Updates and photos from D ward....

Last night I had to tell a woman, two days post-op from having a goiter removed that maybe she should take dancing a little slower until her neck heals. This is how the situation went down. She is from upcountry and speaks a language that few of our translators do (and none on shift that night did), but to our rescue was the man two beds down who so proudly told me he speaks 4 languages. So there was quite a lovely triangle: I would tell the translator something, who would translate to French to him, who would translate into Pular to her. Then the triangle would reverse and the message would get back to me. We carried on a conversation this way for a bit, talking about the medicine I was going to give her, how he skin would continue to shrink just like a mothers stomach after she gives birth, and when her suction drain would come out. It went very well, and at the very end I asked does she need anything else or have any questions....down the chain it went, and this time a message was returning that each person smiled after hearing. The translator turned to me, and said with such a straight face, “She wants to dance with you”. I burst into laughter, went to find a drum and there we had the most amazing, impromptu dance party I have had on this ship or possibly ever. Did I mention that the goiter was literally the size of a basketball and she has a hemoglobin value so low that I would transfuse blood at home, and here she was literally jumping up and down in front of me joined by all the other lovely ladies from the ward her joy shining like a light, a beacon for all those who have been touched by God’s healing hands. 

I’m including a few pictures of our current favorite lady. She has been on the ward for about 2 weeks and time with her is pure bliss. She has kept us entertained, and with constant smiles on our faces. She is a riot, always stirring some sort of mischief up, dancing like a fool, or braiding someones hair. She had her trach and feeding tube removed a few days ago, and actually will be heading home to her husband and babies today. We will greatly miss her sense of humor, hugs, and encouragement..... 

Notice her trach and feeding tube.....can't stop this ball of sunshine

Our patient who loves to color-- his walls are literally coved in pictures now! 

A group of our D ward team---and that lovely patient again!

Happy as a clam!

This guy needs a hand to go anywhere....he is
really special and a wonderful reminder
that sometimes all you need is a little extra attention......his picture is above 

My gorgeous friend Becky and two of the Mommas
 on the ward (on the Left is T's mom)

She is a riot!

My lovely friend Emily

G is such a ham!

Our lovely Grandma "H"

Even he tube feeding can't stop her from getting in front of the camera...

One last thing.... Friday we admitted a 17 year old they found during upcountry screening who we will call S. He has the same type of tumor that T did, and his actually may be bigger. His has only been growing for 3 years, and somehow he is still able to breathe and eat without complication. He came in, head and neck completely covered by fabric and stayed that way for some time. After many smiling faces greeted him and made him to feel welcome, the cloth came down a bit. Then as the evening progressed it came off little by little until he has completely removed it, revealing a tumor stemming from his right cheek. It is from directly below his eye down to his chest stretching his skin and mouth in a way that you can no longer see inside, but rather all you see is tumor. That evening I let him pick the movie and told him that since he is the newest patient on the unit he gets to do the honor. After many minutes of careful consideration he chose “UP”. I told him it was one of my favorites and he made a great choice! As much as I understand his caution, I am so insanely thankful that he has felt welcome here. That already he somehow knows he doesn’t need to be ashamed, and that we will love and care for him despite his appearance. He is super silly, loves to color, has a beautiful little laugh, and like T has the most expressive eyes. His tumor has displaced his nose to the Left side of his face, is necrotic in spots, smells pretty awful, and drains constantly, but in my eyes he is perfect. He is one of God’s lovely children and he has made it here. He has found hope, and I can’t wait to see his story further unfold. He has been scheduled for surgery on Tuesday. I am asking if you all can think about him and pray for him like you did for T. He is younger and stronger, but this surgery is something that will take all hands on deck to pull off.......So as you head into your week please take a few moments each day to think of S over here in Guinea as we head into this life changing process for him.