Dr. Jennifer Wilson

The first half of our journey to Accra was smooth and uneventful.

Until … the 11 passenger van broke down. For one last time this incredible team had to dig deep and pull together as we created seats down the aisle of the coach and all 63 of us travelled the final four hours together.

We arrived in Accra where half of us relaxed and swam at the hotel while the other half headed to the market. Our flight to London was uneventful and we have just parted with our dear UK friends and those remaining in London. The rest of us are relaxing and ready to board BA 93, which looks like it may be delayed by an hour.

Don’t forget to pick us up!

Homeward bound!!!

As I write this, our last update to you, we are on the bus returning to Accra. Our work is now complete and our thoughts are turning towards home.

To say it was an intense final day of clinic in Carpenter would be an understatement. Volumes of patients hit an all time high. 700 patients were seen by the combined medical/dental/eye team and our surgical team concluded the mission with a total of 271 surgeries! Our “gazebo nursing station” had IV’s hanging down from many rafters as seriously ill children were being treated.

One severely dehydrated child was brought to our dear Dr. Gillian who immediately took her to our nursing station as she required emergency resuscitation. She was too dehydrated to find a vein for an IV so Dr. Jerry our ER doc put in an interosseous line (needle through the lower leg into the bone marrow) so that life saving fluid and medication could be administered. The resuscitation team also included my Olivia who, together with nurse Margaret, translated for the french speaking mother. That gazebo full of very ill children from diarrhea and malaria was such a reminder to us that these two illnesses alone are two of the leading causes of death under age 5 in most African countries. Many of these kids in our gazebo would have died that day. Our nurses conduct so much education with mothers on the principles of clean drinking water, proper hand hygiene, and of ORS (oral rehydration solution) so that they will know how to prevent and treat diarrhea next time.

The surgical patient that required a bowel resection is doing miraculously well. His bowels started moving yesterday for which we all heaved a collective sigh of relief and he is now stable and eating. He will be left in the care of local nurses until he is fully recovered. Our medical colleagues here in Ghana keep repeating that this man should have been buried by now. None of the district hospitals could have handled this surgery and the doctors in the major hospitals are on strike … not that he would have ever made it to hospital. This was not his time to die.

Yesterday the entire team inventoried and packed all our supplies and equipment to be ready for the next mission. Duffle bags of medicine and supplies were distributed to all the local village clinics. In the middle of all of this, a man with a massive dental abscess that was starting to block off his airway arrived. Dr. Charlie, working together with our dentists, conducted a massive I&D (incision and drainage) and extraction of teeth in the corner of our packing room while we all tried not to notice the smell. He was kept overnight for observation and will be left in the care of one of the local nurses Mariamma in the next village.

Last night we had a wonderful but bittersweet party with entire NEA staff and every single volunteer who helped us on our mission. It was a beautiful sight to see Ghanaians, Canadians and British team members sitting at the tables together as we dined on goat, beef, fufu, pancake soup, grilled vegetables and fresh avocado and pineapple. Dessert was like ice cream which shocked us all as it was the first cold food we have eaten in 2 weeks. Speeches were made and gifts were exchanged. David’s mother stood on behalf of the tribe to thank us for bringing life to their doorstep. She blessed us and she blessed our families and friends who helped make it possible for us to come. We thought the night was over but then local drummers arrived and we all danced together under the stars. It was quite a sight watching these people dance and watching us TRY to dance.

I have two closing thoughts:

It really is incredible what a small, committed group of people with a common focus can accomplish when everyone plays their role to the best of their ability. This mission really required the combined expertise and skills of all our physicians, surgeons, anesthetist, dentists, eye team, nurses, pharmacists, volunteers, pastors and local Ghanaian health professionals. Every single team member was needed on this mission. “No one can whistle a symphony,” and this truly was a symphony. It has been such a privilege to work together in this unique way.

My concluding observation is that we are now connecting and networking and partnering with the medical system in Ghana in a deeper way. This year we were so privileged to work with a team of local nurses, a medical assistant, an optometrist, an optician and Dr. Nina, the first doctor to join us. She said it felt like an internship working with us and she was so grateful for all she had learned. The Medical and Dental Council of Ghana and well as District Medical Directors visited us this year and toured our clinics. They seem very committed to working with NEA to find a way to allow more of their doctors to train with us. This is a very important step toward the ultimate goal of sustainable health care in this region.

So, we are en route home and everyone is healthy. We will all take our deworming tablets tonight so we will be fresh and ready to greet you all soon!

Thank you so much for following us along and supporting us with your thoughts and prayers that so significantly contributed to the success of this mission. We are thankful to God for every good thing that has happened in this place at this time.

Until 2014,

Jennifer
on behalf of the entire team

We have had an incredible two days here in Carpenter where our entire team is stationed on the NEA compound. Without the need to travel and set up each day our clinics are swelling to record numbers.

David explained to us that our reputation has gone far and we have had patients from over 400 miles arriving at the Carpenter gate. To give you an idea of the scope of the past two days, 1300 patients were seen in the medical, dental and eye clinic and at least another 1000 received vitamins and deworming by our front line triage nurses Sandra, Janet and Lauren. The surgeons have completed 241 surgeries to date. We are just so thankful for each and every team member that works so hard to make it possible to see this many patients in need of care.

Tonight, our local Ghanaian Dr. Nina thanked our team so much, reminding us that there are more doctors on our team than in the entire Northern Region of Ghana. She is already recruiting her colleagues to join us for next year. The district Director of Health Services for this region toured our clinic today and has written a letter to the doctors in the North to come and train with us in the future. It is so wonderful to see these opportunities for the transfer of skills unfolding as we build relationships with the local nurses and medical assistants and government leaders.

Each evening at dinner we share with one another some of our most interesting cases of the day. We have seen so much. Dr. Joe took off a disfiguring facial cyst off a woman today and she was just so excited to get back to her village to show her husband after all of these years of covering her face.

Our eye team is seeing and treating a number of patients with trachoma, which is one of the leading causes of blindness and is so easily treatable. They shared a very moving story and video of a little boy with congenital cataracts who was blind but could “see” their light and was trying to play with it as it passed over his eyes. He would cry when the light would disappear so Dr. Martin and Charlie sent their light home with mom as it was the only toy he could ever see. Arrangements are being made for this boy to get the surgery he needs with the funds we have raised this year.

Our dental team is very busy. They extracted 56 teeth today that were causing so much pain and suffering. These can be very difficult extractions and they often need to use the drill. All this is being done under the mango tree with beautiful ripe mangoes hanging down all over the branches.

Our physicians are being challenged with many things we just do not see at home … things like Leishmaniasis and Elephantiasis. We have to rely heavily on our physical exam skills to make correct diagnoses without the aid of lab work and our x-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans that we are so used to having at our fingertips! Our nurses are very busy screening the crowds for the sickest of the sick, doing diagnostic testing and running a full nursing station/ward/emergency room under a gazebo. Today it was a trauma bay as a motorcycle hit 2 pedestrians nearby. Thankfully everyone is ok.

Our sickest patient today was a young man of 35 years who was found at the gate in severe pain with a strangulated hernia and septicemia near death. When the surgeons performed an emergency surgery they found sixty centimeters of dead, gangrenous bowel forcing them to do an emergency laparotomy (open up his abdomen) and bowel resection (remove the dead bowel and reattach it). This is not a surgery we would normally do here but there was no choice but to try as he was dying and would never have survived transferring him to hospital. Dr. Magdi and Dr. Tony and his team did everything they could to save him. He survived the surgery and he is stable tonight but we really need to pray for this man who is in critical condition under our care here in Carpenter. He is too critical to transfer.

Tomorrow is our last day of clinic and we plan to finish with a bang. We will try for one more update prior to departure.

Good morning to everyone back home!

Our Saturday began very early with the bus trip to Baniantwe over the same “interesting bridge.” We stopped en route to see a widow’s farm supported by NEA. We saw peanuts, cassava, fig trees, pumpkin, cayenne, corn and papaya on her small plot. We even had a hoeing demonstration!

The village greetings took place at the chief’s compound, and many were surprised to see that the regal chief sitting on the stool was Charles, one of the pastors who is coordinating our hardworking volunteers this week! It was a pleasure to bring along Dr. Tony (our anesthetist), Dr. Magdi, Gemma and Nichola from the OR to be with us in the village.

The clinic got moving quickly and just before lunch a storm rolled in. It was fast and furious, but the patients stood their ground and would not give up their spot in line. These patients came from very, very far; many of them walked 15 miles and others traveled 200 miles to see us! At the end of the clinic which provided care to over 500 patients, our local Dr. Nina said to me “many people would have died if you were not in the village on this very day.”

We had many seriously ill patients. Dr. Jerrod and I each brought back a patient to the compound with us for ongoing management. We also cared for a precious baby who was near death from cerebral malaria. He was resuscitated by our pediatrician and nursing staff and transferred to a district hospital as he needed oxygen and blood. Malaria just such a devastating illness. Please pray for him.

We saw a case of Sydenham’s chorea, something none of us had ever seen or even thought of since medical school. Reference books and iphone apps were dug out and we are hopeful he could be cured.

Dr. Carlye and nurse Margaret had the privilege of making a palliative hut call in the village as well.

Our surgical team had an incredible day and are up to 179 procedures!

The day ended with a round robin Euchre tournament coordinated by our Dr. Gillian under the gazebo in the Canadians’ residence.

Today is a day of rest where we will attend church, rest and do some exploring around the compound. Tonight we have been invited by the Mensahs to “chill” at their home, which is an ironic term considering the over 40 degree heat!

This is an incredible team that did not seem to lose an ounce of momentum during this grueling week. They have cared so expertly and so compassionately for so many people. A well-deserved two days off is definitely in order.

Until next time with thanks to everyone for their support, well wishes and prayers on our behalf.

Jennifer

As I consider all that has happened in the last two days, a book could easily be written!

Our surgical team continues to give expert care to so many adults and children who would never have access to an operation. They have completed 148 procedures. Yesterday, a man who was awaiting surgery on Friday started having severe pain. He was seen by Dr. Magdi, who diagnosed him with a strangulated hernia, which is a surgical emergency. The elective cases were cancelled, and this man was resuscitated and successfully operated on. I can honestly say that he got to the OR faster than he would have had he presented to any Canadian or UK hospital! What miraculous timing for this man.

The medical team spent the last two days in the remote village of Yaara. The usual 3-hour drive was reduced to 1.5 hours by the “short cut,” which involved a very interesting bridge. I can’t wait to show photos! We received an incredible Yaara welcome with drums, dancing and the presentation of yams, a ram, apples, eggs, and oranges. Some of you will remember the little boy Joshua who almost died 4 years ago with severe pneumonia. His family gave us yams and a big turkey for saving his life. My daughter Olivia received a special presentation of yams and her very own fowl (chicken).

Our days were very full caring for the 1100 patients that were seen in the medical, dental and eye clinic. We also have one surgeon with us at all times to screen hernia patients for next year’s list as well as to deal with any urgent surgical consultations and procedures. Hundreds and hundreds of less sick patients received deworming, vitamins and acetaminophen and eye drops. The clinic is running SO smoothly, with every sector being so efficient and productive while at the same time providing expert and compassionate care. I cannot believe the numbers of patients being seen, especially considering the oppressive heat. Yesterday was one of the hottest days of the year, and even the Ghanaians were hot with the 42 degree temps. (Add a few degrees to the eye clinic who have to cover their windows to create a dark environment!)

Today concluded with our new team members touring the village of Yaara where David and his brother Joseph were sent as orphans when their father died of a strangulated hernia.

Laughter continues to abound in the evenings as we share stories of our day with one another and debrief from all we have seen and done. Stories of latrine mishaps and marriage proposals are my favorite so far!

The team is very, very well. Each day we have 1-2 members D with D (down with diarrhea), but thankfully it is short lived and there have been no serious illnesses. Thanks so much to those of you praying for the health of team members, who are exposed to so many sick people.

Everyone sends their love back home and looks forward to telling you all of the other stories that I cannot fit into this post!

Until next time …

Jennifer

P.S.: Most of us have no internet/phone access in case you think we are ignoring you!

The team has had an incredible two days of caring for the the medical, surgical, dental and eye needs of this region.

Our surgical team is running three operating theatres which are called David, Brenda and Moses (after David’s father). This is an incredibly hard working group of surgeons, nurses, and volunteers, and we are enjoying getting to know them so much. I cannot believe the numbers of patients they are caring for each day.

The rest of us spent an amazing two days in the village of Nyamboi. This community was so grateful for our medical, dental and eye care that they presented the team with a beautiful ram, yams, and a village woman brought us a guinea fowl. Our days are very, very full caring for so many illnesses unique to this region: malaria, dysentery, typhoid fever, lymphatic filiariasis, HIV, intestinal worms and skin infections to name a few. Although it is difficult work under very hot conditions, there is much laughter all day long, and we are thoroughly enjoying working with one another, with the local health care providers, and with the massive team of over 100 local volunteers.

The creatures around the compound are providing interesting entertainment. Screams abound as spiders (big ones) and very odd bugs (big ones) make appearances in our dorm rooms. A snake was found by Dr. Martin in the shower, and my poor Olivia had a lizard drop down onto her from who knows where. It’s all part of the experience though….

It’s late and we begin at 0600 so I will sign off and promise to try and send an update in a couple of days. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support as we try and sustain our efforts to help the poor in Northern Ghana.