwhelmed, hungry, hot and tired by the end of it.
The woman who showed us the tour of the paediatric wings, informed us before we walked in that “ we do not have the resources that you have in your countries, however we do the best we can with what we have.” This is definitely true, at first the difference in equipment is evident in the extra space they seam to have in the halls, however is even more obvious when faced with the patient to nurse ratio. Aprox 40 patients per nurse in each of the wards, except for the “high cost wards” which were mostly empty.
In the evening we went out for Mexican food and everything tasted amazing. Then all the girls caught taxis back to Cheshire home. I have no idea what the other girls experiences were like in the taxis last night, but Kelsey, Leah, Lynnelle and I had a fun filled ride home. Our taxi driver, Elvis, chatted animatedly with us, and shared his advice on life, Zambia, taxis, and Partying!
“Can I tell you,” he said in his beautiful Zambian accent, “ Life is a challenge. However you know from the pounding in your chest that the heart’s love is important. You must find someone to love to share the challenges of life”. I was sold! From now on we will be calling him everytime we need a taxi. He gave us hints on how to know when you are at increased risk of being pick pocketed, taught us not to get into taxis with two men in the car. And gave us general tips about going dancing! Not that we have been dancing, but you never know He finished his speech by telling us that “he must tell us, or we won’t know, but now we have a choice to follow his advice or not.” Really we don’t have much of a choice, you have to be safe, and so we are grateful for his words.
Today we are all going to the Farm where the Zambike guys live. We have been challenged to a game of Volleyball and our more talented women are ready to rock the court... or whatever you call it! Anyways, this has gotten extremely long.... thank you for taking the time to share in our stories and read what we write. There will be many more stories when we get home.
Loving it here, missing those I love.
~ Jess (L)
The Adventure Begins
After meeting up with the rest of the gang in London we all flew in to Lusaka landing around 6:45am on February 3rd. As we staggered off the plane our eyes needed to adjust to the bright sun. The temperature was already at 20 degrees Celsius and it was a little bit muggy with some clouds in the sky. As we waited in line for our visa we all rehearsed our stories. “We are nurses from Canada going to VOLUNTEER in Mongu and we need a BUSINESS visa.” After gathering our bags we were greeted by Fay, Jessica, Mary, and Benjamin (our driver). We loaded the back of the truck with all of our bags making room at the back for ourselves. Picture a truck filled 50 pieces of luggage (hockey bags to backpacks) and 15 white girls going down the road. Many heads turned to see this sight and waved. Feeling like celebrities we all waved back.
About midway into our journey the roar of the truck engine died and we coasted to the side of the road. As Benjamin attempted to start the truck only the whine of the engine could be heard. Our experienced leaders showed no panic as they smiled and welcomed us to Africa. Eventually the truck started and engulfed Fay, Jessica, and Mary in black fumes.
We carried on our way to Chesire Home. This is where we will be residing for a week and a bit. We were greeted by the nuns and shown to our dorm. We made ourselves at home in the cute little room with 15 beds and a bathroom with 2 showers. From there we were left to explore. Traveling in groups we hit up the nearest ATM, food establishment, and grocery store. As some of us napped others went outside to play with the children that attended the school in the complex.
We took short taxi ride to an Irish Pub for dinner. The food was fabulous! A few dishes that we had were shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, burgers, and potato jacket. During dinner we all picked the brains of Fay, Mary, and Jessica asking questions of what we should expect for the next couple of weeks. Full and tired we headed back to our place. With a hospital tour scheduled for tomorrow, we all got ready to bed. We all finicked and fiddled with our bed bug sheets and mosquito nets and eventually got settled in so that Fay, Jess, and Mary could come tuck us in.
- Gabby
About midway into our journey the roar of the truck engine died and we coasted to the side of the road. As Benjamin attempted to start the truck only the whine of the engine could be heard. Our experienced leaders showed no panic as they smiled and welcomed us to Africa. Eventually the truck started and engulfed Fay, Jessica, and Mary in black fumes.
We carried on our way to Chesire Home. This is where we will be residing for a week and a bit. We were greeted by the nuns and shown to our dorm. We made ourselves at home in the cute little room with 15 beds and a bathroom with 2 showers. From there we were left to explore. Traveling in groups we hit up the nearest ATM, food establishment, and grocery store. As some of us napped others went outside to play with the children that attended the school in the complex.
We took short taxi ride to an Irish Pub for dinner. The food was fabulous! A few dishes that we had were shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, burgers, and potato jacket. During dinner we all picked the brains of Fay, Mary, and Jessica asking questions of what we should expect for the next couple of weeks. Full and tired we headed back to our place. With a hospital tour scheduled for tomorrow, we all got ready to bed. We all finicked and fiddled with our bed bug sheets and mosquito nets and eventually got settled in so that Fay, Jess, and Mary could come tuck us in.
- Gabby
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