Team Updates

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.

Talk about hitting the ground running!

Our day began early under the beautiful gazebo with an inspiring devotional time with all the NEA staff. Akosua, who leads the maternal health aspect of NEA’s Leyaata project, challenged us that we, like Esther, have been called to this work “for such a time as this.”

First-time team members enjoyed a tour of the development compound while the rest of us set up for the staff clinic. Although it was a half day of work, so much was accomplished! The surgical team completed 26 surgical procedures, finishing long after dark. The medical team attended to all of the NEA staff and their families and extended families. It was a beautifully coordinated effort by all our docs, nurses, pharmacists and volunteers.

Our dentists didn’t waste any time all and NEA staffers are enjoying new fillings and one fortunate patient had their wisdom teeth removed under the mango tree! Our eye clinic was hopping and there are some very proud NEA staff sporting their new designer glasses that our friends from home donated.

All in all it was a superb start, and we are off to the village of Nyamboi early in the morning!

The Team arrived in Carpenter around 4:00 this afternoon, together with ALL of the luggage that had followed them from various originating points in Canada and Europe. The bus trip to the north from Accra was reportedly smooth and uneventful and quite a bit shorter than in previous years. Improved roads around Accra made it “just” a nine hour journey instead of the 10 to 12 hours that they had previously experienced and expected.

After a wonderful Ghanaian style greeting from part of the Ghanaian team, the 200+ pieces of luggage were unloaded and sorted and there was actually a bit of time before dinner for some to take a quick shower.

This evening all hands were on deck for a few hours to help with the unpacking and organizing and for team meetings. All is quiet again now with a much needed catching up on sleep the main thing on the agenda.

We are so thankful to the Lord for safety, health and well-being for every member of the team and for arrival at destination of all the supplies that were so carefully planned and prepared.

Tomorrow, when the Ghanaian team joins us, and patients start streaming though, the real work begins.

Keep us in your prayers.

Greeting from Ghana!

We are so thankful to report that every single team member and every single piece of luggage arrived safe and sound in Accra!

We were greeted by a team from the Office of the President who helped us maneuver through Customs and Immigration. After the chaos of the airport, our 200 pieces of luggage were loaded on the truck and we departed to the hotel! After a quick swim we’ve all headed to bed.

Almost there …

We have had a wonderful reunion at Heathrow with our UK Operation Hernia team and our physicians from Vancouver! It is amazing to me that, after all these months of planning, sixty of us are all here together.

Our flights are all taking off a little late … something about an unusual amount of luggage?

Everyone is getting to know each other and we are getting geared up for our work. Dr. Charlie is all set for some light reading on the plane. Sorry the picture is blurry but I was laughing so hard at our heart surgeon brushing up on tropical dermatology! I love it!

Onwards!