burnt
Well-known member
Our daughter is on her way, coming home from Zambia. She spent almost 7 weeks in a hospital as a student nurse, perhaps learning more about nursing life in that time than she has in months of school here at home.
She is a very torn girl right now. In her words - "I felt much like I was being tossed in the ocean somewhere between Zambia and Canada, feeling a strong pull in each direction . . ."
She made fast friends with some of the locals, both resident missionaries and fellow nurses. Such as are made in the most intense of situations.
The Zambian medical system is financially strapped, apparently due to rampant government corruption and falling foreign support due to the economic downturn.
In many cases, aspirin and ibuprofen are the main medications handed out and those can be in short supply. Simple supplies like syringes and bandages may or may not be available.
They could help a lot of people with what we throw out.
She probably got more hands-on experience over there in her 6 weeks of floor work than she would get here in a year. It was fast-paced and demanding, just the type of situation where she is at her best.
She delivered 3 babies one night, the first one with supervision and the next two on her own. One of the two was a pre-determined stillborn, but still a sad case.
She said she saw some people get better and go home to their families and others die alone. One floor nurse for 40 patients can not be with each one for very long . . . .
So she is coming home from that scenario to a system where she will in all likelihood spend almost as much time recording her activities on a computer as she spends doing practical nursing. A bit of trepidation for her for that reason.
I suspect that her re-integration into our spoiled and selfish North American lifestyle could be a greater culture shock than what she experienced going the other way. There could well be some trying times for her in the next few weeks.
I can hardly wait to hug her again . . . .
If you would care to when you pray, please ask for much grace for her in the coming days. Just mention to Him "the little torn girl coming home from Zambia . . ." and He will know who you mean!
She is a very torn girl right now. In her words - "I felt much like I was being tossed in the ocean somewhere between Zambia and Canada, feeling a strong pull in each direction . . ."
She made fast friends with some of the locals, both resident missionaries and fellow nurses. Such as are made in the most intense of situations.
The Zambian medical system is financially strapped, apparently due to rampant government corruption and falling foreign support due to the economic downturn.
In many cases, aspirin and ibuprofen are the main medications handed out and those can be in short supply. Simple supplies like syringes and bandages may or may not be available.
They could help a lot of people with what we throw out.
She probably got more hands-on experience over there in her 6 weeks of floor work than she would get here in a year. It was fast-paced and demanding, just the type of situation where she is at her best.
She delivered 3 babies one night, the first one with supervision and the next two on her own. One of the two was a pre-determined stillborn, but still a sad case.
She said she saw some people get better and go home to their families and others die alone. One floor nurse for 40 patients can not be with each one for very long . . . .
So she is coming home from that scenario to a system where she will in all likelihood spend almost as much time recording her activities on a computer as she spends doing practical nursing. A bit of trepidation for her for that reason.
I suspect that her re-integration into our spoiled and selfish North American lifestyle could be a greater culture shock than what she experienced going the other way. There could well be some trying times for her in the next few weeks.
I can hardly wait to hug her again . . . .
If you would care to when you pray, please ask for much grace for her in the coming days. Just mention to Him "the little torn girl coming home from Zambia . . ." and He will know who you mean!
