He walks!

George starting walking last month, despite bilateral hip dislocations due to severe osteomylitis. He's such a cute kid, he's very bright, and eager to go home, we are just waiting on his wounds to heal fully...

He's making good progress. I took these photos to show the improvement in 2 months - thanks to good nursing care. I've printed these off for the students so they can understand how important our job is...

Saccrum

Left hip


Some of my enrolled nursing students, on their first placement on the ward. Here they are having a bit of fun trying on some reading glasses.


We've got Peter Gill with us, an orthopedic specialist from the UK. Seems we've turned into an orthopedic hospital since he's arrived! The man on the left was hit by a truck, but got off pretty light considering... he's got fractures of both lower legs, right patella, left femur, and left wrist. The photo on the right is Anna with a makeshift gallows traction on a small child with a fractured femur.



Michael came in one day a few months ago while I was on call with burns from boiling water. He's done well with skin grafting and went home today.


It's great having Anna back living with me again. Here we went up Kalene Hill and watched the sunset. Beautiful! (Lots of annoying fly thingees that hang around your eyes too, hence the strange expression in the pic on the left).


A visit to the fields with my friend Mamisa - all the locals were surprised by how handy I proved to be with a hoe! They build these mounds for planting cassava. I only dug one and got a blister! They can make 30 in a morning. So I'm not that handy... won't give up my day job :o)


Mamisa's sister Gren had a baby and named her Rebecca.


It's raining a lot now! Which brings some different vegetation, including giant mushrooms! Yum! Anna thinks they taste like squid - a similar texture.

Sports mad Zambians

The locals will use any excuse for a football game. Here I am with some kids watching a game to celebrate Independence day.




The sports outreach program always attracts a crowd. I've enjoyed being involved with it, and playing in the football match to end the days program (as the token white female!). The group has been visiting local villages on Saturdays to host an event of games, singing, and a gospel message.


This particular village had a tree stump in the middle of their football pitch! I also learnt, although it made a nice photo, standing behind the goal for a penalty shoot out is not a good idea (after I copped one in the head).



Fishing isn't a sport here as much as a necessity... this girl had the unfortunate experience of almost choking to death on her catch. She was trying to kill the fish by biting its head. Seems it bit back!! It was lodged so tightly in her throat it took sedation and a lot of maneuvering to get it out!


I've enjoyed the company of some of the youth girls, and have had a few of them to stay over in the last few months. Here we are eating nshima.


Mamisa has become a good friend, we both enjoy playing football and frisbee with other girls each week.


Some people feature on my blog cos of their looks... here's Isaac, a Will Smith look-a-like... of course he has no idea who that is! And some more cute kids.

Introducing George

George is 14 and is from Congo. He hasn't walked for months, apparently due to developing an abscess in his buttock after injections for malaria. He came to us with terrible pressure area sores over both hips, sacrum, and knees.


But that's just the beginning. His xrays show widespread osteomylitis (bone infection) affecting his pelvis, left arm and thigh, and right foot. Both hips are in such a poor state that they are dislocated. It will take a miracle for this boy to ever walk again. I expect he will be with us for months.

A full ward


Very rarely is my ward completely full like this! 18 admissions in one day as the eye team visit.


The main operations were cataract surgeries, most due to age related changes, but some due to trauma.


Some happy men post-op.

A day of "Paradise"



Dillian is a friend through the sports outreach program and girls camp. She invited me to her church conference (Paradise church) one Sunday.

They had several visiting groups and choirs. Fantastic singing! And check out the way they move...


Congratulations Graduates

Mid-August, we had a graduation ceremony for the 21 new enrolled nurses who passed their final exams last year.


A full house, we used the flight service hangar. This is the students taking their oath with Ruth Wallis, an English nurse who has worked in Zambia for 40 years.


There was much dancing, cheering, and ululating! Here I am with Kamus, who is working with me on Mens Ward.