60 PAIRS OF EYES FOLLOW ME!!!

Here in Nzara the nun running the hospital since I arrived here on December 16th has placed me in charge of the "Adult Medical Ward".
Because there are very few Obstetric and Gynecology cases at this hospital as they have NO Operating room. No certified Midwives, very few nurses who perform deliveries.

I am one of 2 Obstetrician and Gynecologists in the state and the ONLY American Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecology Surgeon in the ENTIRE country.

BUT I round on Medical Adults every day.
Since the war started in Ezo on November 18th, I have NOT performed ONE single surgery. No C-sections, no hysterectomies, no laparotomies. Nothing..
No Pre-natal clinic with many happy pregnant women.

But I decided to follow my Aunt Antonette's Motto, "Bloom where you are planted".

The 60 patients in the "Adult Medical Ward" that have AIDS, Malaria and TB have NEVER had a physician like me!!!
Haha!!!
When I first came I realized these people are all depressed. Not eating, not bathing, smelly clothes and bed sheets. They are dying, there is war.

So.........

I decided to shake it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I arrive in the morning, I greet them singing, in the local language, Good Morning Everyone!!!! Are you there????
This makes them all so happy and laugh because I make such a great effort to speak Zande and Arabic to them.
Then I go from bed to bed.
I sit on the edge of the bed, I ask them what they ate last night for supper as my first question which blows their mind.
Then I comment on how I enjoy local food such as Kpokuto Gardia which are greens prepared with ground nut paste and then steamed in banana leaves. YUMMY!!!!
Or Kpokuto Kpoto which is cow's skin cooked with Ground nut paste (peanut-butter). SUPER YUMMY!!!
And of course Bahkinde which is cassava flour mixed with water. It is sticky and thick. The carbohydrate base of the meal. YUM!
This makes them laugh and laugh that a white woman knows all about their food.
Because all the white people they know and most people from even other African countries do not eat their food.
But all those who know me, know that I enjoy trying new foods then commenting and discussing how delicious the food is.

I also whistle when they have taken a shower, bath and put on clean clothes.
Whistling is a "man's" thing to do here and not many men even know how to whistle as loudly as I do.
So they LOVE it.
They laugh and laugh.
Now they are all showering, putting on clean clothes, changing the bed sheets, eating food so they can tell me all about it.
It is so wonderful!!!!!!.

Originally I was told me that most of these people will die here but we have had many discharges and they go home happy because I make such a fuss over the excitement of their discharge!!
NOW in the morning.....
When I arrive at the hospital 60 pairs of eyes follow my every move.
The nurses are so happy with the change and the way we round.
The nurses ALL want me to stay here in Nzara and not go back to Ezo.

CD4 counts are checked because I am so curious, most are on last line therapy, Stage 4 AIDS.
We check TB status.
We give them the works. (of course what we can here with limited resources)
Why not?
They deserve to feel that I care and will fight for them.
Most people's CD4 count here by the way is between 15-25!!!!!
It should be greater than 500!!!
So even though I am not doing my passion; Obstetrics and Gynecology, NO Safe Motherhood, because of these insane circumstances of WAR!!!
I am TRULY happy to bring the love and joy of Jesus to these beautiful patients!!!
They love me so much but I love them MORE!!!!
Praise be Jesus Christ now and Forever!
Continue to pray for me please.

FAT WHITE WOMAN A LOT OF MONEY!!!!!

Have been here in Nzara now for almost 3 weeks.

Arrived here on December 16th. 

Was staying at the nice Volunteer Guest House that the Comboni Sisters (Nuns) have. 

It did not bother me that I was alone there with the Guard. 

NOW.....

Everything has changed here also!!!

My goodness...... is the insecurity following me?

Last Monday night, men entered a Convent near Yambio (about an hour drive from here) of the Solidarity Sisters and stole their 2 vehicles, their computers, their cell phone, money and everything they could get their hands on and then...

Assaulted one of them.....!!!! 

And beat a young volunteer. They were going to take her with them to the "bush" but somehow this woman managed to escape and hide. 

Starting the night before last night, (Friday) heavy gunfire heard here in Nzara. 

Last night gunfire most of the night. 

This morning 2 large blasts went off. 

Not sure if they were RPGs or actual Bombs as the Sisters said. 

The Nuns have suggested/ requested that I move in the Convent with them here. 

Not to be alone across the street at the Guest House. 

So yesterday I did. 

Also per the suggestion of the authorities and the Nuns, I have been requested NOT to walk anywhere alone not even up the street because now people are being abducted and women are being raped. 

I do not know how factual this is, or if this is a precaution or just a rumor BUT...

as my friend Moses from Uganda said, "Doctor just do it, life has NO spare...". 

Saturday I went to the Hospital with the Nun who is a Doctor. We biked together and came back together. 

This morning I walked the 100 feet to the church for Mass. Accompanied by the Sisters. 

Everyone knows that I like to do exercise and walk every afternoon and EVERYONE is coming up to me saying, "Doctor, do NOT go walking now anywhere at any time. You stay home. It is not safe. You are a fat, white woman. They will think to TAKE you for a lot of money." 

Thanks guys for caring about this FAT woman. 

Please pray for all of us here in South Sudan. 

In the Western Equatoria State. 

Maybe it is me...

It was famously quiet in Ezo, then war started, it was quiet in Yambio then war started. No one was abducted by the rebels but I was. It was quiet in Juba then killings started. It was quiet in Nzara now it has started here. 

Only common denominator is Rachael Consoli.....

OK, I know it is not me. 

Really I am SOOO grateful to our LORD for protecting me when I was abducted as those men did not touch or physically hurt me AT ALL!!! 

Even though that day I was wondering where the crown of Angels that my father prays everyday protect me was ...... 

the crown of Angels was there because I was not beaten nor much worse raped. 

Praise be Jesus Christ!!! 

Thank you dear Prayer Warriors for your continued prayers. 

BTW: I want you all to know that every day at the hospital we literally save lives. 

People very much need our services here now more than ever. 

I am grateful to God to have such an amazing vocation of being a life saver and hero to many everyday. 

A great friend told me the other day, "You have a noble work." 

Through God's grace of course. 

So please pray for our patients and our people here who are STILL in the bush suffering. 

Now I know why people in war zones die earlier deaths because the underlying stress of "insecurity" of what may happen next just eats at your mind and soul. 

God bless South Sudan.... 

God bless the Comboni Nuns who are treating me like one of their own community. 

So kind and loving. 

What amazing people I meet....!!!!!