On day two of our screening for surgical patients in N’Zao, Guinea, this woman came to see if we would be able to assist her. Jon Erickson has been assisting getting patients from Guinea to the Mercy Ship for over 10 years. Dr. Mark Shrime is our reconstructive surgeon on our screening team. We had a great team and 21 patients were scheduled for surgery.
Sign at Hope Clinic
Translation of the sign – Hope Medical Center of N’Zao ‘We treat, but Jesus heals’. They were our host on a recent surgical screening treat visit to Guinea. I joined the team and it was great being there – I will write more in my KRB Update 2124.
Can you count how many are on this pickup?
Local transport may be vans, taxis, old school buses or like this pick up truck. Can you count how many are on this pickup with only 2 seatbelts – we counted over 30!!!
Sign: Chocolate City
In Monrovia, Liberia, there are many interesting signs – here is a photo of a sign for the Chocolate City area of Monrovia – there is also Chicken Soup, Battery Factory, Iron Factory and other interesting names on the same main road, Somalia Drive.
Today’s Visit – Creative Time
Following playing outside with the football (soccer) ball, skipping rope, marbles and other games – the children of the orphanage in New Georgia came inside as I brought the marker, color pencils and paper for them to be creative and make some drawings – some take a lot of time and others are quick – but they all enjoy it.
Today’s Visit – Badminton
The children at Liberia Children Rescue Education Foundation Orphanage have been learning badminton on their own without a net, but they are getting it. I always enjoy my visits with the children and teens and my friend Kennedy who is the director.
Ali – Guinea Patient Max Fac
Ali was one of our patients from last year in Monrovia, though he is from Guinea. He made the ten hour journey from his country to Liberia for his maxillo-facial surgery on board. I met him originally in the ward but we were limited in our conversation as he speaks mano and french and I speak english (& spanish). I was in Guinea for the past four days as we did surgical screening there and he remembered me. It was good to see him and how well he is doing following his surgery. I will write soon in my KRB Update about the time in Guinea.
A Walk to Beautiful
A television presentation about VVF – Vesico Vaginal Fistula – to be aired on May 13th on NOVA – PBS. Please reference my email update, KRB 2123.
Ganta Screening with Jonathan
During our surgical screening in Ganta, we saw Jonathan, 3 ½ years old, who had a severe head wound which will require daily dressing changes until he comes with his father James to Monrovia for plastic surgery. Steven, the nurse, did his dressing change for that day and I just sat with Jonathan and kept praying and saying ‘you are a brave boy’ as I could sense that is was very painful – allowing him to squeeze my finger when it hurt, like my Mom did with me when I was young.
Ganta Screening Jean w /Sam
During our surgical screening in Ganta, here is our first patient, Sam being head by my friend Jean Campbell, our healthcare manager. Sam sat quietly on the lap of his young mother with a large cleft lip. He was exactly the patient we were looking for and will be coming next month for surgery here on board the ship.