My African Sister

We were busy again in the ward today. The 2 stroke patients I saw yesterday and today will make good recoveries. I still cannot get over someone at 32, in really good shape having a stroke!

I’m still trying to figure out what is going on with my man who has no volitional control of his legs but normal sensation. Someone with an incomplete spinal cord injury could have sensation and loss of motor control, but usually both motor and sensory nerve fibers are affected to some degree. In his case it seems like only the motor neurons are affected. He had much less tone today. The doctors in his chart have not acknowledged his leg issues other than writing that they are weak. Also, they made a referral for PT. I appreciate the referral, but if the legs are not innervated, there is not much I can do to make them work again. I guess the motor tract of the spinal cord could be injured, but again it usually does not present bilaterally. PTs reading my blog, please correct me or give me insight!!! I was not able to pack my neuro rehab book in my suitcase since it was already overweight!

The patients I have been seeing in the clinic seem to be making some progress. I’m pleased since, I feel like I am off my game. They do not do any documenting here so I have a hard time remembering what I did with the patient the previous session. I try and write myself notes to remember, but sometimes they just look like chicken scratch. That is the nice thing about computer documentation; you can read it! I educated Celestine on the importance of documentation, but there is only so much I can successfully implement while I am here. I do not think documentation will happen this trip.

After work, I “chilled” with Millie. Its funny to me that Millie and her friends enjoy using that word. There is no chill whatsoever here!! I like warm weather, so I’m not complaining. However, it does get very hot here, to the point that I look forward to my cold nightly bucket shower.

I promised Millie I would write about her in my blog! Millie has quickly become my African sister while I’m here. She is 19 years old, but despite our 9 year age difference we have become fast friends! She is friends with everyone. Her phone rings as much as any American teenagers phone! She is the equivalent to a high school senior. She is very excited to go to the University next year. She is interested in broadcast journalism. Millie would love to see America so if anyone is interested in an exchange student she’d love to come! She is home from holiday from her boarding school and is becoming very bored. Thus, we both enjoy each other’s company. Without her, I do not think I would have transitioned so well into this experience. While there are many cultural differences between us, she has been exposed to enough American music and TV that we find plenty of common ground. Also, she is always willing to leave her house and go for a walk in town with me. Further, she has helped my ego by always telling me, “Kari, you are a beautiful girl.” I tell her she probably says that to every white girl, but she reassures me that not all white people are beautiful. Haha!

I hope one day Millie and her family can visit me in the US and I can welcome them as much as they have made me feel welcomed in their home and country.

Love, Kari