I'm much better today!

So this week I was a feeling homesick. I think I’ve had too much time on my hands recently. It’s probably my own fault for not seeking out more activities in Kpando once I’m finished at the hospital. I can be so reserved so I think last week I fell into my old ways where I just want to be a homebody. However, there isn’t HGTV or high speed internet to entertain me so I got a little blue.

Today, I am much better. The hospital was still slow, but I enjoyed all the patients I worked with today. I saw 2 interesting ward patients who suffered strokes. The lady will make a good recovery. The man, I was not aggressive in my treatment because his condition still seemed to be deteriorating. I don’t have access to good monitoring equipment so I don’t want to do anything that good increase heart rate and BP since I do not think he has stabilized yet.

The boys with the burns were both better today. The boy who came in last week has been working hard at straightening his leg over the weekend so he was almost able to get it all the way straight. Next time I see him I will start some gait training. He’s such a brave little guy. Richard, the other little boy who I’ve been seeing for a month or so is walking on his right leg. It’s not straight, but he’s learning how to get around well. He cannot get his heel on the ground since his knee is so stiff. If he does not fully recover, he still could get around pretty well if he had a built up shoe sort of shaped like a high heel shoe. I’m going to keep working with him, but that will be my suggestion before I leave in 2 weeks if he doesn’t start to get it any straighter. He’s still a lucky boy overall. It’s just hard to see him suffer.

I spent my afternoon with a new American volunteer. Her name is Linda. She is working at Isaac’s school and one of the Aids Orphanages here. She has helped fund the project to convert classrooms to dormitories at Isaac’s school. She is going to introduce me to the staff at this orphanage tomorrow. It’s different than the one I’ve visited a couple of other times. It’s closer to Isaac’s house so it will be easier to go to. It gets so hot here in the afternoons that I wasn’t very motivated to walk all the way to the other orphanage especially since the 2 times I went there on my own, Mama wasn’t home to show me around. I know 15 minutes walk isn’t long, but everyone comes up with excuses right. I’m only human.

Tomorrow is Ghana’s independence day. It should be fun. It sounds like it will be very similar to 4^th of July!

Love, Kari