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.

The end of my night shift...

After a 12 hour shift and a speedy handover to the morning staff on Monday morning I dashed next door to A ward so that I could relieve the other nurse to go and handover. 'Talk at the speed of light!' I said, in an attempt to ensure we could both go upstairs, get breakfast and pack lunch and then dive into bed for the much need sensation of being horizontal. Sarah went off next door in the same hazy blur that I was in, and I propped myself up on the counter, trying desperately to stay awake, and hoping (I am a bad nurse....!) that no one needed anything too major in the next 10 minutes (bearing in mind keeping my eyes open was challenge enough right now.)

From somewhere I heard a little high pitched voice singing, and the voice though soft grew a little louder. I managed to see just behind the curtain that Benedict one of our 6 year old boys was lying on his bed, playing with his stuffed toy, bandaged legs flailing in the air, and like there was no one else in the world, was singing his song.

'There is no one like you...papa...aaaaoooooo...
'You woke me up this morning and send me on my way, so who then shall I praise.....
'I will praise him, I will praise him, and if I don't priase him, whom then shall I praise.'

You have no idea how much that song penetrated my soul. 6 Years old, perspective on the day ahead - God has woken him up and sent him on his way and therefore should be praised. Hang on, who's supposed to be the 'wise one' in this situation. As they say, out of the mouths of babes. So I may have not been 'woken up' I was clearly barely hanging on to being awake, but yes, God had sent me on my way today.

My roommates, or at least for one more week :(

So these are the mottley crew of cabin 3431 (I think, I still can't remember my room number and it's been 2 months!). They are each in their own right awesome and I love 'em. i am the longest standing member of the cabin so far, I have a week on a few of them. On the left my Irish bud Jane, then the lovely Laura from the USA with surname inpronouncable, me, Therese of Norway, and Kristina the petite from Sweden. Bless them all! We have great times together, and sadly Kristina and Therese will be leaving us soon, so to anyone who will be joining Laura, Jane and me, prepare yourselves!.
We have a very entertaining 'teaching' programme going through our cabin. Laura and Kristina decided that I was very 'proper' and that when I spoke I sounded very sophisticated (yes, to all my family and friends you have permission to tell the people reading this the actual truth). So I am apparently teaching them to be 'proper' (Laura to use a knife not just a fork...'nuff said), we are all giving Kristina an 'English word for the day' which is taped to her wall in an effort to increase her vocabulary with completely useless but very exciting words. 'Wellies' 'biodegradable' to name but a few, and what's even better is that each word picked has a story.
So there you have it. my 'family'. They are lovely.

Our 'local' road, at a quiet moment

Two of my closest buddies, shopping for material in Water Street market. Girls just have to shop you know!

Emmanuels friend and my source of joy!

Yup, Emmanuel had a chum while he was with us, Matthew. You know what, whenever I needed a lift, this is where you could find me. In the end, these two boys had their beds shoved together with a cotside in between. they played cards over it, cars on it, giggled, drew pictures told stories...in short they were as thick as thieves adn two of the smiliest boys we have had. Not a complaint out of either of them despite their painful surgery, and hard work to get back on their feet. Basically having to learn how to walk again.

Emmanuel

Okay, so this guy is Emmanuel. Let me tell you a bit about him. This little guy has been on Mercy ships twice now for correction of his club feet. He lives in a local orphanage attached to a church, and one of the Mercy Ministries regular links. He had his left foot operated on at the last outreach, and came back last month for his second foot. He is an amazing young man. Yes, his face always displays this huge grin, who couldn't he make smile is all I can say!