A Nurse's Notes

A Good Fireplace!

As a child our house was heated by a wood stove.  I remember sitting in front of the fireplace, warming up on the brick hearth after being outside in the cold.  Sitting until my back was as hot as I could stand it, then turning around and warming my face and toes.  A favorite spot on a cold day.  Even when I was older when our house was heated by a gas furnace, out of habit, I’d find myself standing in front of the cold fireplace, waiting to warm up.  In Rwanda, I almost never have a fire at my house.  But on cold evenings (cold is, of course, relative) Sheila would get a fire going in her fireplace.  And me?  I’d sit right in front on the brick ledge.  

My sister and I had a gas insert installed at our house today.  It’s sure nice to sit on the bricks in front of the fireplace and warm my back.  Funny, how different times and places don’t change the attraction to a particular spot.  Maybe it’s more the good memories and childhood security associated with the spot rather than the heat I’m relishing.  Regardless, tonight I’m really enjoying the toasty warmth on my back!

12 Days!!

Only twelve days until I leave for Rwanda!  My suitcases are packed, and I’m getting excited!  It’s odd to be traveling from one fully established home to another.  It isn’t like going on a trip where you have to take all the clothes you need to wear...because I have a complete wardrobe in Rwanda.  So it’s leaving home to travel home.  Hmm, odd.  I’ll miss family and friends here, but I’m looking forward to seeing friends in Rwanda.  I’ll be on vacation from work here, but going to work there.  It’s really kind of unusual when you think about it.  But that doesn’t dampen my excitement to see friends and find out what’s changed since I left in March.  And after this week of snow, I’m really looking forward to sunshine and warmth!!

Goretti Up-date

Goretti had her C-section on Monday. A baby girl! And she is doing well, weighing in at 5 lbs. Baby will be in the hospital for a couple of weeks, but we are thankful she is starting off well. The doctor couldn’t find where the uterus tore last time! God did a miraculous healing of Goretti’s uterus!

Snow and Ice

Had a lot of fun sledding the past two days!  Glad we don't have to drive anywhere though!!!

A Walk with Grandmother

Grandmother loved the chance to get out in the snow!

Enjoying the Snow

I've been enjoying the snow after so many years without it.  It was one thing I missed while in Rwanda.

Goretti

Please pray for Goretti, one of the nurses at Kibogora. Last year when she was in labor with her second child, her uterus ruptured, and the baby died. Goretti has struggled emotionally with this. Although she was told to wait five years before having another child in order to give her uterus time to heal, here we are a year later and she’s 32 weeks pregnant, very nervous and scared because she knows she’s at risk of rupturing again and losing this baby as well.

But before anyone even knew of Goretti’s pregnancy, God had an American obstetrician and pediatric nurse practitioner sign up to work at Kibogora during the month of January. So they’re planning to do Goretti’s c-section next week. It’s a difficult decision—how long to wait before her uterus could rupture and yet give the baby the longest possible time to develop. In the USA this wouldn’t be a problem as we have machines to handle a 33-week baby. But in Rwanda it’s a lot more challenging because hospitals can’t do much for immature lungs except give oxygen. Pray that the surgery goes well and the baby’s breathing is strong.

Toys for Kids

Last night I spoke at a Wednesday night kids’ program. The kids had brought in quarters to help buy little stuffed animals to give to the children at Kibogora Hospital. One boy told me that some child would really like his toy because it was so-o-o cool. In fact, it was such a cool toy that for a moment, he wasn’t sure he wanted to part with it. But he made the right decision. I’m going to find just the right child for his toy and take pictures to send back, reinforcing that sharing is the right decision.

Lights of Christmas

Today I’m headed to Warm Beach Camp and the Lights of Christmas. As a college student, I used to clean the bed and breakfast rooms during the day and run the cash register in the Victorian Gift Shoppe at night. Such a perfect job during school vacation, and I loved it! Having been in Rwanda these past four Christmases, I’m looking forward to going again. Kristy, three friends, and I will see the Lights, spend the night in our trailer, and then head back home tomorrow. Should be fun...and there’s no rain in the forecast!!

Visiting Friends

     I spent last week with friends in Indiana--cold, but fun. One day we walked through a cave. Being a nurse, what I found most interesting is that with a graveyard above one part of the cave, the stalactites are white instead of brown. The theory is that the calcium from the bones makes the stalactites white. Okay, gross maybe, but interesting. :-)

     It was fun to bake Christmas cookies, play cards, and relax with friends. From there I drove to Ohio to speak at a Rwandan, Burundian, Congolese Free Methodist church. I really enjoyed singing in Kinyarwandan and talking with people who have a lot knowledge about Rwanda. I didn’t have to explain to them that Rwanda is not near Australia.