Congo Week 4

This week started off with homeschooling Cherissa, Karis and Ezra.  I had a cold and didn't feel well enought to work in the hospital.  These three are great to homeschool, though.  The rest of the week, though, was filled with lots of exciting hospital work!  Yay!
I got to watch two surgeries!!! And one of them I actually got to assist with.  It was a somewhat minor surgery, draining a really big cyst on a little girl's leg.  It was so cool!  I was planning on just watching, but it ended up just being me and Dr. Noe, so I had to hold the girl's leg in place, and hand Dr. Noe tools and cloth.  I poured medicine on the wound and cleaned up pus and blood through the whole procedure.  Dr. Noe said he wants me to be there the next time he does surgery because I was a really big help.  I'm not sure about that but I would like to see another surgery.

Kate bought a pet.  IT IS SO CUTE!!!!  Baby monkey or baby sloth?  We're not sure what it is but we know it's nocturnal.  Two boys showed up on our doorstep and asked if we wanted it so we paid the equivalent of 25 cents for it.  We are going to give it a bath. It has the softest fur I have ever felt.

Bonanza

I got to see another baby delivery and I will probably never see another one like it!  It was supposed to be a C-section but when we got to the OR, Paige started to put in a catheter, and the baby just popped out, feet first.  Then we realized there was a second baby.  The second took a few minutes to deliver and also came out feet first, blue and with the cord around its neck.  It took a while to get the baby to start breathing and then the mother bled alot.  They are all fine now!

On Saturday evening, I was so tired and hoping to go to bed early and catch up on my sleep.  I wanted to be rested for my last week here. I had grand plans of getting in bed early, sleeping late and it almost worked.  ALMOST. BUT NO.  So guess what time I got in bed?  6 in the MORNING!

I was in bed by 8:30 but I wasn't very tired so I decided I would write in my journal for a while.  Then I read a letter from the Kennedy girls and finished my book from Grammy.  By that time, it was 10:30, not too late since I thought I would get to rest and sleep in.  HA!  I lay there awake, trying to fall asleep until about 11:15 when the radio starts going off.  It's someone from maternity, calling for Dr. Noe.  I stay in bed, but they keep calling him for about five minutes.  I hear the other girls get up so I come out of my bedroom in time to see Hannah and Kate half in pajamas and half in clothes trying to get out the door.  Hannah and I run to maternity and Hannah brings Dr. Noe, who decides the lady in labor needs an emergency C-section because of placenta previa.  Hannah and I run to the OR, grab a stretcher and the two of us carry her to the OR, get her on the operating table.  We run to change into scrubs and face masks and so forth.  And the I got to watch a C-section!  It was so cool! I am definetly interested in OR nursing.  Anyway, it all worked out well.

So then Hannah, Kate and I were about to change out of the OR scrubs, when the surgeon stops us and tells us there is another lady in labor and he may need to perform another C-section.  We changed back into our scrubs, brought the next lady up (she was overdue and not wanting to push at all) but Kate managed to convince her to walk around and push some.  She had a normal delivery   Then Hannah and I carried her on a stretcher to the maternity ward and we got her all settled in.  Then we changed clothes and came back home.  By that time it was 5:30am.  So the three of us drank a vitamin C dring and now I feel better.  I had an awesome night!!!!

Apparently, I'm the natural choice to kill the chicken.  The girls all want a real southern meal:  fried chicken, mashed potatoes and sweet tea.  I'm the cook tonight, too. :)

The meal turned out pretty well.  That was a muscular chicken, though.

Congo Week 3

Joyce, Dr. Henri's wife, if SO SWEET!!!  She made us brownies and muffins and jello for the 4th of July!  She is such an amazing person to even think of doing something like that for us, since she is super stressed out right now, and trying to get their family ready to move. But she still makes us snacks and has us over for Bible studies and things.

"Even in the worst times of life, these are the things that keep us going.  Brownies make us feel alive!"

Karis is a wonderful homeschool student.  I love her and her siblings!

 The wifi has been out most of the week.  Dr. Henri finally got it fixed.  Yay!!

I learned how to take vital signs and blood pressure and I got to take out several IVs.  I got to assist with a baby delivery (and yes, I did a lot more than just watch).  That made me more certain I do not want to be a midwife.  And WE FINISHED THE PHARMACY!! Now I'm actually doing medical things.  Basically, I've had a great week!

Paige learning to clean a fish for the first time.

My little friend.  I don't know her name - I don't know who her mother is and when I ask her to tell me her name, she just laughs and gives me a fist bump!

In my scrubs for the first time in Congo!!!!

Thank you Kennedy girls for a beautiful wall while I'm away from home. I love you all!

Dr. Loes.  

Dr. Noe

Dr. Loes is from Arizona and Dr. Noe is from DRC.  They are the best of friends.  We call them the dynamic duo - they are hilarious together - our comic relief team!

Great News!

Over the past few days, we have seen a big improvement in Justine!  She has been walking around a lot and actually smiled for us the other day!  Faith and I taught her how to do the handclap to Miss Mary Mack and she actually did it a few times after she saw the other kids having so much fun with it.  Also, her mother has been a lot more gentle with her.  

She was in church this morning, in her wheelchair, with her sister and brother and mother.  When to portion of the service came for people to share Bible verses or testimonies, Justine's mother got up and said she wanted to thank God for saving Justine and for her fast healing!  We were all so surprised and happy and most of us cried.  Up until the last few days, her mother has been really detached and harsh with her.  It was so amazing!

Justine

Congo Week 2

Week 2 was packed!  We have chapel service every morning.  This is really special.  Sunday morning we had worship service and all of us who don't know the language crowded around the only english interpreter.  He spoke very softly so I only caught parts of the sermon. Still, it was a really nice service.

Sunday Night Live!  We had a great time singing, talking, playing games, giving testimonies and lots of music.

I love all the letters that came with me to the Congo - from my family and friends.  I am very thankful to Heidi, Hope and Greta who wrote me a letter to open every day I'm here.  Thanks to them my wall looks like this:

I began a more regular routine this week.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will be homeschooling the Samoutou children.  Their parents are the eye doctor and nurse who work here at the hospital.  They will be leaving later this summer to return to Hong Kong and raise support for a separate eye clinic in another part of Congo.  I love this family!  They are wonderful.

It seems that all the babies born here are preemies and sick preemies.  I love the babies!  They are precious.  I hope to work with Kate a bit in the maternity ward before I leave.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Faith and I are cleaning and doing inventory in the pharmacy.  It desperately needs it!  I also help Justine with physical therapy, help Dr. Loes a bit and do whatever I'm asked to do. 

Here was a very fast ride into town with Dr. Henri. 

Here is a video of my and Rebekah's end of the house

Motorcycle lessons:  I have very strict instructions to never get on one. :)  I'll try not to Dad!

Baby Benoni and Faith

My home for five weeks.

Gorgeous sunset!!

Cool plant that folds in on itself when you touch it.  It distracts me so much when I'm walking from one place to another.  I want to stop and touch them all!

The flowers here look unreal, they are so beautiful!

Ambulance practice session with Dr. Harvey! I got to ride home in the ambulance.

Game night!  We're playing Egyptian Ratscrew.

Next week will be much the same with homeschooling and finishing the pharmacy plus lots of other things to fill in the time.  I miss everyone at home but I love it here!