Bere 2018 #23- Last
My alarm goes off at 4:30. I’ve had about 2 hours of sleep since the C-section I described in the last post. I’m tired and could immediately go back to sleep. But we have motos to catch to get out to Kelo to get the bus by 7:30. Our moto driver, Abba, is suppose to be at the gate at 5 to get us along with another driver. The water is suppose to be high and he told us last night that we would need canoes to cross the widest area. So instead of the usual 3500 CFA he wants 5000 ($10) each. I’m skeptical but agree, saying that if canoes are not needed than Ill pay the 3500 CFA in stead. We had packed the night before so we basically get dressed and grab our bags and head to the guard’s gate to wait. At 5 AM I call him and apparently wake him up. About 15 min later he gets there and at 20 min later the other moto arrives. They strap our bags to the back and we sit down behind them. The sun is just coming up and it’s a beautiful ride. We are going around large puddles that could swallow a car easily and some areas are under water for 50 feet. It is beautiful as the sun rises. Eventually we get to the area of the lake, and the canoes want 500CFA to carry us. They decide it’s not that deep after all and drive on through with water up to Audrey’s knees. The motos keep going and we make it. She is with Abba on a decent moto, and I’m on a moto that doesn’t have a right passenger foot peg. I look down mid-way through the ride and realize my foot is resting on the exhaust. Since my shoe isn’t sticking to it and melting, I leave it there as there is no where else. Eventually we make it to Kelo after hitting a duck and a chicken- both appeared to survive the incident. I give Abba 10,000 and expect the change. He says no, that we had agreed to 5000. I’m tired and in no condition to be taken advantage of. I raise my voice and start telling him that he knows that’s not right and to give me change. He and the other guy chime in that this is what was agreed to. I’m too tired to fight for long, so I walk away and tell him he won’t have my business ever again. (Not that that matters to him, as I’m leaving and he knows it) I board the bus, and sit next to Audrey and we head the 9 hours north. We stop a number of times for pee breaks, out beside the road and make it by evening. Sarah A picks us up and we are grateful to stay with her and her kids. As we are falling to sleep we hear her dogs barking, and cats making terrible noises.
This morning I awaken at 6AM after some good sleep, but with a bursting bladder. I drank a lot after getting off the bus as I hadn’t peed all day. After breakfast of oatmeal and bread with peanutbutter, she had asked me to help her with a tubal ligation on two young german shepherds that she wants to sell. I’ve not done them in dogs, but she has and I have in humans. So we grab a puppy and put her on the table. Sarah gives her ketamine and soon the puppy is out. We prop her up with towels laying on her back. Her paws are tied back on each side. I prep with betadine and cut along the midline. I get to small intestines. I fish my sterile gloved finger around and find a fallopian tube and the ovary. I tie and take off the ovary. Then do the same on the other side. Down below where they come together, I tie off what I suspect is the uterus, and excise the whole thing. I close the muscles like I would a person and the skin. We do another puppy the same way. Later on I hear both are doing well, eating and playing again. I’m glad to hear that! I don’t want to hurt animals either.
Now we are on flights back. The whole trip takes 3 days to go and the same to come back. I’m finally cool and it feels great!
There is an ongoing need for surgeons and other help in Bere. If you are flexible, like adventure, and have your own funding to make a trip like this, please contact me or the doctors in Bere. You are needed! If any of you are interested in funding anything in Bere please contact me and I’ll figure out how this is best done. If you want to fund any assistance for the Koza hospital we used to work at, it can be done at the website below. Thank you for your interest in areas that are truly in need of your help. Sincerely, Greg and Audrey
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