Grateful for the Call to Mission

I have been working in the clinical ward of the cardiac center since November after our last Italian Mission Operation. 

About two weeks ago our local cardiac surgeon resumed his open heart surgeries on his three patients back to back within a week.  Unfortunately our first patient was very critical post-operatively because of complications. Our doctors felt he will not survive much longer, so most of the intravenous medications were discontinued. Miraculously the patient became more stable than before, although still with endotracheal tube connected to a respirator.  Then the second and third patients who followed had a successful surgery.

Lately I had the experience of taking a flight on a transport local plane with a patient who had a stent placement at St Elizabeth Hospital cardiac center who went home to Yaounde. This worked well because I had to go to Yaounde for renewal of my passport. I have met many kind people on this trip to Yaounde. I cannot ask for anything better than this.

Thanks be to God for my calling to mission.

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.