We were able to talk with Jeff Saturday afternoon for a bit and again today. I did not post Saturday since I was running a little trying to get ready to leave for Kel's regional tournament in Centralia, WA. Plus, not much new news to post. He is safe and doing well. On Saturday they were able to go into N'Zerekore (bigger city where the uprising took place) to visit some of the places/churches that were burned down and also some families who had lost loved ones. Jeff said it was extremely sobering but did not pass much more information on besides that. Evidently, the government over there is very controlling of the media and what it can/can't share. The uprising was much worse than we were led to believe and many more (100 reported, probably more like several hundred at least) people were killed than was reported. What had begun as a tribal war over stolen property turned into a religious fight which is why the churches (Christians) were targeted (Guinea is a strongly Muslim culture). One man he, Con, and Kel had met last year during their trip lost 8 family members in this rioting. He took as many pictures as he could and said he'd have to describe what he saw and stories he heard after he gets home. On Sunday, they enjoyed church together in the local village and had some time to visit with the local doctors and get some rest.
He said it is definitely busier than usual during this time of Ramadan (Muslim holiday). So he is grateful for that. However, he said it is still quiet enough that he is having more time to build relationships with people, which of course is easier since he has been back several times. He appreciates your prayers and your interest in how God is working over there. Please, continue to pray for him...for wisdom and direction medically and the time and opportunity to share Christ with whomever he can. Pray for us here as well as we battle busyness of baseball, getting Connor ready to leave for college (he is quite ready :) maybe me not so much!), brotherly love shown in the form of fighting and arguing, and making a bunch of cupcakes for a wedding this upcoming weekend! NEVER a dull moment here, nor there in Africa. Although the places we are in and the experiences we are having are totally different, we are all still serving God wherever we are (you too!). Let's support each other in prayer and encouragement whenever and wherever we can! I love and appreciate you ALL and look forward to being able to hear more from Jeff when he returns!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Thursday, July 25
We were all able to talk to Jeff today, all the boys "happened" to be at home when he called. Something to be thankful for! It's the first time we were all able to talk to him during the same phone call! He is still doing well and is keeping very busy. The Alaimos starting traveling home today and he did get verification that they made it safely from the drive to Monrovia.
He says the hospital is full except for one bed (20 is capacity) and that's only happened one other time when he was there, so he is excited to see so many people able to come by for medical care. He actually did a surgery he knows how to do yesterday, an emergency appy! Most of surgeries he is doing, however, are of the orthopaedic or neurologic variety! The riots are all but quieted down, the military has everything "under control" and is allowing limited traveling in and out of the bigger city which allows more people to come to the clinic again.
Ryan, too bad you didn't have your accident while he was stateside, I'm sure he'd have been able to whip something together to fix you up!
Sorry, still not too many stories to tell, hopefully he'll feel up to writing a few, or cutting and pasting some of his surgical journaling for you guys after he gets home. Thanks for all your concern and prayers! I know he appreciates them ALL!
Jen for Jeff
He says the hospital is full except for one bed (20 is capacity) and that's only happened one other time when he was there, so he is excited to see so many people able to come by for medical care. He actually did a surgery he knows how to do yesterday, an emergency appy! Most of surgeries he is doing, however, are of the orthopaedic or neurologic variety! The riots are all but quieted down, the military has everything "under control" and is allowing limited traveling in and out of the bigger city which allows more people to come to the clinic again.
Ryan, too bad you didn't have your accident while he was stateside, I'm sure he'd have been able to whip something together to fix you up!
Sorry, still not too many stories to tell, hopefully he'll feel up to writing a few, or cutting and pasting some of his surgical journaling for you guys after he gets home. Thanks for all your concern and prayers! I know he appreciates them ALL!
Jen for Jeff
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Guinea 2013
This is Jen, reporting a little for Jeff. He is in Guinea again! He arrived last Saturday, July 13. He is travelling this time with Dr. Bob Alaimo and his daughter, Lizzy. They arrived safely via a new route. They landed in Monrovia, Liberia and crossed the border into Guinea for a shorter drive to Hope Clinic in N'Zao. All went smoothly for their trip and boarder crossing. The do not have much internet service to speak of this trip so that's why I am posting a little update. Even I will not have the details he normally shares because our communication is very limited.
Dr. Alaimo is seeing patients in the medical clinic and Lizzy (she is a college graduate awaiting medical school) is "trying her hand" at surgery in the OR with Jeff. Dr. Alaimo and Lizzy are there for two weeks, so they will be starting their journey home before too long. Jeff is there for a month and returns on Aug. 10.
Guinea started experiencing some tribal wars and rioting after their arrival in the country (not a result of their arrival of course!). N'Zerekore is the closest major city, about 20 kilometers outside of their village of N'Zao. There has been a good bit of rioting there this past week but things are calming down this weekend after of arrival of the national military. They shut down the roads going in and out of the big city, which cut down on the patient numbers normally coming to the clinic in the small town of N'Zao, and also kept anyone from going into N'Zerekore to get food or supplies. However, God has kept them safe and cared for. They have seen a few patients injured in the riots, including a pastor whose car and church were burned down. The pastor was shot in the leg, sent to the hospital for a splint and sent home. He was able to get to the clinic where they were able to pin it with an external fixator (another first for Jeff!) to set it. He is still experiencing God's peace, provision, and protection.
Thanks for all your prayers and concerns. I will try to post as I get information to post! Pray for Jeff, Bob, and Lizzy, for their protection, their ability to help others, and their own personal experiences! The boys and I are doing great and keeping very busy with baseball, work, camp and the usual busyness we experience here. We are trusting God with "Dad" and are grateful he has the opportunity to go and serve!
Dr. Alaimo is seeing patients in the medical clinic and Lizzy (she is a college graduate awaiting medical school) is "trying her hand" at surgery in the OR with Jeff. Dr. Alaimo and Lizzy are there for two weeks, so they will be starting their journey home before too long. Jeff is there for a month and returns on Aug. 10.
Guinea started experiencing some tribal wars and rioting after their arrival in the country (not a result of their arrival of course!). N'Zerekore is the closest major city, about 20 kilometers outside of their village of N'Zao. There has been a good bit of rioting there this past week but things are calming down this weekend after of arrival of the national military. They shut down the roads going in and out of the big city, which cut down on the patient numbers normally coming to the clinic in the small town of N'Zao, and also kept anyone from going into N'Zerekore to get food or supplies. However, God has kept them safe and cared for. They have seen a few patients injured in the riots, including a pastor whose car and church were burned down. The pastor was shot in the leg, sent to the hospital for a splint and sent home. He was able to get to the clinic where they were able to pin it with an external fixator (another first for Jeff!) to set it. He is still experiencing God's peace, provision, and protection.
Thanks for all your prayers and concerns. I will try to post as I get information to post! Pray for Jeff, Bob, and Lizzy, for their protection, their ability to help others, and their own personal experiences! The boys and I are doing great and keeping very busy with baseball, work, camp and the usual busyness we experience here. We are trusting God with "Dad" and are grateful he has the opportunity to go and serve!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Safe in Conakry
We arrived safely in Conakry this evening after 20 hrs of driving over the last two days. The rains are beginning to wash away sections of the roadways, and smaller bridges will be washed away soon if the rains continue. God kept us safe and it appears our timing for return was rather crucial. There is more political unrest brewing as well which will most likely resolve once Ramadan is over and the rains subside.
The plans are to catch up on sleep tonight and relax tomorrow prior to flying out around 10pm for Paris, Atlanta, and then Portland, hoping to arrive around 7:30pm on Wednesday evening. We are ready to see friends and family again, but will miss Guinea, and our friends here.
Thanks for all of your prayers. It will be fun to see you again.
The plans are to catch up on sleep tonight and relax tomorrow prior to flying out around 10pm for Paris, Atlanta, and then Portland, hoping to arrive around 7:30pm on Wednesday evening. We are ready to see friends and family again, but will miss Guinea, and our friends here.
Thanks for all of your prayers. It will be fun to see you again.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Singing and Cutting in the Jungle
My apologies for skipping a day from blogging, however, when 10pm came last pm, I was flat out done. Wednesday night ended around midnight with me scrambling to find ortho supplies for the next day. Thursday saw four cases completed, including a four hour femur repair in a young man who is a believer. He had been struck on Sunday by a motorcycle that resulted in a displaced femur fracture just below his hip joint. God was gracious guiding our hands and minds and allowing for appropriate improvisation, that resulted in a fairly good repair, though I have nothing to compare this to...
Today was intended to be a mellow clinic day with early departure time, however, an 18 year old boy arrived with a terrible burn from one week ago involving a gasoline explosion. His family had tried village medicine which involved smearing the burns with grease and mud. He arrived in terrific pain with badly infEcted wounds and severely dehydrated. After giving him several liters of IV fluids, we took him to the OR, after seeing 12 patients in clinic. Three hours later we had cleaned his wounds and stripped away the dead skin and tissue. I had intended to get through this stay without tears in the OR, but halfway through the case, I suddenly pondered the magnitude and primal nature of this case and this boy's future, and felt the tears begin to well up in my eyes. Forcing the tears back I happened to look across the table from me and see the nurse who had offered to help me, and noticed he also had tears in his eyes. I stopped, put my hand on his hand and told him that God would be with this boy, and we stopped and said a short prayer. This seemed to energize both of us, and we completed the case efficiently. We had been playing music from my iPod on the Bose system in the OR the last few days, which has been a great hit. Just after we had completed the case, " Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin began to play, which we all agreed was a fitting ending.
The inpatient ward is full again. Most are improving, and others will improve with the Lord's help. My tour here is done except for rounds tomorrow morning. We leave early Sunday morning for the two day trek to Conakry, and then fly home Tuesday night. The guys and I all agree the trip has passed quickly, and that we will all return as different men. Many friendships have been formed, and others strengthened. God has been observed in many ways, and his power and grace evident in the lives of many.
Thank you all for your kind notes and prayers. We cannot truly express the timeliness of many of your responses. Hope Clinic is a good place to serve, and I hope that in the future we may be able to put together teams to serve both in the areas of medicine and future building projects as they hope to double the amount of inpatient rooms in the near future. We look forward to returning and catching up with many of you, to share pictures, stories, and what God has done.
Today was intended to be a mellow clinic day with early departure time, however, an 18 year old boy arrived with a terrible burn from one week ago involving a gasoline explosion. His family had tried village medicine which involved smearing the burns with grease and mud. He arrived in terrific pain with badly infEcted wounds and severely dehydrated. After giving him several liters of IV fluids, we took him to the OR, after seeing 12 patients in clinic. Three hours later we had cleaned his wounds and stripped away the dead skin and tissue. I had intended to get through this stay without tears in the OR, but halfway through the case, I suddenly pondered the magnitude and primal nature of this case and this boy's future, and felt the tears begin to well up in my eyes. Forcing the tears back I happened to look across the table from me and see the nurse who had offered to help me, and noticed he also had tears in his eyes. I stopped, put my hand on his hand and told him that God would be with this boy, and we stopped and said a short prayer. This seemed to energize both of us, and we completed the case efficiently. We had been playing music from my iPod on the Bose system in the OR the last few days, which has been a great hit. Just after we had completed the case, " Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin began to play, which we all agreed was a fitting ending.
The inpatient ward is full again. Most are improving, and others will improve with the Lord's help. My tour here is done except for rounds tomorrow morning. We leave early Sunday morning for the two day trek to Conakry, and then fly home Tuesday night. The guys and I all agree the trip has passed quickly, and that we will all return as different men. Many friendships have been formed, and others strengthened. God has been observed in many ways, and his power and grace evident in the lives of many.
Thank you all for your kind notes and prayers. We cannot truly express the timeliness of many of your responses. Hope Clinic is a good place to serve, and I hope that in the future we may be able to put together teams to serve both in the areas of medicine and future building projects as they hope to double the amount of inpatient rooms in the near future. We look forward to returning and catching up with many of you, to share pictures, stories, and what God has done.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Real Surgery in the Heart of West Africa
A young man who has been unable to eat for 5 months without vomiting,and lost25 pounds, presented to the clinic early last week, and was scheduled for abdominal exploration at the end of last week. However, he did not show on his scheduled day, and instead appeared yesterday, hoping to receive the operation this week. We explored his abdomen this am and found an obstructing stomach ulcer that was eroding into his pancreas(in layman's terms-- a real mess). Three hours later we had removed the bottom third of his stomach and reconnected his stomach to the small intestine, without damage to his other organs. This man will need prayer for healing in his malnourished state, so as to avoid the disastrous complications that could occur after such an operation. I greatly enjoyed this challenge, finally getting to undertake an operation for which I had received training, but regret that we are leaving soon, and thus this man and several others as well. I also regret that Dr. Jean was unable to join me for this case, as had been planned last week, but Jairus has already called him to tell him what he has missed!
Con spent most of the day with me in the OR, which was helpful when I needed something quickly, and I was able to ask for it in English. He also spent some time cleaning up the suture shelf, which was in bad need of a makeover. Kel enjoyed some time away from work, and spent most of the day hanging out with the kids on the clinic grounds. We enjoyed dinner in N'Zerekore at a nice restaurant by the light of my headlight, as the electricity was off and their generator was not functioning.
Tomorrow will see three small cases and a femur fracture repair-- ring a bell with anybody? We just can't seem to come and get through a short stay without posing as orthopedic surgeons! Would appreciate your prayers as we head towards a busy day that may see some uncharted waters. Thanks for all of your kind notes and prayers.
Con spent most of the day with me in the OR, which was helpful when I needed something quickly, and I was able to ask for it in English. He also spent some time cleaning up the suture shelf, which was in bad need of a makeover. Kel enjoyed some time away from work, and spent most of the day hanging out with the kids on the clinic grounds. We enjoyed dinner in N'Zerekore at a nice restaurant by the light of my headlight, as the electricity was off and their generator was not functioning.
Tomorrow will see three small cases and a femur fracture repair-- ring a bell with anybody? We just can't seem to come and get through a short stay without posing as orthopedic surgeons! Would appreciate your prayers as we head towards a busy day that may see some uncharted waters. Thanks for all of your kind notes and prayers.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Hope and Hopelessness
Today was definitely a roller coaster of emotions here at Hope. We had a productive and safe day in the OR, though Kel is fairly certain he could have completed the hysterectomy in half of the time it took me to accomplish it. Jairus believes that I should take the day off tomorrow and allow Kel to run the OR. Should be a great day...
I met another lady today who appeared to be quite ill, and it became clear to me after her evaluation that she had very advanced cervical cancer, and surgery would not afford her a cure from her disease. We prayed with her and her daughter, and then they both left, weeping softly. Arriving upon terminal diagnoses, is a new facet of this particular trip. It is quite uncomfortable for me personally, to not be able to offer alternative therapies for cancer, let alone provide palliative care for truly hopeless cases. At times, simple prayers for these people who are actively dying, seem rather futile. We pray to a God they do not know, sometimes in a language they do not comprehend, but we must trust that He holds them in His hands, and His will is going to be accomplished. I cannot imagine the empty, hopeless emotions these folks experience as they leave the clinic knowing their future is short. It also makes me wonder why we as Americans decide we will not take advantage of screening programs and preventative ...
The cool weather continues, and only light rain today, with afternoon sunshine. We didn't think we would return home and suffer from the heat. You all are missed and appreciated.
I met another lady today who appeared to be quite ill, and it became clear to me after her evaluation that she had very advanced cervical cancer, and surgery would not afford her a cure from her disease. We prayed with her and her daughter, and then they both left, weeping softly. Arriving upon terminal diagnoses, is a new facet of this particular trip. It is quite uncomfortable for me personally, to not be able to offer alternative therapies for cancer, let alone provide palliative care for truly hopeless cases. At times, simple prayers for these people who are actively dying, seem rather futile. We pray to a God they do not know, sometimes in a language they do not comprehend, but we must trust that He holds them in His hands, and His will is going to be accomplished. I cannot imagine the empty, hopeless emotions these folks experience as they leave the clinic knowing their future is short. It also makes me wonder why we as Americans decide we will not take advantage of screening programs and preventative ...
The cool weather continues, and only light rain today, with afternoon sunshine. We didn't think we would return home and suffer from the heat. You all are missed and appreciated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)