Our 6:00am breakfast call had everyone up early this morning for the long trip to Yaara. The short cut was washed out again this year so we set out on the longer “good road” (inside joke).
Along the way we made a courtesy stop in Old Longoro to visit and greet young Chief Solomon from Carpenter. He was in the village convalescing from injuries suffered in a car accident a few weeks earlier. While in the small village Dr. David (Mensah) explained that this village was very special for the Mo tribe. It is the traditional burial site for the tribe’s chiefs and elders. In fact, the houses in the villages were the location where generations of chiefs from each division of the tribe were buried. Had we not stopped here could never have guessed the significance of this very unassuming village close to our destination.
As we approached Yaara we could hear the drums beating in the area where the Chief Joseph and his elders had assembled. Before proceeding to the formal greeting, a number of our team, led by Dr. David himself, joined some of the village women in a bit of traditional dancing. The gifts of food presented by the town to the team were truly overwhelming.
All the clinics were very busy as expected but what stood out to several doctors and nurses, including some first-timers, was that the general state of health in the village was noticeably better than what had earlier been seen In Nyamboi. Dr David explained that this was most probably due to a number of initiatives in agriculture and nutrition that had been undertaken by NEA over the passed several years. Dr Sean, one of our pediatricians had even noted that the children’s skin felt healthier. We did not stay overnight in Yaara this year because of several logistical issues so we had to leave for Carpenter early enough to make most of the trip back in daylight.
During dinner this evening we were able to catch up with the day’s hernia team activities. Dr Magdi was glowing in his comments about how smoothly that their day had gone, and how on this trip with three operating rooms available they were smashing Operation hernia productivity records. He was especially complementary of how well the team, including the Ghanaian translators and assistants were working together. The difficult medical issues that they had encountered had also been ably addressed by the medical clinic group. Nurse Teresa’s Canadian blog fans should be aware that she has joined the Hernia Team for this year’s trip.
Well, we’re off to another early start in the morning so it’s time to sign off for today
Jacques
Karen Graham says
Thanks for the update Jacques! I was sorry to hear the short cut was washed out again and understood your joke about the “longer but good road!” I hope Chief Solomon was on the mend. Glad to hear those in Yaara are healthier. Dr. Magdi and his team are truly amazing. I can’t wait to hear their final number of procedures they complete. What will he do next! The clinic’s team loss is the Hernia teams gain! Miss ya lots sister T! You kept me in stitches all trip last year!
cynthia buckley says
also,i will be sending your team a personal song in the days to follow.i hope it will make you all laugh and lift spirits.god bless you all. good blessings to the “newbies” this year.hang in there and work as a team.leaving your comforts behind to travel and learn in a new country is a remarkable journey and it will give you more experience and understanding of the powers of the human heart and spirit. start the trend!!! hug a newbie day! xo
cynthia buckley says
my dearest sister teresa.im so happy that you are helping so many people and making their lives better.im sad and happy that your gone.I thought about dads glasses today and was hopeing that you get the privilige of meeting the person that wears our fathers glasses.i know how strange it sounds and how is it possible to sort out through so many pairs,but i still have hope.maybe this is a way of watching his memory live on through the happiness and wonder from someone else’s eyes.keep positive and remember how valuable and precious your team is.you are dearly missed and loved.I also hope you brought dads work shirts for your new africa family. just remember—smiles need no translation.they dont cost a penny and they are addictive. :)xoxo cynthia.
Team Teresa says
We are all glued to the website awaiting these wonderful updates. Such an amazing group of people you are! We are so proud of Teresa for returning again this year and we are sure her addition to the hernia team has caused much laughter and smiles amongst those who she is around. Please hug her daily for us,remind her she is missed and please keep her safe.
Kindest regards to all
Team Teresa