So today we started by going to see if anyone showed up in the pouring rain for the clinic we had scheduled for this remote town of Lavis. Monday we tried to do a clinic there, spent most of the day trying to get there by boat, truck and foot, then everyone was gone getting food aid when we arrived. So we said we'd be back today. We think they don't keep the same "schedule" that we do, but we felt obligated to show up.
Courage, Cassidy and Steffan went up the hill in the rain after I landed them on some jagged reef rocks in the wind and rain. They went up, dropped off some medications, borrowed some crutches, checked for any patients, then returned. We were all soaked! I just stayed in a swimsuit since I wasn't going to town. No patients came out in the rain. I think they have a hard time getting dry again in their dwellings, or caves, depending on where they are living now.
So, we came back, had lunch and dried out. Then we headed back out in the wind and rain to visit our friend at the local village with the partially amputated foot. We brought more clothes, plastic jugs, and kitchenware from our boats for them, and the crutches. We only had them on loan for a day, so we had to see if it was a viable option. Ellinor (Dr.Ristoff) from S/V Salsa brought a pair of Crocs and a pair of Tevas. Due to the deformity of her foot, it turned out Tevas were the only ones we could get on her foot. She had not been ambulatory for a year and a half. She is 21. So getting up was hard, I basically lifted her. We propped her on crutches, but her balance wasn't great, so I caught her a few times. I handed her off to Ellinor as she walked out of her house and Ellinor supported her while she made her way. She fell to the side a few times, but did great! Due to the rain, and the fact that she has muscular atrophy now due to disuse, we only went a little ways. We turned her and worked back to the hut she was in, got her settled back into bed. She was very happy to have an option to be mobile. She was shivering since she got somewhat wet. I pulled out and gave her one of Courage's sweatshirts that he was donating to them and she slipped it on. Turns out her father was the chief. He was so excited to see her up. He offered us a chicken, yams, and island cabbage. The woman was holding the chicken, but we declined it as nicely as we could. I don't see plucking the thing. We still had yams from their previous gift, so we accepted the greens and called it good.
We are supposed to return the crutches tomorrow when we go up to run the clinic. I have a request out to Dr. Moise, the local physician and apparently health coordinator for all of the Tafea Province. He is going to drop off some medications for us to deliver to Erromango on our next tasking trip. I have asked for crutches to be brought also!! I sure hope he has some. It is very hard for these guys to get to Lenakel to pick them up, so I am hoping he can bring them out here with his truck when he comes with the medications. I told him that we or Sea Mercy or someone would buy them if it was a money issue and the government doesn't provide them. If he is unable to get us some, maybe we can buy them from Mary at the Aid Post whom we borrowed them from?? I am quite excited for Yao, the girl, to get mobility after a year and a half. I told her my major concern for her is atrophy of her muscles, bedsores, and pneumonia. I told her she'd grow old quick if she doesn't find a way to get up moving. She was certainly interested and willing, so my task is to get her those crutches.
We brought all the children to shore with us since it's been raining for days and we haven't really been out. I think it was good for them to meet the villagers, see the donations, see their gratitude, and get outside for a little bit. But they were blue and shivering when we returned. We had hot chocolate and cuddled in dry blankets. Our cockpit and lifelines are filled with things "drying" after almost a week of rain. Rumor is there may be a break in the rain tomorrow. Would be great to be able to dry everything out, even if only for a day!! Get it put away, and then start accumulating wet again. The winds have picked up again this evening; maybe it's blowing the storm past us??
Today one of the little girls was wearing Vitality's old dresses. I hope they are wearing their sleepers we gave them for tonight. Those palm leaves are really no protection from the wind and rain. The overhang is only a shelter as long as the rain comes straight down or from behind it. Not if it is blowing toward it.
This is definitely a hearty population that does not complain; at least not to us.
Goodnight,
Shannon
No comments:
Post a Comment