Silvestri’s Blog

The best funeral we’ve ever been to!

Hello again!

Everything here is going well.  Friday was clinic, busy as always.  I did some ultrasounds on my own after which was kinda new… I just looked for baby’s parts and heartbeating, they were my patients and I was just doing it to make the mom not worry as I had already heart fetal heart tones in clinic.  I think friday was also the day I did a debridement of a decubitus ulcer on a parapelegic.  It was interesting that both the wounds were on the ischial tuberosities and not the sacrum.  I think its because people here sit up instead of lie down and are skinnier.

Saturday was rounding and then we went to the market.  Last time I went I had Sheila to guide me but this time Darryl and I were on our own for a bit.  Its weird how I don’t even like shopping here… I would rather just buy mangoes.  It is more exciting shopping here though I must admit, you go and buy cloth and then get a seamstress to make things for you.  Anyways, the more interesting part of Saturday was later in the day when I went to check on my patient who was in respiratory distress and breathing more than 40 breaths a min when I admitted her Friday.  When I got there a crowd was around her bed and I saw her mother was really upset.  I soon realized it was because the patient kept pulling out her IV and taking off her oxygen… she was exhausted and wanted to die.  She was only 16 and actually looked super healthy besides her pneumonia.  I talked to one of the nurses and tried to learn how things like this work in this culture.  They got the pastor to come see her (Darryl tags along sometimes but wasn’t there for this one) and I didn’t get involved.  I personally thought if the girl wanted to stop the interventions she should be able to but I didn’t say that because I know I have no place to say anything.  It was interesting to see how it unfolded.  Later she was back on oxygen.  During this same ordeal I had another patient who didn’t want to leave because she was afraid she would come back.   I later found out there were other social reasons and it was sad because I know we can’t just fill up a bed because the patient doesn’t want to leave.  People here deal with so much.  I am constantly amazed at their strength.

Ok, so on to the good stuff.  Friday night Darryl and I went with the group to the first part of a 3 day funeral.  Here funerals are like weddings but more fun and longer.  They celebrate anniversaries of deaths as well.. like at a year and 5 years etc.  The one chief explained to us that they like to make a big celebration of everything because it brings the community together and they think that is the most important part of their culture… community.  Its so evident and it feels so right.  They have a lot of things right here.  So Friday was the Christian part of the funeral and it was pretty interesting.. singing and afterwards we were invited inside for refreshments which is a big honour.  Today was amazing though.  Today was the traditional part of the funeral and there was incredible dancing and drumming and all kinds of unique local instruments.  They also slaughter animals that are brought as a gift (are group brought a sheep but thankfully we missed the slaughter).  At the beginning when we got there we danced in behind the Tarana (the guy whose mom the funeral was for) and we sat behind him as everyone arrived.  It was the COOLEST thing I have ever seen hands down.  I was just mesmerized the whole time.  Its organized by different roles.. like the warriors were beside us and they sit up on benches with their sticks or whatever they are.  Then the elders of the Torana sat below him on mats. The Muslims sat infront on mats and then on either side were friends and other chiefs in chairs.  So amazing how rich the culture is. We are so blessed to have this experience…  I didn’t feel so blessed when the gumba player came and asked me to dance (yeah.. theres a video) but I was kinda into it so it was not embarassing. They laugh anytime anyone white dances cuz clearly they ooze coolness and rhythm from their pores and we do not.  I love watching them.  All the women were dressed so amazing and I loved how they brought their gifts in, some had huge bowls of corn on their heads and some held sheep.. just wow.  We were there for a long time and at the end before the dinner break they kept shooting off muskets.  These guns looked like they were from the revolutionary war.. seriously.  Since I have seen so many wounds from this and sewn so many hands up I wasn’t into the idea of the muskets.. but it was loud and exciting.  I took lots of video because a picture just can’t do it justice.  Tonight the party continues all night till morning.  I have clinic tomorrow and I like to have some energy to expend in clinical decisions so D and I decided not to go… also we had a trauma to take care of after rounding so its already late.

Anyways… Vince actually is having a funeral for his mom this week so we are lucky enough to experience this again on wed and thurs… I can’t wait!!!! I know tomorrow will be a long day but definitely the experience of all that energy and spirit was refreshing and makes me again appreciate the culture so much.

Thanks to all who have emailed.. it means a ton.  We feel so encouraged reading notes for you guys.  Take care.