The food isn't bad, but they come up with the most random and crazy combinations of western food. I was doing pretty good, until the garlic bread came out for breakfast yesterday and I couldn't take it anymore. Also wishing I had fresh milk. Freeze dried milk and cereal just isn't the same.
Toby has finally started to crack, when I put the heat on him to try stuff last nite and today he did with an "awww right Dad...." He agreed he liked the hand cut french fries and chicken after I convinced him it was just like African McD's. Still can't get him to try banana french fries, (fried plantains) which are awesome with ketchup. Finally had another food experience I've been needing to try. FooFoo JamaJama. It is a local favorite made of corn meal pudding/dumpling and JamaJama which is like spinach. Got invited into the OR tech lounge to eat it today. I was not offered a fork, so was also the first hands only meal, when I thought I needed a fork.
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| Birthday Dinner |
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| Refined Toby, drinking morning Tea.... |
Amy went to Bamanenda shopping with some of the other wives today. Will be excited to see what she has to bring home.
As for me, did another spine trauma today. T3-4 fracture/dislocation with cord injury. I think this will be the biggest impact we can make here is trying to improve spine trauma care. I pretty much let Dr Nana do the whole case and he did very well. He and I were both pleased.
He then walked me thru the osteotomy on the legs of that boy with rickets. Crazy, crooked.
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| Before |
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| After |
Got home about 2pm, so I decided today was the day to conquer Mt. Mbingo, the big looming hill that is right behind the house. Didn't look so big from down here. Holy crap, that was steep, grass, mostly over Toby's head and I had to carry him down. I can check that off my to-do list now.
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| Starting up Mt Mbingo |
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| So Toby initially liked my idea of sharing his "silly bands" however, it was about now he started squealing for help. Feeling a bit over-run...... |
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| Yes, It is the hill directly behind them we went up, straight up I think... |
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| View of our House (red arrow) View of Roxy/Grace waving at us (Yellow arrow), don't trust me blow it up big, they are in the photo..... |
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| Hospital Valley |
Amy made it back just in time for dinner, with lots of goodies from shopping. She says it was too busy and stressful to try to shop that way. They had to go to 3 big supermarket type places, because one doesn't care all the items. They also went to a fruit/vegetable market and couple other mom/pop places. She was thankfully able to secure some Coca-lite...its a good day. Been pretty lean, bumming about one a week of Dr Sparks, who had the hook up in Bamenda.
Another, Grace settling into African life story. Just before dinner, she asks for 50 Francs (11 cents). She and a neighbor go to the hospital canteen and come back with Puff-puff. A guava juice sweet bread/roll she is chomping on. He also took her across the road to the market, where he showed her the candy/gum stand. She's starting to feel pretty settled.....
After dinner, had to walk thru hospital because it was raining, and ran into my scoliosis patient coming back from her post-op xrays. She was good and xrays looked great!!! Roxy hadn't been in the children's ward, so we dropped by and shared the love. We then dropped by the orthopaedic/accident ward where the girl was and was a circus there. Had the tables turned on us, and one of the husbands of the patients was filming us on his phone. It's crazy when your an attraction, just cause your white....
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| Post-operative x-rays from girl with scoliosis |
Home for treats from that Mom brought with her. Kinder...somethings for the kids, which are egg shaped, half toy and half candy goodness. They were pretty excited. Cold Castle brew, for the adults.
Then the flying termites hit. Has happened a couple of times, usually at night, when it starts to rain hard, is dark and the lights are on. Kinda like may-flies. But somehow are getting into the house, and sorta freak you out, cause there are lots of them.
So everyone, pretty much shut of all the lights and just went to bed at 8:00pm, rather than fight the flying termites. I'm on the neighbors porch (to get Internet signal) still fighting the flying beasts.
For the record...blogging with bad Internet is a lot of work...
Nite,
BI
3 comments:
I'm sure it's a lot of work and a hassle if the internet is unreliable and slow, and especially if you are risking being eaten alive by flying termites while you type (yuck!) but THANK YOU for the posts! And also the pictures. Those pictures DO speak thousands of words. Simply amazing! That little boy with the bowed legs will be a good foot taller after his surgeries - how wonderful! And the hill - my goodness, the picture from the top looking down to the house looks like an aeriel photo! The trip down must have been challenging too! So glad to hear the surgeries are going well. And amazed that Amy stayed upright through the picture taking. Good job, Amy! Has Roxy gotten to rock any babies in the hospital yet? Can't wait to hear the stories. Talked to Aunt Mae last night and she isn't able to post a comment but they have been reading your posts - she wanted me to tell you all that she is looking forward to them every day and very much enjoying them - also challenging her Kansas City friends to be aware of their many blessings by comparison to what we are seeing life is like there. Praying that God will continue to keep you all strong, healthy, free from any kind of distress, and safe every minute in His care. Love ya - Wanda
The pictures you are sending are great. I loved the one with the 2 boys, their red caps, and the green mountain! Glad Brian had a good birthday. I too have to agree with Brian that he is seeing "textbook" medicine first hand. Some of those pictures could probably be included in a medical textbook. Amazing that he is able to make their lives a little more livable and maybe teach the resident ortho dr some tricks on ways of treating them after he leaves. Mbingo Baptist Hospital will have people coming from all over Africa for the "Cure". Anyway, we are proud of all of you and the red velvet cake looked as good as Amy's BD cake did in the US. Love and best wishes to all of you!! Mom and Dad
Ipsen's, I had a hard time with the ants when I lived in Florida. I cannot imagine the flying termites. Kudos to your kids for taking on such a different way of life. What a summer to remember. Are they keeping a journal? It might be fun to hear their thoughts years from now. Many blessings and birthday wishes to Dr. Ipsen. You are definitely using your gift for good! Love hearing about your experiences. The Schneider's
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