Children's Hospital Boston in Ghana

A Few Thoughts...

I am quite proud of the efforts of the entire group this trip. Once again, our trip was full of both anticipated and unexpected challenges. It was inspiring to see this group handle these simple and complex problems with as much tenacity and compassion, resourcefulness and gumption, as that which I regularly witness at home in Boston.

I was heartened to see our partners in Kumasi engaged and eager. I was comforted by the now familiar sights and smell of Ghana welcoming us again. It reminded me, once again, that the delivery of complex care is often limited by resources, but isn’t, at Children’s Hospital Boston – Kumasi Branch, by will.

Mark (Cardiac Intensivist)

Godsends...

I’m sitting on Delta Flight #167 heading home from Ghana and reflecting on my fondest memory.

Patience, Miracle, Blessing, Charity and Godknows are some of the names of folks that we met this week.  Patience is the Director of Nursing and is one of our “Godsends”.  She is always there for our team and the nurses.  That’s why we were so grateful to give back to her.  A group us spent an afternoon at her parents village (“some of the poorest of the poor”) to bring books, pencils, crayons and clothing to her people.

 

We were greeted by hundreds of children that were taught to politely ask “How are you?” and introduce themselves.  Many of them had never seen a white person (and those that know me know that I’m really white!).  Fascinated children touched my hair and skin.  A hand written program was passed out. The children sang and danced.  Poems were read. Ceremomial greetings were shared with the elders.  This was a celebration and the blessing was ours.

 

We rushed off to get back to the hospital to care for the cardiac patients. As we were pulling away there was a last knock on the bus door and a gift of local bananas and oranges was presented. There was a clear exchange of goods, smiles, fascination and good will. HOPE is what Patience says is our greatest gift to her people. Joy and happiness is the greatest gift I receive from them.

 

It is difficult to express how the past three missions have impacted me, but I can say with each trip the journey feels a little closer and the commonalities seem more apparent.

 

Moira (CICU Nurse)

Many Parts Make A Team

When I look back on this week’s events, I remembered being on the airplane flying from Boston to Accra. I had pulled out my crochet hook and two skeins of yarn and very quickly crocheted a scarf.  My aunt taught me how to crochet when I was 10 years old and now “slightly” older, I can crochet with my eyes closed.

This is my 3rd mission to Ghana and even though some areas of it ran like a well oiled machine, there were other areas where the engine bucked, sputtered and almost stalled.  The challenges we faced this time were unimaginable and I quickly realized that no matter how many times you do something, you can never quite do it enough to do it with your eyes closed.

I would like to take this time to thank each and everyone on the team for not only your hard work, your dedication and compassion but for your incredible adaptability.  You all kept the engine running! 

  “Something unpredictable and in the end it’s right---I hope you had the time of your life.”      

Thanks to all,

Judy (CICU Nurse)

 

 

Same Job, New Day, Different Latitude

It was a day late, we were on Ghana time. But it was fun.

I had the opportunity to give a talk to a classroom full of eager Ghanaian residents. Most of them had never seen an EKG performed before, much less at a lecture on pediatric EKGs. They seemed to hang on my every word, transfixed. It was a strong dialogue that demonstrated to me that they understood the concepts. As I glanced at the library on the back wall of the lecture room, I saw three volumes of a premier pediatric cardiology text that I often refer to back home. I was truly impressed that the Ghanaian staff accessed the same resources we commonly use as references. At the end of the class, we brought a patient in and had a hands-on opportunity to perform and interpret a pediatric EKG. Everyone stayed behind, the class could have gone on for days. It was a truly satisfying experience for me as I love to teach – at home or in Ghana.

Peter (Pediatric Cardiologist)

School Trips

For the last two days, several of us left the confines of KATH and traveled to local village schools and orphanages loaded with donated books, school supplies and clothing. We visited to the Trede school, Anikroma, Enkyira Apropong and two orphanages, Sisters of Charity and Kumasi Childrens Home.

The reception we’ve received at each location is amazing! Each stop is more overwhelming than the last. The children are not able to contain their excitement, screaming, yelling and dancing!

Team Ghana

We have been in Ghana for a week. What we have accomplished in a week is incredible. We built a Cardiac Clinic for ECHO screenings, built an OR and a CICU, have completed ten open heart surgeries (currently working on the 11th case) and screened over 100 children to identify their diagnosis. During our downtime we have delivered countless books, school supplies and much need clothing to surrounding villages. What is glaringly apparent to me is the level of expertise and commitment the CHB physicians, nurses, technician and pharmacist have displayed, as a non medical member of the group, to watch this team work is awesome. They are incredibly skilled, each plays an essential role, they communicate efficiently and work as a team flawlessly.

Despite all the hurdles, we are making enormous strides –not only are we surviving but we’re excelling - in a way that is truly remarkable to be a part of.  

Right Place, Right Time

Off to the floor to check on the kids. I was showing new staff members around the pediatric wards. We walked in and saw a child that was sweating like crazy and struggling for air. If I was at Children's, I would have called a code blue, but then I remembered where I was. He was not looking good. We scooped him up and took him down five floors to the Unit. He was so dusky and blue and he was working so hard to breath. He was having a "tet spell" and it was a bad one. Tet spells are when kids with a specific type of heart disease go very blue and work really hard at breathing. They can be life threatening. That little boy looked awful.

 

We had three cases scheduled for the day. Immediately the schedule was put on hold and the focus was on saving this little boy's life. We knew that unless we moved quickly he would not survive. Minutes later he was taken to the operating room. It was amazing, he did so well and he had a compete Tet repair. We were able to take him off the respirator on the following day, and by the next day he was laying in his mother's arms breast feeding. Just from that experience this has been worth it. Our team saved this little "prince's" life.

Bev

Perspective

Minimum wage in Ghana is 37cents per day. $900 per year.

A first year nurse makes $400 per month. $4,800 per year.

A first year doctor makes $700 per month. $8,400 per year.

Healthcare coverage costs $20 per year.

Ghana population = 21 million.

Average life expectancy = 56 years.

Only ½ of the Ghanian people are able to afford the healthcare cost.

Countless mothers leave their newborn babies at the hospital because they can not pay the $20.

Today at the orphanage there were 90 children, the youngest baby was 4 days old.

New Photos from Hospital Clinic, Schools & Orphanages

 

 

 

 

School Days

Ghana is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa. The cost of a school uniform at the Trede School is six dollars. Today a group of us traveled to the Trede school to deliver donated books and supplies. Several of the children were not dressed in the traditional green uniforms, their families can not afford the annual cost……six dollars.

 

With each passing day the sights, sounds and smells become stronger and harder to understand. When we arrived at the school a swarm of green uniforms engulfed us – grabbing onto us and literally diving for copies of used books. The school rooms were bare, a chalkboard, wooden benches and desks – that was it. The Trede school children were SO grateful for the supplies, the hope on their faces was palpable. A picture says a thousands words……

 

Sara