Diriba

This young man was the nurse assigned to "my preemie".  He was so good with her.  Joyce, the nurse practitioner, had a lot of confidence in his abilities.  His English was good.  He has gone as far as he can in the Ethiopian educational system.  He wants to be a Pediatrician but, of course, lacks the funds to pay for school.  So, Grant and I are looking into paying for his tuition and books until he graduates.

Woman At Work

We passed this woman carrying a bundle of limbs to town.  She will eventually sell them to support her family.  Believe me, the load was heavy!

Preemie

I'd mentioned earlier that I'd become attached to a beautiful little girl born premature at 35 weeks.  Of all of the experiences I had in Ethiopia this one was actually the most emotional.  Since the hospital does not have an incubator (they used hot water bottles to keep her warm) or an oxygen tank (very costly), and because the hospital generator kept quitting, the baby had to be revived two times.  She was being fed breast milk by hand through a tube from her nose to her stomach.  Both times I was in the room - sobbing and praying my heart out that she would survive.  (Joyce, the nurse practitioner who was working on her said that when the babies die the staff put them in a box and lay then at the foot of the mothers' bed.  The family then takes them home to bury them.)  I am very happy to say that the last time I saw her she was with her mother and nursing well!  Through an interpreter I told her mother how I had told her daughter not to give up, keep fighting, and grow strong to to great things in this world.  Her mothers' reaction is in the last photo.  Things we take for granted here in the US are simply not always available in third world countries.  The hospital could certainly use at least one incubator with a backup generator.  I'm going to be fundraising in order to send one to this hospital.  If you're interested in supporting this project please let me know.  Just make a comment to this post.  Anyway, here are some pictures of "My Little Preemie and Her Mother". 

Among the volunteers on our trip was a professional photographer who also kept a journal along with some outstanding pictures.  We invite you to access her site to get an even more in depth look at what was done in Ethiopia.  It's outstanding!  Go to:  http://www.jonikabana.com/blog
Publish Post

Hi everyone.  Here are pictures of a couple of the many women who not only received surgery to repair prolapsed uterus but a new dress!  In the first picture this woman models her dress with her young daughter at her side.  In the second picture, Lori and I stand with yet another recipient.  I'd been observing surgeries that morning so had to dress accordingly.  (Don't you just love my hat!)  When word got around the hospital that patients who received prolapsed uterus surgery also got a new dress their husbands made sure they got one!  Those new (slightly used to us) dresses were a real treasure for them.  When all was said and done we were actually able to stretch our dollars and provide more than fifty surgeries.  How cool is that!

Coming home!

Lori and I are currently in the Frankfurt airport waiting to board our plane for the USA. We have had an incredible trip. We have taken many pictures and have kept a journal and have lots of information. We can't wait to get home, set up everything, and share our stories with you. But, before we do that, you need to know that your involvement in our endeavor to provide the women of Ethiopia with a better and healthier life has become a reality! Look for our further blogs to see how you made a direct impact.