Estoy disfrutando las flores.

 It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a whole month since Togo. A lot has happened in the past few short weeks. It's slightly awkward to jump back into a thriving general surgery practice when in a few months I'll be packing up again. The partners are all wonderful to work with and accommodating to this nontraditional schedule. As much as I prefer to be busy, the extra time has allowed me the ability to devote energy and attention in other areas of life, for which I am thankful.

Most recently Amber Miller and I made a quick trip out to Virginia to visit Sirish and Kristina Mulpura.  Six years ago we had made the trip to visit them in Florida after the birth of Noah.   It seemed rather fitting to repeat the tradition after the birth of their second son, David. 

Making a quick pit stop in West Virginia on the way out, because, why not?

Amber and I with Noah at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Exploring the Enchanted Forest at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Kristina, Amber & I at the Norfolk Botanical Garden

Visiting the College of William & Mary. Founded 1693, second oldest in the USA.

College of William & Mary. No big deal, just maybe where Thomas Jefferson sat for class! 

Continuing our visit of Williamsburg.

Williamsburg.

Visiting Jamestown.

David loved to snuggle. He got no complaints from Amber or I.

Amber & I with Noah on the trampoline.

Sirish watched the boys for our last evening in town. Kristina, Amber & I.

Recreating photo with David from the original 6 years ago with Noah. 

Late night Dosa making in the kitchen with friends.

We interrupted the drive home for a few quick hikes at Shenandoah National Park.

Dark Hollows Falls

Dark Hollows Falls

Stony Man - on part of the AT

Stony Man - on part of the AT

Next up, big Memorial Day plans!

Much Love.

Estoy en casa.

 My time in Togo ended well, and I have returned to Indiana. I've covered a lot of ground, literally, in the past week.

Here's last few photos from Togo. Figured I'd post them since I posted every single other photo. Thought they would feel left out.  All photos taken last Saturday as I traveled from Mango down to Lome to fly back to the USA.

Back in Indiana I was struck by how much slower and colder everything was. Work had given me a few days to settle and recover from jet lag, for which I am thankful, but also the reason for the "slower". 

My nephews and I modeling our matching Togo pants that I had made for all of us!

Once responsibilities at the hospital resumed, flow of life picked up once again. I'll be honest it was a definite mental switch to go back to minimally invasive surgery and limiting myself to just the field of general surgery as defined by US standards. But once at the robot console... just like riding a bike.

Today was the Indy Mini. The annual half marathon that is run on the Indiana Speedway track. I had signed up to run long before Togo was first even mentioned. I was worried how I'd fair after running the past four months really took a hit due to the high temperatures and my schedule in Togo. But I finished the race running! Success!

Val Leman is one of the NPs that works with our team at the hospital. 

Not only did I get Val to run with me, but her three boys as well! Happy to see others motivated to get out and move. 

P.S. yes, I did kiss the red bricks on the racetrack... kind of. Kissed my hand and just bent down to hit the bricks as I ran over them. ;)

Much Love.

Togo, Africa pictures 11

 Sofie, Ahni, and Mely Nattier holding the triplets.

 Natasha Nattier holding the triplets.

Went to visit the Nok Grottos (Grottes de Nok). They are caves in the sides of the cliffs that are just South of Dapaong. The Moba would use these caves as protection from invasion from the Tchokossi.

 View from the top of the cliffs.

 Ladder down to the caves.

Mortar and pestle

Our guide explaining the history

The room where they made their poison arrows

 Hello there!

 Our adventure group for the day! Me, Dena, Sam, Lisa, Derek and Esther

 With our guide. His name was difficult, I wasn't able to remember it :(.

 with Esther, Dena and Sam

with Lisa

 Divider inside the storage vessels. Three different compartments for three different grains.

 Me, Esther and Lisa

 L to R: Esther, Sam, Dena, me, Derek, Lisa

After leaving the caves we stopped at our guide's village for tchoukoutou. (They had their own local word for it, "calebassa" if memory serves correct) It's the local millet beer drunk from a calabash (gourd). This view was seen in every village we passed. Open air grass covered shelters with villagers gathered underneath, each with calabash in hand.

 Quick pass through the Dapaong market.

Frequent site. Lady at her sewing machine hard at work. This is at the Dapaong market, but would see it outside various homes as well.

 Evening view from the compound water tower.

 Village of Kadjitieri

 Front door of the church building, village of Kadjitieri

Service in French, translated to Anufo and Moba. (Pastor this morning is the principal of the Bon Berger (the Good Shepherd) which is the local christian elementary school which is yet another branch of the mission work being done in Mango, Togo.) The usual pastor is Henga who is one of the techs I work with in the OR and Eric is one of the aides I work with in the OR. Eric is from Kadjitieri and did the Moba translating.

Thought this little guy was the cutest ever. He was actually content for a short while, letting me hold him. Usually at this age, they are scared by white skin and immediately cry.

 Even so, he did eventually cry, so I got a picture of him smiling with his mama instead.

 Kids concert at the end of church.

 Absolutely love their mischievous little grins.

 Sunday sport on my last Sunday in Mango. African hockey.

My last elective scheduled case. Ventral hernia with loss of domain. 

 Continued construction on compound. 

Our amazing OR team including surgeons, anesthetists, techs and aides.(a few missing faces) L to R: Luc, Kombieni, Daoud, Yacoub, Eric, Richard, Henga, Fildje, Sam, Emma, Ben, Dena, Sweni, David, Bryce, Esther, Yannick

Finally made it to the radio station for a tour. 93.1 Radio L'Esperance is a Christian radio station, another branch of the mission here in Mango, Togo. I arrived shortly before closing time. After work, the workers sit in the shade of a tree outside the station building and drink Atai tea. A strong herbal tea, the process of making it as important as the actual tea itself.

Forget his name :(. But in his retirement he is growing trees! 

 Sunset walk with the Drake family. Cows.

Baobab tree

Delivered yesterday via cesarean. Dena was surgeon. Still alive as of this morning.

 Guesthouse ladies: L to R: Enyonam, Assana, Martine, Marguerite (not pictured, Catherine)

 White coat and Feet washing ceremony for the PAACS residents. They scheduled it for last night, so I could attend before leaving.

 

I worked most with Sweni over the past 4 months. We became a pretty good team. 

Hospital of Hope Surgeons: Josh Paulick (long-term), me (short-term), Dena (mid-term), Tom Jurich (short-term), Bryce Nattier (long term), Sweni & Yannick (residents)

Sweni & Yannick

 

Sweni, Moise (PAACS secretary), & Yannick 

The OR team present for Sweni & Yannick L to R: Luc, Daoud, Dena, Moise, Kombieni, Eric, David, Ben, Abalo, Yacoub, Fildje, Emma, Sweni, Moussa, Sam, Yannick, Henga, Bryce, Josh, Amidou, Tom, Esther, me

If the French to anything well, it's ceremony. Must be documented! Josh & Beth Paulick, me, Sweni, Yannick, Bryce & Natasha Nattier, Dena & Sam Ferguson, Tom & Tina Jurich

Went into the hospital this morning to round on my patients and turn in my keys. Took a picture of the station before leaving. 

Much Love.