20Jan2015
A bouquet of roses, blossoming buds, and a thorn:
The bouquet: that "difficult-to-name"feeling you get when, in this very resource poor environment, patients will seemingly miraculously get better despite our grim predictions and likely "despite" rather then "because of" the care we can provide. Examples: a 15 yr old boy with osteomyelitis who we are concerned also has a septic hip joint is now walking with the aid of crutches; a woman with possible molar pregnancy and what appears to be an acute abdomen. We fear she will need a major surgical procedure that we can not provide, but after 24 hours of antibiotics is nearly back to normal; an HIV positive woman with suspected PCP pneumonia who is incredibly sick with a respiratory rate of 40 and oxygen saturation of 79 percent who improves dramatically with a cocktail of drugs and is discharged. For these things, I need a word that means "gratitude/awe/humility/ and utter innocence."
Lots of buds: the opportunity to work with my friends and this group and renew our longstanding relationships withTZ colleagues; the arrival of more friends including Ken tomorrow, the pending nursing school inspection, the upcoming medical conference followed by a visit to Tungamalenga and Ruaha
The thorn: despite many trips to TZ, this is still a trip best experienced with loved ones, yet Kari, Evan and Angela are at home.
Randy Hurley
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