A day with the eye team.

'So, tomorrow you have the day off right...?' That's how my bunk mate (and opthalmologist), Therese very subtly began leading me into agreeing to a day with the eye team, screening for patients for surgery. I agreed right away, it would be great to get out into the country and have a new experience. My natural instincts cried out 'out of your comfort zone, you won't know what you're doing, haven't you 'stepped out' enough already', thankfully I ignored that and jumped in the van with the 10 or so other people from the eye team including translators and another of my friends going along for the extra pairs of hands.

The team had ben invited by a doctor who ran a clinic for patients in quite a large area 'Tubmenburg', and had 200 patients lined up for us to screen for cataract removal. We arrived to hundreds of people milling around the clinic area, kids and families hanging out to see white people, people to be screened seated in large dingy building, many with canes or people with them to guide them while they walked. After unloading the van, we had the traditional 'welcome to the team' and several thank-yous anf welcomes from lots of local 'voices' and a message from the senator no less (who I was to meet a little later).

Then began the work. We set up 3 opthalmology stations, and a general medical assessment station for those definitely to receive surgery. Then I began to help with registration. I had the PA to the senator 'Thomas' come round with me, as I asked for names, ages, dominant hands, main eye complaint, he 'translated;' asked the same with a Liberian accent and a few key words ;-). Which hand you work with, your age/how many years/what president was there when you were born, all two eye or one hurting, you sew dew or it cleeaar etc etc. That in itself was an experience. So many people here do not have a clue what their age is. Many time Thomas just had to give a guess, but looking at them to work out ages was difficult, the war and hard labour had taken it's toll on some, and I am sure others were guessing 'generously!' I completed forms for about 2 1/2 hours straight, whilst shifting people along chairs as people went to have their visual acquity tested, eye drops inserted and full examinations. Thomas spent all this time spelling out unusual names for me (virtually every one!), very tiresome for him I am sure.

I have never seen so many clear as day cataracts in my life. People were completely blind because of them. We even saw some children under 15 with cataracts. When I had a second to think, I wondered at the skill of the mass of old and young, being guided everywhere and how they were able to function, some without even a stick, and manoeouver round their local town, and do their day to day work. Knowing the potholes in this place, that I have nearly missed on many occasions, I was astounded. The sea of desperate faces and continual, 'can you help me' was a challenge to the soul to say the least. 'You see doctor first' always had to be the answer.

At 1pm (announced in our meeting as lunchtime by white peoples clocks, not Africans!), we stopped for food. We were provided with massive bowls of rice, potato greens, fish and Casava leaves. I have quite a bad cold at the moment, and let me tell you, the spices stepped up the use of tissues something chronic!! After lunch, although all exhausted, we carried on through the remaining people (by this stage, screening numbers had risen from 200 to at least 300). I changed by job this time, helping Dr Craig with the final 'medical screening' before people were given a surgery date. I took probably close to 40 manual blood pressures, crouched at peoples feet in a tiny back room, and prepared their papers, writing out appointment cards. It was a little difficult as we only had one stethoscope between the two of us. The very helpful electric BP machine ran out 3 sets of batteries in 5 minutes (the joys of being a missionary!). If I had done this many BPs at home, and got the pressures I did, I would have been astounded. Elderly men and all other typically western high BP risk categories of patients, had pressures of 110/60, plenty plenty 90/60 with heart rates of 40 to 45.... Quite an eye opener!

I also had opportunity to pray for those that we were unable to help. Many had glaucoma and had to be advised to go to their clinic for drops. Some were given reading glasses to assist with minor problems, and others with traumatic blindness we were able only to give advice to, and explain the problem could not be reversed. The people here have so much faith that one of our translators has several 'healing' stories he shared with us for those we couldn't help after he had prayed for them.

The end of the day brought 50 scheduled surgeries. Several of the older men, literally danced out of the doctors room in anticipation of their sight being restored. Eventually after packing away, we all collapsed into the landrovers, exhausted, emotionally drained, spiritually awakened (Me barely able to walk with all the crouching I'd been doing, and following a few 'you give me your telephone number..') and set off on the hour journey through lush countryside trying to avoid the many potholes.

What a day. I cannot put half of it into words, but it has to be one of the hardest yet most fulfilling expereicnes of my life and time here so far.