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More than Mere Friendship

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Our day began with the news that our little patient with cerebral malaria survived the night but was still in critical condition. Our colleagues at the district hospital are doing everything possible to save her and we continue to pray for a good report tomorrow.

Our Ghanaian logistics team arrived in Nyamboi village at 0400 this morning to set up our canopies and organize the crowds. When our 3 buses of team members and translators arrived at 0800 it took no time at all to man our stations, pop up our incredible pharmacy and begin our task of caring for one patient at time. A small delegation of first-time team members that included Anna, Anne, Alisha, Jessica and myself greeted the chief and elders while the clinic got underway.

Clinic triage

The clinic ran so smoothly and efficiently thanks to a great team effort. It was a real pleasure to have Dr. Simon and nurse Bex from the surgical team join us and consult on a gangrenous foot as well as a patient with an abscess that needed draining. Midday, the District Director of Health Services and his team arrived to greet us. He toured our clinic and witnessed Ghanaians and Canadians and Europeans working side by side and hand in hand. Abraham remarked to him, “This is more than mere friendship.”

More than mere friendship

Our eye clinic really suffered today as temperatures soared into the high 30s in their dark window-covered church clinic. They never complain, but Dr.Martin did declare at supper they are the “hottest team” of all. Many of last year’s glaucoma patients were reviewed in clinic today and are all doing very well.

Our dentists worked extremely hard today and didn’t seem to even notice the goats continually grazing around their canopies.

Back on the compound the surgical team had a full and challenging day with four emergency cases in addition to all of their booked surgeries. Dealing with a few dodgy stomachs they pushed through with incredible resilience. Ashley shared at dinner how proud he was of all the surgical nursing staff who have very long days arriving early and staying late to prepare the theatres and sterilize everyone’s instruments. There was one marriage proposal in the OR and it involved a dowry of bush meat — I will leave you guessing on that one!

Dr. Dan’s last patient of the day was unexpectedly complicated. When Dr. Simon arrived back from the village he immediately scrubbed in to assist. I popped in to see how they were doing to find our UK anaesthetist Dr. Karen and our Ghanaian anaesthetist Eric talking through advanced sedation techniques that were suddenly required due to the complexity of the case. Meanwhile Dan and Simon were able to successfully complete the surgery during which they explained to me that they were medical school classmates, best men at each other’s weddings but have never once operated together until that very moment. What a memory for them.

Good friends Dr. Simon & Dr. Dan working together with Eric on a complicated case

After our tomato soup, cashew-beef, rice and yam fries dinner (I know, right?!), Soale who leads NEA operations shared with us two important observations from today. Firstly, he noticed that his people were really touched emotionally by the care they received. A very elderly woman that Dr. Charlie and our nursing team cared for said to Soale, “Who said the world is bad now? Look at these people who come from another continent to help us beyond measure.” Secondly he shared a verse in the Bible from Psalm 133:1 that says “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity.” He feels that the unity between the NEA leadership and the Ghana Health Team leadership and the unity amongst all of our team members is driving the success of this program. He thanked God for His hand on our work.

Abraham is right — this is more than mere friendship. It is about friends new and old who are wholeheartedly united in purpose and who truly do believe it is possible to make a difference in this great big world.

More than friends: our Ghanaian, British, and Canadian nurses

PS: We got your message Nicky Blunt and you name is already on the list for 2019!
PPS: We might just be teasing Josh Smith a lot over how much his family loves him.

This post is one in a series of Ghana Health Team 2018 Updates. You can subscribe to receive these updates by email.

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Comments

  1. Ok Jen-you got me with this one …
    tears at breakfast …
    Thank you so much for writing your blog and giving us a beautiful picture of mutual caring and learning in Carpenter and beyond.
    Hi and love to Mr Rob
    Jo xxx

  2. Looks like you guys are making a terrific difference.

    I want to thank Mr Hicks for taking my wonderful daughter Katie onto the team to share the experience with you all. Keep up the good work. Cannot wait to hear all the stories you have to tell.

    Jane xx

  3. Hi Bex Hope you’re having a great time. lots of love Endoscopy girls xx

  4. Good Morning Nurse Leslie . Glad to see your smiling face in triage. I know first hand how talented you are in this role.
    Keep up the good work .Know that you are all making a wonderful difference every day.
    I am so proud of all of you.
    Stay safe .
    Karen xx

  5. I am with Jo Hicks
    So far I haven’t made it through one of the reports before the eyes start to brim over !
    It is overwhelming at our end to see how much is packed into each day and the devotion and dedication and compassion of the team members.
    Our prayers continue to be with you for daily strength and continuing wisdom as you treat the various emergency situations that arise.
    With much love from Caro-Claire and Martin

  6. Wow, such incredible blogs. Thank you so much for taking the time to share the events of your travels even though you are super busy, it is so amazing to be able to read and keep up with everyone and what is going on over there.

    Toni, love the picture in this and I’ve also sent it to your mom (in case she hasn’t figured out the blog yet). Words can’t describe how proud I am that you are there helping and contributing to such a wonderful team.

    I can’t wait to read the next blog. Hope everyone is doing well and know we are all here being inspired by what you are doing!

    Hug from Karlie – xoxo

  7. So precious is that unity! I continue to pray for this amazing team (on site at 4am with a 4 hour time change! Impressive!) May the God that has called you and brought you together bless you with safety, health, wisdom, unity…and some fun and abide with you as you serve.

  8. The work all of you are doing is inspiring. I find myself every morning reading the post first thing. It has become the way I start my day. It leaves my heart full.

    Tiara

  9. Way to go team! I’ll never admit to crying but the Blogs are great Jenn!
    Since you mentioned the 30 degree weather I’ll add that we had snow through the night and it is -7 this morning.
    Jess, today is take-your-kid-to-work day for grade 9s. You may have better stories to tell than Josh although I’m going to try to keep things going here.
    Did the lost bag from the UK arrive yet? I was worried that it contained Magdi’s hair products.
    Much love!
    Graham

  10. What a team indeed! Set up at 0400, then three buses rolling in at 0800 with the medical team. A sight to behold for the people who are waiting for your help. So reassuring to see Megan working under the trees in triage, and the smiling faces of her team mates. Have a wonderful day!

  11. Hi Becster,
    how the devil are ya. hope everything’s going ok. feel free to send anything back if it needs sterilising 🙂 have fun.love shazza.xx

  12. Dearest Jessica, How lovely to see your smiling face today. Do good things honey. Can’t wait to hear all about your experiences. Thank you, thank you, Jenny for your blogs. Dad and I rush in the morning to read. We pray daily for each and every member on this amazing, caring team. Love, Baba

  13. Good morning to everyone,

    Tears came from this reader too. I look forward to keeping the count on the marriage proposals and reading about the amazing work you are all doing. To the “hottest” eye team, I hope those fans and spray misters are working. I am thinking of you all. Enjoy your downtime at the end of your incredible days. I can picture you playing cards, working on your puzzles and journaling. What a privilege it was to be on your team last year. I am with you in spirit and prayer this year. To my roomie Sue, I will give your family hugs this weekend and I will write down all the key highlights from their games for you:)
    Love to all,
    Margaret

  14. Thanks Jenny…I too had tears in my eyes this morning reading your update. Love you all and thank-you for serving… 🙂

  15. I am in agreement that reading the blog posts have become a highlight of my day. I am reading them aloud to Josh’s grandmother and not one had been read without me stopping to gather my composure. Last year I read these under very different circumstances, with Dr. Josh at my side, and I am ever so thankful to the GRID team for the prayers and support sent our way last year. His grandmother and I now return that prayerful support to you in this important work.
    Mom and Gram
    PS: We are praying especially hard for the little girl with malaria.
    PPS: Dr.Josh takes teasing pretty well…except when it’s about past family Monopoly games!

  16. Jam-o to the 2018 GHT & all the NEA co-workers!
    Dr. Jen your accounts are so well-written that I think you should be nominated for the GRID-NEA “pulletsurprise”! I’ll let Graham explain, as he may have read a book once.
    I trust Dr. Bessay is having “super fun” practicing dentistry and goat yoga under mango trees! What an “Uxperience” that must have been!
    I have shared the 2018 GHT blogs with many friends and family, along with a “challenge” to read ALL the blogs for the duration of the trip, and a “warning”, that if they haven’t reached for a Kleenex box or counted their Blessings, then they need to go to Dr. for a health check!
    Jan-jam!
    God be with you ’til we meet again,
    Sam & Jacqueline

  17. I remember one of the highlights of my day was sitting in the dining room listening to Jenn read the blogs. Now from home I can picture you all listening while Jenn reads,pauses, reads, turns her back to hold back the tears and then continues reading.
    My prayers and love are with you all. Enjoy each moment and don’t forget to pause and look into the eyes of each of your patients. Blessings,
    Tracey

  18. Well done everyone working so hard in that heat! You’re all incredibly inspirational, these blog posts are fantastic.

    I’ve never smiled so much reading the paragraph about Simon and pops operating together for the first time! What a memory indeed!

    Loads of love, Doug

  19. Shoot out to my Alisha on your team.. hope everything is going well. And your experience there is a good one. Your team at LifeLabs all miss you xo
    Maryanne

  20. A report that interesting, heart warming, and funny at times.
    I love the unity part. So important.
    Will continue to pray for the cerebral malaria patient.
    God bless this good work.

  21. We are so thankful for these updates and are encouraged to hear the little girl taken to hospital is still alive. We will continue to pray she not only survive this disease but make a full and complete recovery. He is able!
    And what a treat to have two days in a row seeing Mama in the blog pictures 🙂 We praise God that she is there serving alongside your amazing team!
    Noah’s message to everyone is “keep up the good work!”

    With love and prayers,
    The Olson Crew

  22. I look forward to these post every morning and It was wonderful to see you Toni-Ann! My heart aches as being a mother I feel I have no control when you are so far away. However I know its God’s work and I am very proud of you. The entire team is my prayers….touching so many lives and hearts is a blessing beyond words.

  23. Looks like everything is going as well as can be expected over there Greg! Proud of you and Carlye and your team! Keep up the amazing work!

  24. Toni, enjoy the sunshine! Lots of snow here in cottage country.

    It is your third day…I truly believe you are where you are meant to be. You seem so happy and the blogs of teamwork is amazing. It is true.. team makes the dream work!

    Love always,
    Mom

  26. Such amazing work you are all doing & like Jo, I’m moved to tears reading this. Big love to the eye team in that heat, hope Pete’s Irish Skin is withstanding it! Sending lots of love.
    The Cunningham’s x

  27. Great hear about the amazing work being done. Little concerned what Martin meant by his comment since Marion is working with him, but I am sure Rans will keep his eye on everyone, but I will say this Martin, even at her age ( maybe because of her age ) Marion has her moments.
    I hope you are enjoying your time there while you work. The Ghanaians have a way of seeing life more clearly than westerners. Thank you for all you are doing !

  28. So glad to hear the patient with cerebral malaria is still alive. It was great to see your smiling face Leslie in the triage line and know you are doing a wonderful job. Thank you to all on the teams for doing such a wonderful job in helping the people.

  29. Glad to read things are going well.
    Love to my sister Martha.
    Jennifer

  30. I read the update to the boys tonight as we were winding down our day…and was brought to tears picturing the beautiful unity the team is experiencing and as the name of the post declares this IS more than mere friendship!
    And when I read out loud the observation of the elderly patient “who said the world is bad now? Look at these people who come from another continent to help us beyond measure”. The tears began to flow! By Gods grace He has given you unity to serve one beautiful patient at a time. You are changing lives and the way others see good and evil in this world! There indeed is so much good! Bless you all for faithful serving together. More than mere friendship indeed!

  31. Hi Dr Dan Missing the Tuesday afternoon banter love the Hod Carrier and Scary Mary xx

  32. That is my beautiful sister Leslie, triaging under the tree!!
    I am so proud of her.
    You are all doing such wonderful work and have restored my wavering faith in humanity.
    I have said a wee prayer for your little patient with cerebral malaria.
    Love
    Ruthie from way down under!

  33. I have to agree with Doug, never been so happy to see Dad and Dan operating together, an amazing moment for you both!

    You are both such an inspiration and if I can achieve half of what you guys have then i’ll be delighted!

    All of you are doing such amazing work, a very noble cause. Wishing you all the best for the rest of your time there. Missing you Dad, stay frosty!

    Lots of love,

    Luke

  34. Hello to my brother Peter in the eye team, and all folk giving their time in such a great cause, lovely to hear about all this fantastic work!
    In our thoughts & prayers
    Slainte
    Mary & Kevin & family x

  35. So proud of you all!! Such an incredible memory for Dad and Dan! Father and Godfather inspiring us all still 🙂 Hope everything keeps going this way for you all!

    Loads of love Faith and Josh xx

  36. Such a worthwhile and amazing cause. Loving all your work, guys and girls.
    Big shout out to my beautiful partner in crime – Rebecca Jones I’m so proud of you.

    Love you
    Si
    Mwah Mwah xx

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