I just wanted to share something that really made me smile...and even shed a tear. We had a 7 year girl named Blandie staying on the ward a few days before surgery with her dad. I got into work Friday eve. and told that she was in surgery, but apparently that day the doctors looked at the cat scan and realized how critical this surgery was going to be and even if it was worth the risk. They would be awfully close to the carotid artery to remove the tumor the girl had. The doctors had talked to the father earlier in the day and told him his little girl may not make it through surgery. Since they were working so close to a major artery, if they nicked it, it could be life threatening. The patient was in surgery for 7 hours with people outside praying pretty much the whole time. It was a bit tense on the ward as we awaited news.
At 8pm we heard the surgery went well and we could get the patient back from post op soon. At 9 we got the privilege of getting Blandie back. As they pushed the stretcher in the room the dad followed...with the BIGGEST grin on his face. A nurse and I stayed over after our shift to help get the patient situated and I don't think I saw the daddy once without a huge grin from ear to ear. I hugged him a few times and was just over joyed to watch him and his girl. He was SO happy his daughter made it through surgery. We are so thankful that God guided that surgery and protected her through it. It's days like this I leave work reminded again why I am here and so blessed to be doing what Im doing:) ...And also reminded it is not by our strength, intelligence, resources but God's. I am just blessed and humbled to be a part of it:)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The "Beach"
I was sitting at dinner and a friend was telling me that there was a nice little place to eat right off the dock on the beach by the ship. This really excited me so a few of us went there to get a coke one evening and take a walk. I was warned that the beach was not so clean before I went and as you can see from the ship, the beach near here is lined with shacks/huts. And since it is on the beach, the beach is the choice toileting place for the people who live there...it only makes sense right?;) We walked through a fish market to get there, but unfortunately all the fish were put away for the eve....but the smell sure didn't. I will have to go back and check out the fish next time. As we walked through to the beach many little kids swormed us and hugged our legs and followed us for a bit. As we walked along the beach we definitely saw several people "using the bathroom" there on the beach. Sure made us look twice before each step:) So nice to get out and walk along the beach though...I love the sound of waves crashing and the breeze brushing against my face. We went to get a drink and some fries and then left to walk back shortly after dark. And yes, I washed my hands a few times before eating after witnessing what I did on the beach and giving all those little kids a high five:)
Anyway, we had walked down the beach a bit toward the fish market when our waitress came running after us yelling. I thought we had forgotten something. Instead, in a cross between french and sherades I could make something out about bandits and white people and stabbing. She did the stabbing motion quite well;) She pretty much told us we could not go back that way becuase it was unsafe and we may be attacked. So we took the road home instead. We made it back safe and sound but thought it was afully nice of her to run after us and enlighten us. God is good:)
And, on different note, I survived my first set of night shifts. They went quite smoothly actually and I stayed awake quite well...better than I remember. Although, I do believe some of that was adrenaline as I had to take care of a nauseated little boy who had his jaw wired shut from surgery. I was giving him some NG tube feeds and I would only get halfway done when he would motion to me to stop and motion he felt like throwing up. So, being on night shift and not having a lot of extra hands around I did not push it. We keep wire cutters above the bed in case those patients throw up and start choking because the fluid cannot get out. However, I REALLY was hoping I would not have to deal with that situation on my shifts. Needless to say I did a bit of extra praying for him those nights:) Praise the Lord he did not end up throwing up:)...But I think I constantly kept looking at him half the night paranoid he was going to and that I would have to use the wire cutters.
Sorry so long..I know, I promised they'd be shorter....next time;)
Anyway, we had walked down the beach a bit toward the fish market when our waitress came running after us yelling. I thought we had forgotten something. Instead, in a cross between french and sherades I could make something out about bandits and white people and stabbing. She did the stabbing motion quite well;) She pretty much told us we could not go back that way becuase it was unsafe and we may be attacked. So we took the road home instead. We made it back safe and sound but thought it was afully nice of her to run after us and enlighten us. God is good:)
And, on different note, I survived my first set of night shifts. They went quite smoothly actually and I stayed awake quite well...better than I remember. Although, I do believe some of that was adrenaline as I had to take care of a nauseated little boy who had his jaw wired shut from surgery. I was giving him some NG tube feeds and I would only get halfway done when he would motion to me to stop and motion he felt like throwing up. So, being on night shift and not having a lot of extra hands around I did not push it. We keep wire cutters above the bed in case those patients throw up and start choking because the fluid cannot get out. However, I REALLY was hoping I would not have to deal with that situation on my shifts. Needless to say I did a bit of extra praying for him those nights:) Praise the Lord he did not end up throwing up:)...But I think I constantly kept looking at him half the night paranoid he was going to and that I would have to use the wire cutters.
Sorry so long..I know, I promised they'd be shorter....next time;)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Celebration
Last Sunday instead of going out to church I went to church on the ward. I know I wrote about this last year as well. I always enjoy being able to worship with the patients and hear their testimonies and it's always so vibrant and joyful. Patients covered in bandages from their legs to some on their faces with drains all come together into one ward to sing, dance, or if they are unable to do that, at least clap:) Although many of them are uncomfortable and healing from surgery it is a time for them to come together and enjoy each other, sing, laugh, and smile!This past Sunday during service and again Tuesday I was able to be a part of the dress ceremony they do for the vvf women who have had surgery to fix a hole that causes them to leak urine and are now dry. Many gave their testimony and told about the tragic life they had suffered many years because of this and all the options they tried including hospitals, fetish priests, and witch doctors-none of which worked. Most women tell of how their own husbands, families, communities disowned them. C-sections are not available so women suffer through labor days before having a still born and consequently having a fistula between the bladder and vagina from the prolonged labor. And as if all the suffering they go through is not enough, they are often blamed for their 'illness' as a consequence for a sin or something they have done. their husbands often abandon them and just use their other wives for child birth.
Anyways...back to the ceremony.....It is such a cool thing to see the women with a new beautiful dress and make-up leaving a brand new woman. The joy and happiness they express is life changing. Because all the other solutions they tried failed, many of them are now going home believeing in the true God and say they are no longer going to sacrifice chickens and give money to witch doctors because they know who the true healer is! This is such a cool thing to be a part of!
Attatched are some pictures from Sunday's church/ceremony.:)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
TIA
So the other day I admitted a patient who had had a previous below the knee amputation. This time he was here with a broken arm....it was pretty cool looking. When he tried to move his arm it definitely bent at 2 spots instead of one. It had been quite awhile since it happened and he was finally able to get it fixed. Well, I had him two days and the second day I was able to discharge him home. He is from Togo and after talking to him with a translator it sounded like his daughter who was with him would take him home in a car.
However, by the time we carried him down the stairs ofthe gangway in a narrow stretcher type wheelchair and started walking in the rain down the dock I realized they didn't have a car here like I thought I had heard. The translator from the ward was pushing him and I followed as we walked further down the dock. So I asked the translator..."how is he getting home." I did not quite understand what he said but knew he meant some sort of Taxi. So we get to the end of the dock in the rain and the daughter waved down a motorcycle taxi. It's like a cross between a motorcycle and moped and the most common taxi here. Anyway...I looked at the translater with a strange look on my face and we both kind of shrugged our shoulders.. I was like, "is this how they plan to get home to Togo?" He nodded and told me this is how they got here. I knew there was nothing I could do at this point and no convincing them otherwise. So, in the rain, the daughter, translator, and taxi driver had a long discussion looking back and forth at the patient. The taxi driver finally agreed to take him. So the translator, daughter and I proceeded to lift this man onto the bike.
This whole time in my head Im in a bit of disbelief that I am sending a man with one leg and a knewly fixed broken arm home on a motorbike after explaining to him that he cannot use that arm. I was at least relieved to see the daughter decided to ride behind him on the bike and hold him snug in between 2 people instead of ride on a seperate bike. After getting them all situated and seeing them ride off the translator and I ran back the long dock in the rain back to the ship....the whole time I'm replaying in my head what just happened and thinking to myself..."TIA...This is Africa".:)
However, by the time we carried him down the stairs ofthe gangway in a narrow stretcher type wheelchair and started walking in the rain down the dock I realized they didn't have a car here like I thought I had heard. The translator from the ward was pushing him and I followed as we walked further down the dock. So I asked the translator..."how is he getting home." I did not quite understand what he said but knew he meant some sort of Taxi. So we get to the end of the dock in the rain and the daughter waved down a motorcycle taxi. It's like a cross between a motorcycle and moped and the most common taxi here. Anyway...I looked at the translater with a strange look on my face and we both kind of shrugged our shoulders.. I was like, "is this how they plan to get home to Togo?" He nodded and told me this is how they got here. I knew there was nothing I could do at this point and no convincing them otherwise. So, in the rain, the daughter, translator, and taxi driver had a long discussion looking back and forth at the patient. The taxi driver finally agreed to take him. So the translator, daughter and I proceeded to lift this man onto the bike.
This whole time in my head Im in a bit of disbelief that I am sending a man with one leg and a knewly fixed broken arm home on a motorbike after explaining to him that he cannot use that arm. I was at least relieved to see the daughter decided to ride behind him on the bike and hold him snug in between 2 people instead of ride on a seperate bike. After getting them all situated and seeing them ride off the translator and I ran back the long dock in the rain back to the ship....the whole time I'm replaying in my head what just happened and thinking to myself..."TIA...This is Africa".:)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I've arrived...and still standing.
So I've made it to the ship in one piece. So wonderful to be back. Definitely more developed here than Liberia and much different but I am excited.
The night we arrived on the ship I was standing at the reception desk getting my picture taken for my name badge (ya, not nice how they make you take your picture the night you arrive) and I thought I was going to faint. I have never fainted before but I was pretty sure this is how I would feel when I fainted. I felt like I was swaying back and forth...a lot. I looked around and kind of held onto the counter thinking I was going to collapse at any moment when I looked out the window. I then realized the boat was listing (swaying) really far back and forth...then I felt dumb. Well, at least until I found out later 2 other girls I am freinds with who flew in with me admitted to the same feeling. In Liberia if you looked at the horizon you could tell the boat was moving back and forth a little but only when you tried to look. Here, if you stand still for a minute..or sit a computer... it is very evident. I was hoping it wouldn't be enough for me to notice or get sick over and it hasn't.
I have now had 2 days back on the ward. I got so excited going back down there for the first time and seeing all the patients. I had one day of orientation and then was on my own. The whole french thing is taking some getting used to. The translators are great but there are still many dialects from all over. At one point the other day a nurse and I were trying to teach a patient something that would be difficult to teach to someone who speaks english let alone a dialect most don't know. However it took a nurse and 3 translators to speak to the patient. It went something like this...I would tell our ward translator something who would tell a caregiver the same thing who would attempt to tell another caregiver the same thing who spoke the patient's language and tried to tell the patient. I REALLY wish I could have known what the patient was really told. Im pretty sure it was not what I had originally said as I saw many shrugging shoulders along the way amongst the translations. lol. It's like Chinese telephone but through 4 different languages. Good times...more to come:) Surgeries and everything are going well so far though. Thanks again for all the prayers and support!
The night we arrived on the ship I was standing at the reception desk getting my picture taken for my name badge (ya, not nice how they make you take your picture the night you arrive) and I thought I was going to faint. I have never fainted before but I was pretty sure this is how I would feel when I fainted. I felt like I was swaying back and forth...a lot. I looked around and kind of held onto the counter thinking I was going to collapse at any moment when I looked out the window. I then realized the boat was listing (swaying) really far back and forth...then I felt dumb. Well, at least until I found out later 2 other girls I am freinds with who flew in with me admitted to the same feeling. In Liberia if you looked at the horizon you could tell the boat was moving back and forth a little but only when you tried to look. Here, if you stand still for a minute..or sit a computer... it is very evident. I was hoping it wouldn't be enough for me to notice or get sick over and it hasn't.
I have now had 2 days back on the ward. I got so excited going back down there for the first time and seeing all the patients. I had one day of orientation and then was on my own. The whole french thing is taking some getting used to. The translators are great but there are still many dialects from all over. At one point the other day a nurse and I were trying to teach a patient something that would be difficult to teach to someone who speaks english let alone a dialect most don't know. However it took a nurse and 3 translators to speak to the patient. It went something like this...I would tell our ward translator something who would tell a caregiver the same thing who would attempt to tell another caregiver the same thing who spoke the patient's language and tried to tell the patient. I REALLY wish I could have known what the patient was really told. Im pretty sure it was not what I had originally said as I saw many shrugging shoulders along the way amongst the translations. lol. It's like Chinese telephone but through 4 different languages. Good times...more to come:) Surgeries and everything are going well so far though. Thanks again for all the prayers and support!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...
Ok, so bear with me...it's been about a year and I still do not like to write, but Im gonna try to get back into blog mode....and I'll try to make them shorter this time round...no promises;)
So as most of ya'll know, I finished a month long traing course at the headquarters in Tyler, TX in Jan. with 30 others of all ages from all around the world. We had 3 weeks of missions training which was superb. I learned so much I cannot even begin to say it all, but I guess the parts that impacted me the most were spiritual warfare and worldview. I realized how much my worldview affects my faith and my ideas of missions and God sure opened my eyes to many things! The last week we got to do basic safety training inclucing cpr, first aid, firefighting, and sea survival. I'll tell you I sure have much more respect for firefighters after having to wear the full gear and put out a fire.
As of this Sat., March 7 I will be boarding a plane for Paris and meeting up with others from the Jan. Gateway course to spend the night in Paris and explore a little before making my way to Benin. I am very excited and know this is where God wants me now. Thanks SO much for the prayers, I cannot tell you that enough! I will keep you updated!
P.S. I love mail so in case anyone wants to send me some snail mail my address will be:
Elizabeth Espeland - HCS
Mercy Ships- M/V Africa Mercy
P.O. Box 2020
Garden Valley, TX 75771-2020
*I also love packages and know a few people had talked about sending them. Please be aware that I will have to pay $5-8 a lb. for any packages I recieve. So if sending packages, please make them either light or as people have done in the past - put a few bucks in to cover the cost if its over a few lbs:):)
So as most of ya'll know, I finished a month long traing course at the headquarters in Tyler, TX in Jan. with 30 others of all ages from all around the world. We had 3 weeks of missions training which was superb. I learned so much I cannot even begin to say it all, but I guess the parts that impacted me the most were spiritual warfare and worldview. I realized how much my worldview affects my faith and my ideas of missions and God sure opened my eyes to many things! The last week we got to do basic safety training inclucing cpr, first aid, firefighting, and sea survival. I'll tell you I sure have much more respect for firefighters after having to wear the full gear and put out a fire.
As of this Sat., March 7 I will be boarding a plane for Paris and meeting up with others from the Jan. Gateway course to spend the night in Paris and explore a little before making my way to Benin. I am very excited and know this is where God wants me now. Thanks SO much for the prayers, I cannot tell you that enough! I will keep you updated!
P.S. I love mail so in case anyone wants to send me some snail mail my address will be:
Elizabeth Espeland - HCS
Mercy Ships- M/V Africa Mercy
P.O. Box 2020
Garden Valley, TX 75771-2020
*I also love packages and know a few people had talked about sending them. Please be aware that I will have to pay $5-8 a lb. for any packages I recieve. So if sending packages, please make them either light or as people have done in the past - put a few bucks in to cover the cost if its over a few lbs:):)
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