Week 4

Wow time is flying!

So a brief overview of lately. In the last month we’ve had 135 births 50 of which were to HIV positive mothers. 3 sets of twins and of the 3 sets 2 babies were lost due to prematurity. There was a circumcision clinic where 12 doctors performed 127 circumcisions. That is a huge deal here. Recently the Minister of Health has promoted circumcisions and there has been a good turn out. I have now seen a case of chicken pox and and one of measles.  We have now set up a small pharmacy in our HIV clinic that is on the hospital grounds. I went to a clinic last week and experienced how wonderful the clinics work. I hope to go to home care visits next week with a coworker, which is going to individuals houses to perform therapy.

I’m officially addicted to hot tea thanks to all of these British tea drinkers around.

I only have 2 weeks left now and I’m so used to being here it’s going to feel strange to leave.

We may be hiking Ghost Mountain this weekend. Last weekend we went to Rocktail Bay which was amazing. Some people went scuba diving and others including myself went snorkeling. The entire beach is protected so the experience was amazing! It was so beautiful.

Until next time I get the patience to use the internet again, hope everyone is doing well!

Start of week 3

Wow so it’s been a while. Sorry for taking so long. I’ve been busy working on my presentation and it’s been terrible trying to use this slow internet.

Anyways. So in this last week I have gotten to see a premie weighing only 1.2 kg born to a 17 year old mother that has been making it but he may be doomed, he’s currently on Nevirapine due to a HIV positive mom. It’s pretty sad. Also a baby born with spinabifida and an albino baby. Last Thursday healthy twins were born. Yay! I kind of like seeing the babies. We’ve had several burned babies due to accidents that need skin grafts. They are doing much better.

I saw Kaposi’s sarcoma. It was crazy not good. The things I’ve been able to see here are amazing and heart breaking all at the same time. This weekend one tourist had a fractured femur and another had a SHARK bite. CRAZY cool. The shark bite was fine but it went completely through some tendons but patient was fine.

We’ve had a new medical student and a doctor arrive since my last post. The Fredlund’s house is packed. Today we are supposed to get another medical student but he has been delayed. He should be here tomorrow. Tomorrow one of the engineers is leaving after a year here. Somewhat sad.

I’m the only US student still. We have an Irish student doctor, an Irish engineer, a Romanian doctor and soon to be an Enlgish student doctor. That is those staying in the Fredlund’s other than the family. There are several other countries represented among the other professionals who are working and staying on the hospital grounds. It makes for very interesting dinner conversations. It is unanimous that by far I am the most interesting talker..everyone loves that Southern accent.

We walked to Lake Sibaya on Saturday, supposedly it’s the largest lake in South Africa and it’s walking distance from the Fredlund’s house. It was very beautiful. It is the home to crocodiles and hippos but I didn’t see any while we were there. We ended up having a brai there…that is South Africa’s grilling out. It was good fun. After that we went and watched some more football games.

Sunday we went to the beach in Sodwana. It was very very beautiful. I had a great time and wish so much that the internet connection here would let me upload pictures.

Tomorrow I’m supposed to go to clinic which is where doctors and staff go out and see patients that can’t make it to the hospital. It should be interesting. Wish me luck!

Exciting weekend

So Friday was very exciting for me. I’m not sure where my last blog left off but I was able to use facebook Friday. For all of you who know me very well that was quite a treat! haha! Work was slow and I think rounds were in the Peds ward which was pretty heartbreaking but one baby was getting discharged (good thing). Saturday began the adventure. A doctor and engineer and I went to some of the game reserves here. We went to a place called Dumuzulu that had a snake and crocodile exhibit. I got to see a black and green mamba (very very dangerous snakes) as well as hold a baby Nile Croc! We walked around a game reserve called Bonamanzi I think for about 6Km. I was able to see impalas, various birds, a warthog, zebras and a croc. Yes we walked around and there they were, very exciting. That afternoon as we were driving we saw a white RHINO on the side of the road. CRAZY exciting! He was very scared of us but we did get to stop and get pictures of him. After all of that excitement the only other thing I could do was pick ticks off of my clothes that night! haha! Tick bite fever here I come! Only found 4 ticks on me and no bites…yet! So I’m good. Sunday was exciting as well. We 3 amigos went to a cheetah farm at a place called Imdoneni. They had rescued and rehabilitated African cats. I was able to pet an African wild cat, a serval, a caracal and a CHEETAH. AMAZING!!!!

So after that Monday was pretty boring

I’m still struggling with the language issue and the fact that they have different names for medications than we do.

But tomorrow after rounds I’m going to get to go to the nursery and see the babies. Yay! And tomorrow night some of the doctors are getting together for dinner. Double Yay!

Now I’ve got to get to work on my TB presentation.

Love you all!

Another day in SA

So Bofana Bofana won their game but didn’t continue in the World Cup games..not so sure how it works but last night England won and so did USA, we went to a neighboring township and watched England play. There are lots of English here. It was nice to see other places even if it was brief.

So the last two days I went on rounds with all of the doctors. It is amazing and heart breaking how sick people are. There was a woman who had extrapulmonary TB as TB meningitis (is on high doses of rifampin and fluconazole for that), is HIV positive and on Efavirenz and come to find out she is currently 14 weeks pregnant. Talk about a sad case! There was a 17yo boy who weighed only 70lbs. He is HIV positive, has Hep B and what they think is abdominal TB. It’s just sad that they are so sick, the medicine is to help but the medicine itself is so hard on them. So at this point if nothing else happens on this trip, I’ve at least had an eye opener and am thankful for my health and that of my family.

On a brighter note…one of the doctors and an engineer from engineers without borders invited me to go with them this weekend to go to a cheetah farm. I’m very excited.

2 of the physiotherapy students and one of the med students are leaving tomorrow and I’m kinda bummed about that but I think Saturday or Monday more people are coming.

oh and FB is blocked on these computers so sad day for me! haha!

love you all!

Jess

2nd day

Sawbona (Hello)

Today is my second day of work, today I started dispensing on my own! Luckily I’m learning some Zulu greetings and phrases of how to take the medication. There are basic medications so not too much variety. Its exciting and fun. People speak English mostly. Everyone is very friendly and interested in where I”m from except no one knows where Alabama is. Last night we went and heard traditional Zulu music and watched Zulu children dance. It was a lot of fun. It looked like a really hard aerobic workout! This afternoon after work we’re going to watch South Africa in a soccer match and have a going away dinner for 2 of the doctors here. It’s a beautiful day in South Africa!

1st update!

Hey everyone!

Sorry it’s taken so long. There is only a couple places to use the internet and they aren’t open on the weekend. It’s beautiful here. Only 10 hours of daylight so days are very different. I worked my first day here and it’s basically just like a normal pharmacy. We had soup here last night and they use the entire chicken! crazy! I’m going with some fellow students tonight to hear a band and see some Traditional Zulu dance.

I’ve learned to say hello in Zulu. Soyabona…said SowBoneA.

Love you all very much!!!

on my way!!

I”m about to board the plane & a short 17 hours later I’ll be in africa!! Love u all!!
Jess

Bright beginning!

Hello all,

I am about to start my big adventure! I would like to thank everyone for their support and I hope you enjoy sharing my experience.There will definitely be more to say once I get finished with today and the last day of my 1st rotation. I fly out tomorrow and couldn’t be more excited!

Love,

Jessica