patients
January 15th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorizedeverywhere in the world patients are funny. i was not expecting to talk with a women today about her obesity…she wanted pills to supress her appetite. for a second i thought i’d accidently hopped a plane back home. obesity…in africa, huh. another woman was concerned about ther lack of enjoyment during sex, again a conversation i was not planning to have while here. and then there is the guy who i have seen 3 times already for various complaints. 3 times…i was not expecting such continuity of care! last week a man (late 40s which is old for here) walked into my ‘office’ and asked for a note stating he could not work anymore. i found no reason why he couldn’t work so i sent him away. after clinic as we were walking out i noticed 2 young guys pushing him in a wheelbarrow. this grown man had some how folded himself up and actually fit really nicely in it. he had a pillow and blanket, and looked very comfortable. he saw me and waved and then off they went, the 2 young guys pushing the ‘old’ man back home. who knows how long their journey was. anyway it made me second guess my decision to keep him working. oopps!
on a more depressing note we had a sick baby come in last night with difficulty breathing. it looked like me might have to intubate her and put her on the ventilator. but before that is even considered an hiv test must be negative. if the child is hiv + it is standard treatment to not resusitate the baby if it stops breathing. to care for a ventilated baby they have to be shipped to a bigger hospital by helicoptor and the health care system is so overwhelmed that the major hospitals will not accept hiv + children with life threatening problems, it wastes too many resources on a child that is doomed anyway. this baby was hiv negative and she did get tubed and shipped out, but if that test had come back + this story would have a very different ending.
to end on a positive note i found a woman who uses condoms!! very few people here do, it’s very taboo, and very few people are monogomous. but we continue to ask and encourage. the other day i asked a women, expecting the usual, ‘NO!’ and instead i got ‘YES!’ i gave an audible wahoo nearly jumping out of my chair in excitement!!
and as for my catching babies goal i am failing misreably. everyday i have missed at least 1-2 babies by about 15min. it’s as if they know i’m coming and hurry up and slide out. so tomorrow i am staying with the midwife all day…i will not leave her side and i will have gloves on at all times…i will catch me a baby! but no lynn i will not be catching the ’baby bug’ like you…i’m leavin that up to becky!! :)
6 Responses to “patients”
By Lynn Wiggins on Jan 16, 2009
Loved your stories…praying for you of course. You are missing 13 degrees of cold here today..even worse this morning…2 I believe…so enjoy not needing your wool socks and “snuggly” to keep away the arctic air.
Catch a baby today!!
By Taylor on Jan 16, 2009
Hey Mill! I love your stories! And the pictures, the rhino one is amazing! I can just imagine you walking down the street and there’s a rhino or a zebra there! We’re on opposite ends of the weather spectrum,,,,it’s incredibly hot there and it’s about 9 degrees here, I think the windchill is below 0. Yet, still no snow!! We should at least get snow out of this! Anyway, I am praying for good news from your interview…he had to at least be impressed by the fact that he was interviewing you from south africa!! I miss you and can’t wait to hear about the next adventure! Love you!
By Sebastian on Jan 16, 2009
Now Mill, it appears to me that you’re working to much and too hard. I say you take a day off, let these “wheelbarrow-ing” people go on about their business, and you take a stroll through some village while keeping your eyes out for any cool percussion instruments! And you should take some lessons from some street person while your at it… there’s no reason for you to be in Africa and NOT enhance your musical abilities… despite what little abilities you may have, that is. haha! Anyway, it sounds like your having fun; keep up all the good work Dr. (To Be) Wiggins. -Love, Seb
By Carole buhts on Jan 17, 2009
Hi mil! The blogs are fascinating! Better than the newspaper by far! Thanks for spending time w us over here:•). Bob n I are at our Christmas present from kurt and hans. Garrison Keillor live radio show at The Palace. Second row seats and we can’t wait. Had sandwiches at Cunninghams first. Have a wonderful wkend exploring again!!! The markets and Indian Ocean and animals are fascinating! Love, mom
By Becky Wall on Jan 18, 2009
Great Updates! I hope you get to ride a elephant while you’re there!
Love you & praying for you!
By Marilyn Tourtillott on Jan 19, 2009
Amelia,
I am so excited for you, so many sights and sounds, tastes and spell a real adventure.
I am not discounting (or forgetting to pray for the ministry of bodies and souls).
Just thinking of what it must he like to be so blessed to go.
We had Dan here for Steph and Jim’s birthday and to let Steph show off her ring (no dates)/
Dan was so king and chased off a virus it took him a bit of time.
I was having night concerns last night of where I might have picked it up.
Grand Rapids would be wonderful at least we could keep you in state.
I am growing to appreciate your family by your little remarks about them on your blog site. You have been blessed indeed being part of this family. Meaning the Buhts, and we are blessed indeed to have you in the Wiggins/Tourtillot family