Last day in Tana!

It's time to wrap things up and head back to Norway to finish up the bachelor degree =).

Time spent with lovely people, new friendships, new experiences, lots of memories for life - and nice and sunny weather.

A sunset overlooking Ranomafana in Antsirabe the last evening we were there.

Lovely time, I'll be back. If anyone want to come with me, just let me know =)

Internship in mercy ministry!

A fellow student Marie (also a friend) has joined me for a 2 weeks internship in mercy ministries here in Madagaskar. (It's part of our nursing curriculum). We have had some amazing times with people in the hospital, the Toby, feeding the poor of the poor, IRIS ministries among other things.

The Toby is a place where many poor people come and ppl with mental illnesses come or are being brought by family members. They come to get prayed for and get medicine for free. It's a ministry that is under the umbrella of the Lutheran Malagasy Church, and the ppl that are helping out are the deacons/shepherds. It's an amazing ministry, and lots and lots of ppl are getting prayed for, healed and set free from their misery. At this specific Toby there are 160 people living and among them there are 24 deacons, but only 19 of them stays at the premises and are responsible for the ill people. They are divided into rooms, men and women are separate - and they often have a couple take care of them. A few of the ill people are chained because they are a danger to themselves and to others. Chained at their feet, so that they can't walk very fast - and not run. Some because they would run away and get themselves in trouble. There are many stories and many destinies. But they are happy to be there and get help. Some of the deacons have been ill themselves, gotten well and have taken the course to become a deacon so that they can help others.

Marie and I played with the kids, sang with them, told them stories, played and drew pictures with them. Many of them are left to themselves because their parents are mentally ill. Some of the children are also ill, but the other children bring them along and we have play also.

They like to sing, and they wanted to learn more songs; so we tried to teach them some Norwegian songs and they sang as if they hadn't done anything but that =). So fun and so rewarding.

We also went with another friend of mine Bakoly, to feed the poorest of the poor. It was so powerful to c them all come in and listen to the Word first, then they had an offering before they would line up and get their cup of rice, 2 cups of beans and a little soap. Even if they are poor, they still have a smile on their faces happy to be able to hear the Word and then give some of what they have - before receiving. We have so much to learn from them! They gave out of the little they had, we give out of our abundance!!

Finishing up at the hospital!

7 weeks flew by, and there are so many stories to tell. I don't even know where to start, but glad that I wrote a few in the beginning of the stay.

Alih Johnathan had his surgery, and they came to c me at the hospital where he was born. All seems to be well with him and his parents, they were so happy and glad that things are good. They will have go come to Antananarivo for check ups on him fairly often - and the next time they will go c the doctor is when he'll get his stitches taken. It was a hug operation, and had taken the surgeons 3 hours to do it. The parents have said that they will keep me posted through a friend at the hospital in Antsirabe, Andranomadio.

The boy that had broken his back, I don't know what happened to him - but when they come for a checkup at the hospital they will tell my friend there so that she can tell me.

One of the ladies that I really connected with was a lady that was hit by lightning, she was sleeping in bed with her husband and 4 month old baby when it struck. Her husband and child died, but she survived. She was severely burned, 2nd and 3rd degree several places on her body. The left hand had to be amputated because it was completely burned. She was and still is with good spirit, and had good help in her family. The hospital bill got to high so asked to leave, and they didn't keep her. I hope and pray that she will be well. The painkillers she got for the burns were 500mg paracetamol 2x a day. Somethings that is hard for us to understand when we have morphine as pain relief for severe pain. They are so good.

Yet again a little insight to the the life and stories at the hospital!

Another week at the hospital!

I've been back in the pre- and post operation ward this week. There are so many destinies and so many stories it's hard to pick just one.

A lady was admitted on the 2nd of November, because she needed a c-section because of complications at home. The babies hand came out first, and they had tried to deliver it - and it didn't work. So she came and they had to do surgery on her, and unfortunately the baby was stillborn. Because of the long delivery, her uterus had tore - so they had to do a hysterectomy. This lady had complications in her belly after the surgery and hadn't eaten solid food since before the surgery. She was very week, but needed a bath. I lifted her onto a wheelchair, and then we took her to take a bath. After the bath she slept for some time, cuz she was totally exhausted. We got some soup and bread for her, so that she could gain some strength - but she hardly touched it - too week.

I talked with a doctor, and asked him to have a look at her. They had stopped her meds, because she couldn't pay. It was obvious that she had an infection, and I asked the doc to give her some - and that her bill would be taken care of. She was given antibiotics on the spot. This was right before the weekend, so I'm not sure how she is doing now. But will go have a look on Monday.

Another lady came in with a very low blood value (Hb; 2,1) technically she should have been dead. Normal value for a fertile lady is 11,7 - 15,3. Yes very pale and very sick. She received blood, which has to be given by either a family member or someone that are willing to give. Sometimes there are ppl that make money out of it, and charge a lot - and then ppl can't pay and the sick ones dies. But there are solutions also, they can take get a paper from the hospital and go to the military and find someone with the same blood type and then they give them a meal as payment.

Anyway - this lady was given 2 l of blood before they dared do anything. And then they realized that she was full of cancer and that there was nothing they could do. She was told that when she had finished the SAG (bag of blood) she would get some meds and then go home. The family was told that no surgery would help nor any meds, but that they should go home and get a priest to prepare her. It took some time for them to understand what was going on, but when they did - they didn't look at us anymore. She left a Saturday!

A little fellow!

This little guy had a twin brother, born 3 hours apart in a different hospital. They birth weight was 1800 gram each. That was about 3 weeks ago. He came to us, because he hadn't eaten since his birth and was dehydrated and sick. He got an iv, and NaCl for some days - before they started to give him his mothers milk. He was very small, but is now gaining weight and is 1480 g. Still small but he's a fighter.

What is happening with Alih Johnathan, well it's a long story - but I'll make is short. He haven't had his surgery yet. I'm not sure why, and there seems to be a lot of surgeries that are more serious than his. SO I believe that he'll be fine. When I get an update, on how things are it will be written =)

What about the boy that broke his back? He went home, and had more and more reflexes in his legs. But he still couldn't move them by himself. They were told to go home and come back end of the month. I hope to c him then, and I hope that he'll come walking. And yet again, I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

One day we save life, the next ......... !

This week I'm still at the surgery ward (the block), but can go into the maternity if I want to. And I do!  =)

Last couple of days has been pretty intense. There will be no live pictures this time - because I think the ppl deserve their privacy in these stories.

Yesterday started well, with things "well" planned. Lots of ppl were scheduled for surgery, knowing that there usually are a few emergencies the surgeons knew it would be a busy day. The day usually goes from 8-12 with a 2 hour break, before going back to the block at 14-18. We were in surgery until 13, and I had the opportunity to assist in 2 surgeries. Coming back in the afternoon it was pretty quiet in the beginning, before a lady came asking for the head surgeon (also the head doctor) needing assistance NOW. He went with her, and came back in no time; said we have an emergency. A lady had a external uterus pregnancy that had erupted = DANGER!

We had just finished an appendix surgery, when the anesthetics guys hurried into the other room to prep the lady, whom was a fellow worker. She went under very quickly and they did the surgery with few words. They usually talk a lot during surgery. The lady lost a lot of blood, but had 2 SAG (2 bags) that got transfused - she made it!! If the doctor hadn't reacted as quickly as he did, she probably wouldn't be alive today. She is doing well!!

Then today, we had a pregnant lady that came in a 4 am and was told that the baby didn't have a heartbeat and that she would get looked at later when the doc came along. A misunderstanding happened, and the doc didn't look at her. Another midwife came and checked the lady, and said she heard heartbeat - she asked if I could listen - and I heard it too. It was irregular, but a heartbeat. The doctor was contacted, and they did a c-section but it was too late.

Dealing with the emotions, I was called upon to come assist on an appendix surgery. And you do what you got to do, assist!

This week it was the surgery ward that was my placement. It's been amazing, and it sounded like I'll be there next week also. =)

The surgeries that has been done this week are: c-sections, appendixes, hemorrhoids, a goiter and hernia.

The first day went by, doing observations Then the next day they wanted me to scrub in!!

Yikes, a bit hesitant in the beginning - that's for sure. But what to do, but to scrub inn =). I watch closely and handed the instruments to the surgeons. Then I asked if I could film a c-section and they said sure you can, but then the head surgeon said; oh but you can't because I need an assistant. I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. He ran out to get something, and they told me to scrub in. They helped me to prep the lady, get the instruments on the table, and then the lights went out - and they don't have a generator. So when the Dr. surgeon came back he said; are the lights out, this is our problem. But the lady was prepped, and we had to get it done. It went very well, and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. =)

My phone was used as a flashlight for a while during the surgery, before the electricity came back.

An exciting day at the surgery ward!!

What surgery can do!

This little boy came in for surgery this morning, carried by his father. Scared of course!

He cried when he was taken from his father, a normal thing to expect! They held him down on the table, to give him anesthesia. Looked a bit brutal, but it was done with care. And not long after the anesthesia he was sleeping. The doctor drew up the lines to cut for the operation, and they started. Didn't take long.

I must say that during the surgery, toward the end - I had tears in my eyes. What a miracle. Have a look for yourselves. Words are not needed!

Alih Johnathan

Yet another story that has touched my heart.

This boy born 21.10.13 at 06.15 pm; was 3119 g, 50 cm long, 34 cm around his head and 32 cm around his chest.

The family doctor that helped with the delivery, is part of a medical team from the States. She did an amazing job, if it hadn't been for her I'm not sure he would have been alive. It took some time for him to be delivered, so they needed to use suction to get him out.

When he was born, he was cyanotic and had to be revived. His mother had been holding my hand and was now squeezed it and was wondering if he was alive - if he was breathing. I told her just to keep strong, and that we were helping him to breathe. We were 3 people that worked on him at times - and after a while he took a little breath. But we kept giving him cpr. We understood that he would live, but wanted to put him on oxygen. The midwife did a check up on him, and then...........we saw that there was something in the back of his head that definitely shouldn't be there.

On the visiting medical team, there are a few pediatricians, so I called my dad and asked him to go get one of them and come to the hospital. And he did! The pediatrician and the family doctor checked the little boy and talked, didn't understand all the lingo - but they said this needs to be kept humid so we tried to find some things at the hospital to do that. We needed to wreck our heads to find things to use, because apart from them meds that are used while delivering - the parents to the child needs to bring EVERYTHING.

The doctor on duty was called, and came after a while. During the time of waiting, they thought they had found out what this little boy had, possibly: Meningiocele or Encephalocele. Look it up =). And the doctor said that it sure looked like that. My heart went out to him and his family.

They were told they needed surgery, and that it's not possible here in Antsirabe, meaning they would have to travel to Antananarivo (Tana) - 4 hours away in local transportation. I went home that night thinking about this little boys destiny. I told the mother that I would drop by the next day on my way to the pre-post operation unit.

When I came the next morning the baby was feeding and the mother was at good heart. I asked them what they wanted to do, and they said they would c, concerning the surgery - because they needed to gather money for it first. I went to the head midwife and told her that the bill for the surgery would be taken care of, but that they would have to pay for the rest. The midwife called the grandmother of  Alih Johnathan, and told her the news, and then we told the mother. They had money for the bill at this hospital, so they payed that and went to take public transport to Tana.

And now time will show what happens! I will keep you posted =).

The latest new is that he will get the head scan tomorrow, and then surgery!

Second week at the hospital!

This week has been interesting in many ways. I've been at the "New Building", which is a pre- and post operation unit. There are male, female and children, in this ward but in separate rooms. The left wing belongs to the ladies, and the right wing to men - the children are mainly put with the ladies, but sometimes it's full and then they are put where there is room.

The ward has 16 beds divided in 4 rooms, and 2 single rooms. The ward is run by 2 nurses, and 1 nurse during the night shift, which starts at 2 pm til 7 am next morning. During the day there are 2 ladies that are doing the cleaning, and they are also responsible for the transport of the people that are going to the the operation block.

So this week has been quite something. First day I was with the nurse that was responsible for changing the bandages on the ward. There were some heavy infections and some were not complicated. The next day I helped the other nurse with the medications. We took all the journals, read what they needed, wrote it on a double paper and went to the Pharmacy. They kept one copy and we had the other. The meds we had written were charged to the people, because they have to pay for everything that is being used. And they have to pay the bill before they can leave the hospital.

When you come to a hospital here in Madagascar, you always have people with you because they are the ones that takes care of you. The medical stuff is taken care of by the hospital, but the rest is the family or relatives. They stay by your bedside at all times, so there are often more than one person that comes. If you don't have people with you, there is no one that cook for you and you don't eat. And they are also the ones that help you to the bathroom, the shower etc. So it's good to have a large family!

This boy fell about 10 meters (30 feet) and broke his vertebra, and can't feel his legs. But he's in good spirit despite that. I have had the opportunity to talk a bit with him, and his father that is there with him all the time. He is 11 years old, and don't know if he'll walk again. I'm praying for a miracle, that he'll be able to walk again. =)

I told him that even if I'm at a different ward next week and the following weeks I would come and visit him now and then. The picture is taken with him and his family knowing that it will be sent to people that will see him, and hopefully pray for him.

As a future nurse I saw that his heals needed some relief, to prevent wounds. So I talked with the people staying with him that they should put something under his feet, so that his heals would stay off the mattress. They understood the problem, and found a blanket and put it there. I also tried to explain to them that since he couldn't move his feet, it was good if they could bend his knees some times during the day also. A few things to help this boy and his family out.

So many stories!! And I'm sharing one at the time!!

Summary of the first week!

Went to church today, left after the offering - which was a bit over 2 hours into the service. The benches are of plain wood, not made to sit on for a long time =). It was good to hear the songs again, and cing so many ppl in church.

Anyway!
My week at the maternity ward is almost over, I'll go back on Monday. I've been able to assist in 3 births, and in the "block" for 2 c-sections. It's amazing to watch a child fill his or her lungs for the first time. These women are brave, there is not more to say about that. Not that other women giving birth are not brave, cuz they are. The women giving normal birth here receive no pain-relief - even if they have to be cut. They sew without any relief. With a c-section, they get epidural.

The stories are many and here is one of them:
This boy's mother came in and was in visible pain, she got checked and pretty much ready give birth. She was told to go shower, and then go to the delivery room. From the time she came out of the shower until she had this beautiful boy, it took about 30 minutes. Healthy baby, 3005 g, 48 cm long. A birth with no complications!

Right after she had given birth, I helped feeding the premature babies. There are two of them. They share one cot, one of them has reached his birth-weight and is now 1160 g. He was born the 15th of September. He's mother passed away 3 days after his birth, not because of the delivery but because she had TB.
The other one is a girl, her twin is with the mother at home cuz she was bigger. This little one is now 1240g, tiny but both growing.

While feeding the little ones, a lady was brought to the maternity ward - she was in need of an acute c-section. She had a healthy baby boy 3373 g, pale but well.

Next week I'll be at the pre- and post operative ward. Have no idea what to expect!!

First day!

Don't worry, this is not going to be the norm. =)

Today I came as told right before 8 am, but the doc. H was no where to be seen. So I wanted around for about 30 minutes, with lots of other ppl (they needed the doc, but I didn't)
When he came, he greeted me and said - come follow me, and I did. He walked over to the maternity ward and walked into the office. Two midwifes sat there, and he told them this is a Norwegian lady how is going to doing an apprenticeship at the hospital, and she will be with you here this first week. Then he left, so there we were. They didn't know they were having someone coming, but welcomed me.

So what to do, I'm not a midwife student - but very happy that I had worked at the maternity ward in Kristiansand this summer. That helped a lot, cuz some of the expressions where familiar =). The midwife at work told me she had worked as a midwife for 19 years, so I knew it would be an awesome day.

Many ladies came to get checkups, 2 ladies were in the waiting room for delivery (don't know what's it called in English =).) They both came to get check ups, and one of the ladies needed to go into surgery asap. She got prepared, then into the "block" we went. The lady was terrified, and she couldn't stop crying. When they tried to give her anesthetics, she got even more terrified poor thing. Anyway, she got a healthy boy.

Then more exams, before the midwife was called to come urgently. There was a lady that had been transferred from a different hospital because she had been in labor too long, and the baby was in distress. She came walking into the ward, after a shower =). The midwife told her to get on the bench so that we could prep her for a c-section. But when I looked, the baby's head was already visible - so too late for that. So she walked around the corner to the delivery room, and gave birth to a baby boy.

Fantastic day, it was amazing!

First impression of the hospital!

Well, what to say =). This will be awesome!

I went over to the hospital today to meet with the doctor that is heading up the apprenticeship. Had to ask a few people to find him, and they said he's over at the "block". Didn't mean anything to me, but I followed the directions they gave me - and ended up in front of the surgery unit. Ups! And yes there I saw "the block unit", had to wait for someone to come and told them I was looking for dr.H. They were very kind, and told me they would notify him. He was still cutting =). So I waited.

While waiting, there came a man out from surgery with a metal bowl, and he called for the relatives of the person in surgery. They jumped to their feet, (remind you this is outside) and they came toward the man. He showed them the content of the bowl, (I was kind of curious, but didn't go over to look, but I really wanted to) and said that there were still lots and lots of the lumps were they had been cutting. He told them that they would send these lumps to a lab in a different city to get them analysed, then they could start the treatment. Then he went back inside with the bowl, and the relatives sat down outside.

I was told to go over to a different building, to wait for dr.H. Something I did. When he came he asked where my uniform was, and I told him it was at the place I'm staying. Come back tomorrow at 8 am, with the uniform and I'll show you around. "Where do you want to work?" he asked. Which I responded, I'm still a student.

Lots of new experiences and I believe
challenges!

It's Thursday the 3rd of October, and fall is defenetly here. Tomorrow I'm leaving for Madagascar for the last apprenticeship. These 3 years taking a bachelor has gone by so fast.

But first a little update on the Moz trip.

The time spent in Mozambique was awesome, it was a team of 38 =) yep a large team. But it went very smoothly, because of grace and the teammemberse were mainly families. 38 individuals would have been a challenge. We were able to help out with a womens conference, which is the first in the history of the country. Usually it's the men that are participating in conferences.

A funny story.
The conference was held 30 minutes drives from the Pemba base, so it took some effort to get there. But one day, under the gazibo there were some men sitting. They were asked why they were there, and they told us: We heard there was a conference, so we wanted to join. =) (The food is always good at conferences =).)With a smile, and with lots of grace one of the ladies in charge gently told them they they had to leave, because it was a womens conference. The didn't want to leave at first, but were told that they had to go. So they left, but not empty handed. They got a soda, and some fruit.

Back to reality:
The bachelor degree paper has been handed inn, and I've had 2 days to just relax. Good and needed.

Now that I'm going to be traveling and doing some new stuff, I'll be updating the blog more often.
The apprenticeship will be in a hospital, not sure which ward - but all that info will be given on Monday. That's when I start, not sure at what time - but hey it's only Thursday today.

And maybe I'll be able to see some fantastic animales?? Follow the blog and see!

Spring 2013!

Yes, I'm still in nursing school =), but will be a RN by December of 2013.

My time in school has pretty much been the same, school, apprenticeship, school, apprenticeship. Since last time I've had 8 weeks apprenticeship in the medical ward with infection, 8 weeks in the psychiatric ward for elderly and now 8 weeks in home nursing for elderly. But only a few days left, and that will be done!

This summer:
Africa here I come =). I'll be going to Mozambique in June for 2 weeks, to Pemba with the Womens ministry that I'm connected with here in Norway, something I'm really looking forward to.

Returning from Africa, I'll be working at the hospital i Kristiansand at the Maternity ward for 6 weeks or so. This fall it's the bachelor degree paper that has to be written, not sure about the subject yet - but have some ideas.

Then from October till December I'll be going back to Africa for the last apprenticeship during nursing school, which will be in a hospital in Antsirabe, Madagaskar. I promise that the blog will have more updates and pictures than the last previous years!