Today began nice and peacefully as my day off. I deliberately slept in for a little bit. When I emerged upstairs for a late breakfast, the first three people that I talked to said right away “You just woke up didn’t you?” They were right. I was relaxed. After a scrumptious bowl of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, and a good, long conversation with Kevin, I returned downstairs and spent some rare time by myself. It was good to read, and be still, to reflect and to look ahead.
When I emerged upstairs for a late lunch, the pace of my day quickened. After eating I went out on the dock, past the dozens of patients waiting to be screened, and into the examination room (tent) to observe with Dr. James. I sat like a fly on the wall watching with wide eyes, ears, and heart; for this was the orthopaedic surgery screening that was taking place.
This was the second round. The first screening had already occurred and had directed patients that we could possibly help with our orthopaedic surgeons to this specific day. Once here, two orthopaedic surgeons were screening patients all day long. They examined local Liberians in need of help from eight in the morning to almost eight in the evening! Each waited patiently in the shade of awning for her or his turn to be seen with the hopes of help. And I was able to watch this for two hours.
One girl had wounds from during the war when shrapnel cut through her legs and abdomen while she was a little girl. Her mother was running for shelter with her tied onto her back (as all the women carry their little ones around here) when the girl was injured. It is now about nine years later and she will be helped within the next few weeks.
Another boy with a clubbed foot came through. (This is when the foot turns sideways and/or backwards and cannot be used as usual.) He is also scheduled to be helped soon. There was another little guy with a dislocated knee and a kneecap that was out of place. He will also be scheduled to be helped. As the examinations took place and conversations followed, I watched the eyes of the patients. The wide eyes of the child. The hopeful eyes of the mother or grandmother. Wow.
However not everyone could be helped. Some were told that an operation would do no good, or make the situation worse. An elbow and a leg from a car accident a long time ago, legs broken from falling out of a tree, a foot that didn’t form correctly fifty years before. It was hard to watch this. I felt it for the people sitting a few feet away as the news sunk in. What do you do? What do you say?
In the end, each patient was encouraged regardless of the news. Dr. James went well out of his way to get to know each potential patient asking about family and sports, jobs and preferences. He was good at making them smile.
After spending a special two hours in the toasty tent full of people, watching and learning, I headed out. A few minutes later, I was in a completely different world. I was in a family cabin with 40 other crewmembers (25 little kids, 15 adults) for birthday party for Isabella’s first birthday. She is the cutest toddler ever, and has wonderful parents. Until dinner time I watched a bunch of little kids play games, dance to silly songs, eat cake, and even break open a piñata.
At dinnertime I prepared a dish, put cling wrap on top and set it in my room. I then rendezvoused in reception at five thirty with some friends to go play volleyball at the Nepal UN camp. A few of the troops joined us. Many more watched and laughed with us. When it was finally too dark to see the ball we stopped and walked back home covered in red Liberian soil. And then my day began to slow down again.
I have now showered and am squeaky clean (this is becoming more and more rare these days). I nuked my delayed dinner and had a small feast of fried plantains, rice, and cassava. Yum yum. And now I sit typing these last few sentences, having finished my tea, ready to hike back downstairs to my bed. I want to go to sleep early, because tomorrow I have the privilege of following the dental team to a local hospital to observe and to help out. I am thankful to be here.
I was all done writing, but just before posting this entry I skimmed the news headlines on the BBC world news web page. I was dismayed to find that my home here made one of the two ‘Africa' slots available. You can read the article by clicking here and see a picture about a half mile up the road. Your prayers for this land would be appreciated.
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