Back To Work After Vacation

I had a pleasant journey back to Douala after spending time back in the US.  I arrived at 6:00 p.m. and had an overnight rest at a hotel arranged by Sr Alphonsa because Padre Pio was full of guests on Saturday.  The following day I attended the Sunday Mass and by 9:00 a.m. boarded the mini bus for our trip to Shisong. I was with an Italian medical mission of ten, nurses, MDs and technicians and it took us 9 hrs of travel – arriving at 7:00 p.m.

The next day I started work at 7:00 a.m. in ICU. It was a busy day and everyday I did not have a chance to take lunch. I was OK  - I had to eat lunch at 3PM and then still do my walking exercise. I had to adjust with everything such as work, house situation etc.

I witnessed wonderful humanitarian people and the main person is Dr Matthias Agren a German Pediatric Cardiologist who just finished his medical mission in Romania and flew directly to Cameroon to join the Italian mission. He is the CEO of Robin Foundation. He is truly a one of a kind specialist.  I am blessed to have worked with him.

We just ended our mission cardiac surgery yesterday. I am looking forward to the next mission in January 2017. I am very satisfied with what I went through.

An Act of Mercy

There are, at times, a situation where a patient at the hospital has been discharged, but they are unable to pay the total bill.  When this occurs, the patient must remain at the hospital until the total amount has been paid (there are no collection agencies or other forms of making sure the bill is paid).  The patient is not part of hospital management in regard to medications and treatment. 

Recently there was a female patient with her one month old twins with her, who had been discharged for over a week, but has no money to pay her total bill which is about $100 or 62,000CFA.  

One day a male nurse, Gilbert, thought of an idea to help our patient which at the same time will help the twins’ health primarily. He suggested that the staff in our clinical ward contribute an amount on our comfort, with the total goal of 80,000CFA.  Most of us welcomed his idea and even the cardiac center administration contributed. Before I knew it the patient was able to go home with her twins.

With this, I have witnessed an act of mercy in our cardiac center.

Caretakers and Guardians

I continually witness guardians or family members staying with the patients.  Recently there was a young man helping his aged father with his needs, such as positioning and repositioning him in bed, giving him his medication, feeding him, helping him go to the bathroom, etc. When I see something such as this, the more I give my attention and help that I can.

On another day, I admitted an old woman who was accompanied by her two sons. The charge nurse directed the guardians to bring their mother directly to the shower to clean her first before getting on the bed. This attracted my attention right away, so I assisted the two men as to what to do because they appeared caught unaware as to what was expected. I informed one of them to buy a bath soap and a wash cloth while the other man stayed with his mother.

In summary, this kind of situation that I witness gives me the satisfaction of giving my voluntary service to my patients here at St Elizabeth Catholic Hospital Cardiac Center.

Unfortunately the first patient I mentioned passed away due to Malaria and the son was crying hard.  I told him how good he was to his father and that I appreciated what he had done. I prayed for the deceased man and the son to be able to cope with his lost parent. This is not easy because deep inside I cry with the family.