An Average Day... In Guinea

We all awoke fairly early this morning, not having slept very well due to music blaring all thru the night. Con and Kel went to Lola to complete the water reservoir project and arrive home at about 4:30, after having a good day. I spent the day with Dr. Jean who allowed me to assist him with a cleft lip repair, which I haven't seen for 15 years. It was fascinating to watch this child's life being transformed before our eyes. We did another small case, and saw several consults in between. The young boy with the tumor on his head returned, and unfortunately his skull X-rays demonstrated that a section of his skull may have been eroded, and there was a direct connection with the brain. We explained that we couldn't resect this mass, but could remove a lymph node, and I could take it back to the states for evaluation. However , the best option was to travel to Conakry and get a CT scan, and possible treatment. The boy's father told us they tried to do that, but we're told it would cost them about 1000$ to do so. They had come to Hope, hoping to find good medical care at a better price. Dr. Jean asked me to pray for this boy and his trip to Conakry, and then we shook hands, and they disappeared. We sat silent for a few moments, letting the emotion of this situation sink in, and then moved on to others that could be helped. The truth is, we will probably never see this boy again, but God knows where he is, and holds his future in his hands. This evening we enjoyed dinner with the Albright's, our host family, and are now sitting and catching up on Emails and Facebook. Plans are for the guys to work in clinic tomorrow and I will spend the day seeing consults with Dr. Jean. I may have a chance to meet with Modey tomorrow as he is due to return to the clinic for evaluation of his leg. He now has a prosthesis for the other leg and is walking without an assist device. Only God knows the other folks we will meet that come to Hope for help...