sunday

 

Two more weeks only!! How time has passed. Yesterday my colleague Margaret has left, back to Australia. It has been great to have her here, both as company and as colleague. These last two weeks here will be continuous duty again, 24/7. Daphne and her family left also today, so after a full social life the past time, a quiet weekend again. Although clinic is busy, two caesarians and 1 vacuum today. I could not enjoy the nice weather, being inside most of the time. Finally we had a sunny day again. It has been raining a lot the past week. The official rain season is july/august, and march is called the small rain month. Rather call it the big rains!! Even hail we had. Two times I took a bajaj(local TUCTUC) to the hospital. One time I asked the ambulance driver to pick me up. When he did not come I walked, got soaked. Seemed he thought there was too much rain to drive……
street life on the way to the clinic

We had several severe cases these weeks. Also a second maternal death, out of the blue after a normal delivery she went in shock, probably an amniotic fluid embolism. We transferred her to Felleger referral Hospital but it went so fast, she died on arrival. At that time a saw again what a terrible location that is. Patients all over the place. In the corridor, overcrowded rooms. We did call them that we were coming with a bad patient. Communication is bad, nobody knew we were coming and we had to place our stretcher on the floor….. intensive care??? Very sad experience. The other patient we worried about was a lady with a history of two neonatal deaths, the second a CS at 32weeks. Now again she ruptured membranes at 32 weeks and got temperature. We did a terrible CS, very adhesive tissue, had to do a classical incision (for the medical people) it took hours to get her “dry”. But she and the baby survived with blood transfusion and all the antibiotics we have. Then there was the unexpected twin. I had seen her for ultrasound and not detected the twin. But she had been in early pregnancy and also at that time no twin detected. No excuse of course. So the staff found it real funny and keeps reminding me of this case. Some cases I will always remember

the unexpected twins

 
Bajaj coming to get the patients

 

 

Morone with her daughter in her house and at her birthday!

Last week we were invited at Morones place. She is the lady who works here for us, washing and cooking. She is a very good cook, was taught by an American lady. She is good at making pizza’s and tortilla’s. But I am afraid I like injera better. She comes via the Grace centre, where she went after she got pregnant from a terrible man, she ran away. She has a nice daughter of 6 years now. In her neat little house we had a coffee ceremony. We then found out her birthday is on 14 March, so we organized a birthday party in our house. She had been to the hairdresser for the occasion and this gave her a totally different look, I almost did not recognize her. We had a nice party. Although a bit European I am afraid, with garlands and balloons.

 

For the rest I am getting to know the people around our house and on the way to the hospital. All very kind. But I can only say hello and goodbye. Some speak a little English. My Amharic has not improved very much yet. I should study more. But now I am going for a little walk along the lake!