My Last Full Day

Started cleaning up my abode this AM before morning coffee. Maybe I have been in Sudan too long - picking up clothes a large black scorpion ran out after me. I did turn a little and he scurried back under stuff. I did not scream, run or wet my pants. Ahhh, time to go, maybe? This harsh place is really not so harsh. After finishing, mr scorpion crawled into a crack in the wall. Hope he stays there until I leave.

Busy morning at the hospital. All the babies gained weight!! The government, who will help supply their formula, wants them here at the hospital for a year and a half. They want the dad to work here and they will give a stipend and provide food for the family. This is a good thing. and now Werkok Memorial Christian Hospital will have resident triplets. We discharged two of the diarrhea kids. Then Ajak and I went to do surgeries. Had lots scheduled. Little stuff - hemorrhoidectomies, hernia, lipoma, hydracele. Also, the Governor came by. When I walked out of the OR he was so surprised to see me. Besides meeting him last year, I met with him last summer with several PCC board members, in Grand Rapids. It was really funny. He saw the babies and then went on his way. The mama is just beside herself with all these dignitaries coming to see the babies.

The day has been very hot. Even the locals are complaining about the heat. Not too much going on this afternoon. Did inpatient care and discharged some of the surgicals. At one point, I looked over at the cooking tukel and Mary the wise (sounds better than old Mary) was draped over two chairs and not moving. Young Mary was doing all the work. I don't think I have ever seen Mary not working. Our thermometer hovered around 120. And there was a hot hot wind.

Peter Kuchcon (known as Quickcorn) was stung by a scorpion this evening - several times on his foot. He is in alot of pain. He was in the cooking tukel to get boiled water for me. I needed to take it to the hospital. Peter dragged me into the tukel to look for the scorpion. OK, so I'm not THAT much Sudanese. I told him I was not standing there while a crazed scorpion hunt was being conducted. Simon, the lab tech, got out his bloodstone and taped it to the area. He said it would draw out the poison. We also gave him benadryl, prednisone and diazapam. We set up a bed for him here as he lives in North Compound. I hope he feels better by morning.

My time here winds down. I am not sure I will blog tomorrow. It will be sad for me. Some surgeries are scheduled and I'll work until the plane arrives. I really have no idea the time - just whenever it gets here. Off to Loki, then we catch a flight to Nairobi. If all works well, we will be in Nairobi by six pm. I just feel that there is so much work left to do. It is hard to walk away. Once again, I have had a blast in Sudan. Each of my trips here has been unique and wonderful. I am certain I will return. To each of you who have hopped on board my adventure, I say thanks, God's peace and good night.
C