Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Gabriel, Mary and the kids

We got up early on Wednesday and headed to the airport.  Before going, Gabriel and his family visited.  They all look well and the kids are darling.  They have grown so much.  Hok is in school.  Aya starts next year and Lual is such an outgoing little imp.  Mary and the baby came a little later.  The baby looks healthy except that Gabriel said he recently spent three weeks in the hospital with diarrhea.  I am glad he is well.  Mary looked beautiful as always.

We headed through the neighborhood back to the main road with Gabriel carrying my too big suitcase.  Over the stick bridge again.  We got to the road and about three minutes later Makach picked us up.  He took us to Bor Airport, which is noting to write home about.  Thank goodness the man who took my money for the flight was there, checking in passengers.  He announced that there would be only one flight that day.  Boy did negotiations start.  By 9:30 we were in the air and I said goodbye to the Bor/Werkok area.  I had a long delay in Juba, I sat in a covered seating area that has some snacks and cold drinks.  This is new and it was quite comfortable.   Ajak and Mary went on their way.  We said goodbye - sad- as they had to get Mary's yellow fever shot and Ajak had to pick up his passport from the Canadian Embassy.  He is traveling to USA the same day I am but will be on another flight.  I am hoping to see him while he is in Grand Rapids.

I flew to Nairobi in the late afternoon.  During the flight I started with a sore throat.   It has progresses to a whopping full blown cold/upper respiratory infection.  Yes, I have been miserable and really have no idea how this happened.  I arrived at Joy Phillips house.  It is beautiful and is right down the street from Karen Blixin's house.   "I had a farm in Africa".  Anyways, I did get a good night's sleep and in the morning we headed to Tenwek Hospital in the Rift Valley.  The drive was beautiful.  The mountains are layered with different fields and pastures. It was a three and a half hour drive. 

Tenwek Hospital is amazing.  It is quite modern with many specialties.  Currently there is a cardiac team that is there.  The first week they did adults and the second week pediatrics.  I think there was a total of 35 people on the team, including cardiac nurses and the docs.  They brought all their own equipment.  Quite an undertaking and they have had amazing results.  I met with docs and clinical officers who would like to come work in Sudan, holding clinics as well as doing surgeries.  I am very excited.  It was good that I had just come out of South Sudan and could talk first hand to them about the facilities and the needs.  This was a very good trip.  I saw Dr. Chupp and Dr. Spreigle.  They both look well and were so surprised to see me.  It was fun seeing where they work and where so many of the team from Southwest Med Clinic come to work.

I am now back at Joy's home.  I leave later tonight and am very concerned about my ears.  My cold has progressed from bad to worse.  We will go to a pharmacy and get some drugs.  You can buy most things over the counter.  The day is beautiful, sunny and her gardens are amazing.  She does have to keep windows closed or the monkeys get into her house!  Imagine.

I have had yet another wonderful adventure in South Sudan and now in Kenya.  I am blessed for all I have and all I have  been exposed to.  We truly live in a global community.  Until my next adventure.  God's peace to all.

This is About Tuesday

I woke up early and finished with packing.  My suitcase is too heavy.  The clouds are coming.   Around 7:45 it started to rain, and it rained, and it rained.  I guess I will wear my gum boots to Palabach.  We called Ajak and let him know about the rain.  He said Bor was clear.  That is good.  We finally left around 10:15.  The ground is very wet and muddy.  It is slippery.  It was not too long before the guys were way ahead of me.  Mawiel has my red suitcase on his shoulder, my porter, walking fast with his ultra long legs through the bush.  Quikcorn stays with me.  We talk about problems in South Sudan as we walk.  So much is so good and so much is so bad.

We made it to Palabach around 11:45.  No car waiting.  Hmmm.  About 15 minutes later Makach and Ajak drive up.  Dr. Moses is also with them.  It was a hard drive they said.  I said goodbye to my friends.  This is always the hardest part.  Quickcorn and Rachel drove to Bor with us.  They had business there.  It was a crazy ride.  The mud is the same as ice.  We slid all over the road and at one point came very close to a truck that was traveling in the other direction.  Makach is the best driver I know.  I love him. 

We got some lunch in Bor town, Ethiopian.  It was excellent.  Then Ajak and I went and paid for our ticket.  The man said he was sorry, no receipt and no paper ticket but he would be at the airport in the morning with the list of who paid.  Ahhh, South Sudan.  We ran into a people from Handicap International.  They said they have lots of equipment and they could assess the lady in Werkok with the Rheumatoid arthritis. Check that off the list.  I am so glad. I will email Deng when I get to Nairobi and let him know to make arrangements.  I am so glad about this.  Check that off the list.  We went into the market to a beauty salon and met Ajak’s wife.  She was getting a wig made.  She is beautiful and was very shy of me.  I could tell she and Ajak are very happy together.  I am glad for him.  We met Gabriel and James.  I gave money to Gabriel to purchase some IV catheters and give them to Rachel to take back to the hospital.  Check that off the list.

We went back to Dr. Moses’ place, where we were storing my stuff.  The doctors from Bor Hospital came and we had a wonderful feast.  We talked about opportunities and working for South Sudan.  It is a baby nation and someone with money could get so much stuff going.  It was a great gathering.  I wish all of these hard working people the best.  They are brave and courageous.

Off to Ajak’s house.  We were dropped off on the road with our suitcases.  We walked, in the dark, through “neighborhoods” over a bridge made of sticks lying across two pieces of wood.  I had visions of landing in the stream below.  Up a small hill, slippery, down the other side, winding on the path finally to a clearing.  It is Ajak’s family compound.  It is good to see his mother and sisters.  His wife is there, she greets me when I go into the tukel – “Ah, Mother” and gives me a hug.  Their home is a modest square tukel, the inside is roomy and it is comfortable.  There are two beds and a small square table in the middle of the room.  There is a bouquet of plastic flowers on it.  I know Mary Aman worked to make it look good for me.  The walls are covered with fabric, giving it the feeling of a childhood fort.  It is charming and I feel so welcome.  Ajak and I sit outside.  Of course the mosquitoes are terrible.  I spray and it is more tolerable.  His sister comes over, her youngest on her hip.  She is very frightened of me.  She wiggles down and hits Ajak on the knee.  She is saying to him “why did you bring that kawaja here?”  Ajak is laughing, telling me what she is saying.  It is so funny.  Eventually she calms down and shakes my hand, the sign of hospitality in South Sudan.  She is precious.  We soon go in the tukel, get ready for bed and very soon the entire area is quiet.  I hear Ajak and Mary’s soft breathing with an occasional word being said.  I am content, I am comfortable and I have been honored to be invited into their home for the night.  I pinch my arm, am I dreaming?  It is one adventure after another.  I must keep reminding myself is to live in the moment and be glad in where I am.  Yes, I am very glad.

Last Day Blues

He was so happy with me!

Today is my last full day in Werkok.  I am so sad.  Up and checking on patients.  Mama a little better.  Deng and I went to Werkok this morning to meet again with the Chief and Elders.  We drove the blue land rover.  It is up and running.  Battery charged but the windows won't go down.  A little warm inside. While waiting to get started, I walked around and talked to kids and held a baby who was crying and the Dad seemed perplexed as to what to do.

Snuck this photo during meeting

The meeting was good.  Just talked about the future and a bit about the past and history of the area.  It was great.  Everyone seems to know me. Some guy walks up to me, hand out saying "Casrun, Casrun, you return"  and all sorts of other things.  I said "it is so good to see you again!"  Clueless as to who he is.  Even the kids know my name. 

Whole family to see doc

After returning to the compound, I helped with patients.  More diarrhea people coming in.  It seems to be going around.  The Mama was sitting up in bed.  Her daughter took her out and washed her, I helped with the wheelchair.  She is getting better.  Quickcorn had to go to a meeting in Bor and is bringing back some meds.  I think once she gets these meds in her, she will really turn the corner.  But she was up and talking and that is a huge improvement.  Other patients I saw had problems with vericose veins, malaria, diarrhea, wound recheck, baby with cough, young adult with bloody diarrhea.  And the list goes on.

I finally had a chance to clean up my room and get my things ready.   Ahhh, so many scorpions in my things.  Catherine 4 - Mr Scorpion 0. I hope I don't bring any of them home!

I got him

I don't seem to have too many things to bring back.  One suitcase and then my backpack.  But still, we have about an hour and a half walk to the junction.  Ajak and Dr. Deng will be there waiting for me.  I hope.

Beautiful sky

I am going to miss this place.  Hard to believe my time is over.  It always goes so fast.  The sunset tonight was particulary beautiful.  I sure will miss it.  Every evening is a treat.  I am sure I will have some adventures in Bor Town tomorrow.  Then off to Juba on Wednesday.  I still have a long journey home.  And I get home Thanksgiving week.  I certainly have an awful lot to be thankful for.  Life is so good. 

Another Week

Time is passing too fast.  I am in a tizzy trying to make lists, see things that need to be done, organize some of the hospital things, etc.  Yes, I do like 5-6 weeks better than three.  Church this morning.  The priest was not there, some big gathering west of here.  Afterwards I checked on patients.  All are okay.  Our poor Mama is just not   bouncing back and we are out of med.  I did don the space suit and went into the white container to see if there was any metrondizole tucked away somewhere.  No luck and no stings.

Gabriel came by.  We talked about his education.  I went on line looking for places and costs.  He has his list and now must travel to places to see where it is best for him to go.  We then walked to town, visited with many.  I took tons of kids pictures.  It was so fun to see them.  They are really not any different from kids anywhere.  And they are so beautiful, even with their dirty faces.  One boy was making mud cattle.  Even as young kids understand the wealth is noted by the number of cattle you have.  That is your importance.  I will add pictures later that I took of these little mud figures.  They were really cute.

Our guard is back.  He has been here for several years. When I arrived this year, there were no guards.  Now he is back.  Apparently he had to go to Juba for work.  He is military.  A nice guy and he was so surprised to see me.  I always felt safe knowing he was walking around at night, especially when I would sleep outside.  None of that this trip, due to rain.  And it is cooler.  I think the temps have been in the 90's during the day but down to the 70's at night.  Good sleeping.

Short report tonight.  Life is good.  Back at the grind tomorrow, seeing patients and trying to get meds here.  We have the money, just not the means to get them.  I am sure we will get things this week.  At least I hope.

Saturday's All Right For Fighting Bees

Much Better

How do you like my new picture?  See, isn't it different with green.  Today was somewhat lazy.  Saw patients in the morning. Am still concerned about the Old Mama.  She is just not bouncing back very well.  We are almost out of medicine for her.  The young girl with malaria is much better today. Cleaned some wounds and bandaged a young boys leg.  He had three round sores on this lower legs.  I think he fell over a stake that is used to tie the cattle to.  I told him to leave the bandage on for two days and then he had to wash them with water each day.  The cattle camps are just filthy. 

Bee hive on veranda

After lunch I did some wash and then set up a chair in the sun and studied.  I have stuff due on Tuesday after I get back.  It was a perfect afternoon.  A beautiful breeze.  I was in the sun about an hour then the shade of the porch covered me.  I keep thinking that I have to take advantage of the sun - I may not see it until next April.  People were coming and going.  Visitors sitting with me or with the staff, one man came and brought his sheep herd while he visited.  I think we have premium grass here.  When they were going to an area he did not want them to go to, he would sing to them and they would go to another area.  It was really something. 

The bees have started creating a hive on the corner of the veranda.  By noon it was the size of a basketball.  I tried to get into the container with the medicines but got stung.  So that was the end of that task.  We talked a lot about what we should do.  I found a surgical suit that completely covers you and has a plastic bubble hood.  I thought they should get the hive into a bucket and take it far away.  They just told me to "stay here" in the dining hall.  Off they went.  Ten minutes later I hear running and laughing.  I came out and Mawiel and Abraham had stings all over their arms.  I ran and got my tweezers and benadryl.  The hive fell down and spread all over.  We are really in trouble now.  I have no idea where it went or where all the bees are.  But I bet they are mad. 

I am going to try to put some pictures up.  I will see if it takes too much power to do.  So bear with me.

Friday - (I know it's Saturday)

I was too tired and lazy last night to write.  The day was actually low keyed.  Checked patients.  After insisting on stool sample (sorry) it turns out our Old Mama has giardia.  Boy can I sympathize with her.  Appropriate meds started, fluids continuing.  We also received a young girl (maybe 14) who has a bad case of malaria.  Started meds.  Will keep her for several days to make sure she recovers okay.  Clinic not too busy.

I finally got into the container.  It is a grueling job but had to be done.  I did inventory, cleaned, combined, threw out.  I put things in the clinic, pharmacy and operating theater that could be used now.  I think the operating theater is now ready to service patients.  It will be great if doctors from Tenwek come to do surgeries.  A real boost to the community.  I even held my temper when I came across boxes of dialysis equipment and venous graft kits.  Better living by chemicals, I say.

My time here is winding down.  I have a few chores to do over the weekend, but I think my list is mostly checked off.  It has been a whirlwind of activity.  Still have to figure out how to get IV catheters.  We are down to two.

I made plans to leave.  I will go to Bor on Tuesday. Yes, another trek through the bush, this time with my suitcase. If everything goes as planned, Dr. Deng and Ajak will meet me at the junction with a vehicle. Or maybe bota bota again. I will purchase a ticket from Bor to Juba.  On Wednesday I leave.  I fly from Juba to Nairobi in the afternoon.  I will stay with Joy Phillips.  The two of us will go to Tenwek Hospital on Thursday and Friday.  I am hoping to talk to some of the doctors about doing some work here at MCH.  That is my goal.  And Joy said we even have a party to go to on Thursday night.  We will return to Nairobi on Friday.  I fly out on Saturday night.

The bees have decided to move.  They are on the corner of the northwest corner of the hospital!  In one day their hive is huge!  I am just not sure what to do about them.  We may end up having to close the hospital for about 4 days, get them removed and then clean the area.  This is just terrible.  People are getting stung.  I am still waiting for some suggestions.

Saying Bye to the teachers

Deng and I walked to the teacher's compound in the evening.  They live in containers that have been converted.  They are really nice.  I took some pics.  They just finished up exams today.  They will all leave tomorrow.  I have enjoyed them.  They are mostly Sudanese and then a couple of Kenyans.  They have a two month vacation and then they return for the next term.  They have three terms per year.  I know Deng will miss their company.

It was dusk when we started back.  The path is small and I stayed close to Deng, not being able to see in that kind of light very well.  We crossed through the school ground, looking at the new buildings.  They are very nice and will service the student very well.  The path narrowed and we were into the tall grass, winding our way through the village, going through peoples "yards" greeting them while they were making their dinners.  There was a gentle breeze that made the grass sway ever so slightly and kept us cool.  To the east, I could see a glow on the horizon.  I pointed it out to Deng.  He said maybe a fire.  In the next few minutes we were treated to one of God's glorious wonders - a red glowing full moon was rising out of the grasses in the distance.  There were a few clouds that reflected the light.  We both stopped, watching in awe at this magnificent sight.  To the west, the sun had fallen below the horizon but the dusk was still evident.  How beautiful the land is!  These moments are part of why I keep returning.  This simple yet complex world of South Sudan.

Bota Bota Bor

Deng leading the way

Got up and got ready to go to Bor.  It was sprinkling.  First checked the patients and was happy to see that they were better.  The old mama was able to talk and had not vomited all night.  The little girl was also sitting up and drinking rehydration salts. I left instructions and then Deng and I started walking to the junction.

It is still wet

I had a backpack and I had on my gum boots.  The first half hour path was small with 6' grass on either side, but then it widened.  The road was hardly a road and I could not imagine driving a vehicle through it.  At the Chief and Elders meeting on Monday, there was much discussion about getting this grated so it will be passable.  It was a nice morning, cloud cover and a pleasant temperature.  Most of the walk was really nice but certainly all terrain.  We did come across some cattle carcasses and saw one laying down but could not get up.  This east coast fever is really having an effect.

We made it to Palabach in about an hour and a half.  This is the junction to the main road.  We walked a short way when a bota bota came by.  This is a motorcycle taxi.  We both got on and the three of us headed to Bor Town.  It was a crazy ride.  The road is just awful and I found I closed my eyes a good portion of the time.  I would make a terrible motocross competitor.  At one point, by a cattle camp, we got stuck in the middle of a huge herd of cattle and they had really bit horns.  I had visions of  being skewered onto a horn.  I admit I was letting out little screams.  One big old steer kicked me in the leg as we drove by! And Deng kicked the cattle back.  All I kept thinking was "you can't make this s#*t up".  It was so totally crazy.  We went through deep mud holes, through grass, around goats and cattle.  But finally, just before noon we arrived in Bor.

Ajak, me, and Makach - together again

Paul, Dr. Deng, me, Gabriel, and Ateny

We met up with Gabriel and went to the bank.  Took care of some banking for his schooling and then went to do errands and see people.  I saw James and Paul, met up with Dr. Ajak, went to the Dr.'s compound at Bor Hospital.  There I saw Dr. Samuel.  He is now the Director of the hospital.  He has his work cut out for him.  I saw many people I have met at the hospital over the past few years.  It was nice to see them again.  I ran into Peter Kuchcon (we call him Quickcorn).  It was so good to see dear sweet Peter.  He has been in Bor because his brother died.  He will be back in Werkok tonight.  I am glad for that.  I have missed him and going to North Compound.  Ajak and I went to check on flights that leave Bor for Juba.  The place was closed.  We ran into Dr. Moses and grabbed a quick bite to eat. Then it was time to get back to meet Deng and Gabriel.  We were hoping to get IV catheters.  We are down to 2 or 3.  Bor hospital is out of them also.  We bought a few in the market.  They were very expensive. This is just terrible, especially with the issue of vomiting and diarrhea that is going on.  Then Dr. Deng showed up.  He is great.  So good to see my old friend.  He was the first doctor I met here.  He looks great and seems to be doing well.  Work is busy for him.  He is the director of Sudan Medical Clinic.  He oversees about 12 clinics located all over South Sudan.  Then we all started walking (with a huge box of medicines) to look for transportation back to Werkok.  We kept running into people I know.  It was really fun and I was able to get some pictures.

So we made arrangements to get back.  We again got bota bota to take us back.  Oh my goodness.  This was a really crazy trip.  Deng was on the motorcycle with the med box and I was on another one with our backpacks.  I must be out of my mind doing some of this stuff.  Again we went through cattle.  It was just as scary but I did not get kicked.  We ended up taking the bota bota all the way to Werkok so we did not have to walk with the medicine box.  It was so crazy going through the bush.  Yikes.  As I said, I must be out of my mind.  My muscles are so sore from being clenched.  I was very happy when I could see the water tower at the compound. 

The teachers from the secondary school were here.  They laughed so hard at my stories.  I let Maweil, Simon and John Garang know that I saw Peter, Mabil, James, Dr. Deng and Dr. Ajak and they all say hello to them.  And I told them that Peter will be here tonight.  Tomorrow I will go over to the school and take some pictures and see the students.  I made the arrangements with the teachers.  I now need to eat some din, shower and hit the bed.  I am sunburned and I am tired.  It is hard work being in a constant state of being scared s#*/less.  Night night.