Let's start from the beginning. Henrik and I decided to help one of our patients move back home to his family, economically, and therefore we also got the opportunity to travel with him to Yaetachinni, a small village about 2 1/2 hours from HLH.
We were supposed to leave at 8.30 this morning. So we dressed the patient up in all his new clothes donated from the hospital, and we thought we were ready!
But that would be too good to be true. Long story short: difficult communication between us, the patient, and nurses made complications. As well as the issue of the money Henrik and I were donating. What exactly was it supposed to be used for? The drive to the village, the wheelchair, the hospital bill, food for the family? All of a sudden the hospital was going to pay for all of the above, except for the wheelchair. So we figured well then we're paying for the wheelchair, but our contact person for the ordeal was thinking that some of the money could be used to by lunch for everybody in the car instead... Beeing that was not the purpose of this whole deal, we were indeed quite frustrated!
And mentioning communication with our contact person. I guess women aren't supposed to handle business, so constantly if something had to be arranged we heard "Henrik!", "Henrik we need to talk" or "Henrik what do you think?", although the two of us were standing right next to each other most of the time. And usually our contact person would look at me as waiting for me to leave... Aarrg!
Anyway, 10.30 everybody was finally in the car ready to go!
After a smooth, but crowded, drive we finally reached the village after two and a half hours. And we could breath relieved out when his family took him in to their home with open arms! Which was our biggest fear of the day. Many tribes don't except their relatives if they have lost certain functions (or body parts). Which is a big problem at the hospital. Many injured refuse having amputations, which just leads to more damage to the body if amputation was necessary in the first place. And the our patient was a hunter, so we were quite worried being he is now paralyzed in the lower limbs.
Saying our goodbyes with a last couple of photos, not everyone had seen a camera lens before...
Then it was time to go back home. Me in the middle row with a nurse and medical officer, and Henrik in the back with one of the village hunters with his bow and arrows, and two singing tribal women that were going to join us all the way to Haydom. During the drive we saw a pack of antilopes, and the hunter got hysterical... that was his dinner walking away! But the car wasn't able to stop fast enough. By the time we got to the neighboring village, where he was leaving us, he was in a good mood again, even willing to strike a pose for the camera (in exchange for some cash so that he could buy tea...)
During our drive home it started raining for just ten minutes. And I don't know if we've told you this on the blog, but driving in Tanzania when it rains, is a BIG problem. After several stops being stuck in the mud we thankfully made it back home before dark. So all in all, a very typical african day, but a very successful day.
Our patient had been in the hospital for two years. He was medically stabile, and all he had to do was rehabilitation. But he was so depressed that he never wanted to do physiotherapy. All he wanted was to go home. We are very aware of the fact that a wheelchair in the conditions you see on the pictures are not the best. But the most important thing for the patient at this point, is that he is happy.
(We have gotten permission to write his story and post pictures by the patient)
