Zoom In and Zoom Out.. and Turn Yourself On

 I have started this time and again... So today, I'll post it even if I am not happy with it...and Anne hasn't edited my lousy typing and Brooklynese English...

Before I ramble on:  While I will not be there again, you and yourt generosity will be there to assist the new students with tablets.   It is only through your generosity that they are able to have these invaluable tools to learn.   I am grateful for everyone of you who have made a contribution... And I am greatful to all who didn't.  Tablets have been purchsed and shipped and , arrived in Guyana and wil be there for the students first day.

2021 Promises and 2020 Reflections

Covid won this year, but it wasn't a knock out!   A TKO at best.

Never Say Never

No I did not go to Guyana in person this fall.  Somehow I got talked into assisting online - Zoom-Zoom - with the usual Problem Based Learning Course.  Full time faculty member Robert Binda really wanted to offer the courses even during the lock down. And the clincher:  Roberta would do all the administration and I just had to show up and look cute!  How could I turn down an offer like this?

With Roberta doing the fulltime coordination plus two full time faculty Nurse Nathleen McNeil and International Volunteer, Nurse Candy Mohan, who just began working at a hospital in Croydon, England. [She had just returned to Guyana to visit her family when Covid struck and stranded her in Guyana.] and there are four or five more part-time nurses who wished to volunteer.   Wow! 

When Tony Carr and I started this about a decade ago, most Guyana faculty thought we were crazy [and the vote may still be out of our mental health.   It was a fad!     They will be doing it the same as I am in Canada; they will be online from Georgetown.

NB:  An added special thank you to my readers and benefactors.   Without your gift to them of the computer tablets, this remote learning would not be possible !!!

Change is Always Present

A Stroke AND Luck

On the morning of 18th January, I had a seizure and stroke at home... Actually, I knew nothing about until the next afternoon when I woke up on the 6th Floor at the Hamilton General Hospital.   Anne and a worker, who was here fixing something, called 911 and an ambulance got me to the hospital.   It was very upsetting for them and my family and I was oblivious to the whole thing...   And the luck!   I have recovered without any handicaps physically or emotionally.   I was disappointed that it did not gift me with more intelligence :)    I have not been able to return to driving as in Ontario there is a mandatory six month suspension.   So I will celebrate my 75hth birthday, not on the 14th of July as in the previous 74 years, but on the 18th whwn I got my driver's license unsuspended.    Without our family who have supported us immensely; they have been a real gift.

2021 Another Term at Mercy - without me😭

 The pandemic has forced me to realize - reluctantly - I am not indispensable.      Yes, I knew it before; I just know it again.      There will be a new gaggle of first year nurses starting at Mercy School of Nursing...  I won't be there and not even on line as they feel they can return to in class teaching. So I will not be assisting with the online PBL course.   

A confession:  I really didn't like it... It was too flat - too edited.   I really never got to know the students.   So I am somewhat glad I am not doing it again... and still somewhat sad.    I do know that the faculty there led by Nurses Roberta and Nathleen will lead a new group on tutors for the students to have a good learning experience.  

A side note:  Another girl who lived at St. Ann's will be starting in September.      And like so many girls there, she has changed her name so many times  It used to be  Subitree... and on FaceBook she is Starr...   I'll have to wait and see about what she will be called ay Mercy!   Hopefully she will join a long list of St Ann's nurses who have graduated from Mercy, including the Doyen Martina Abrams.

Many years ago...

Mental Health "Initiatives"

I really would have loved to say Mental Health Improvements... But I can't at this point.   There are lots of reports and recommendation from legislation to diect patient care... but reallty there have been no concrete actions.     Guyana has never succeeeded in taching me patience...    There are prtomises to do somethings and maybe that is "good enough" for now.   

However, with the successful graduation with a Master in Medicine of the first psychiatry residents in 2019, the prtogramme has grown substantially.  There are now a total of 8 residents and ther original trimverate are working and teaching throughout Guyana.   This is truly good news.    

The Future

Really who knows...  I take comnfort in my overdevloped "denial" skills, so will look forward to retrning in future years.   This Fall I will help on line where I can and relax. [Actually relaxing is way more stressful than working.]   I have done some gardening and put a flagstone path around my pond... Everyone warned my not to lift those flagstones as they were too heavy for me.   So not to upset them, I just didn't tell them.   I carried the 2,000 pounds of stone and 2 yards of triple mix by myself... [See I told you my denial skills are well-honed - or stubborn.]  

     

I love taking piuctures - mostluy of back yard flowers -mainly because they are the only things that move slower than I do....

And I now am back walking for pleasure rather than necessity.. mostly with a granddaughter, Sydney.  She climbs and I walk slowly and take pictures... as a side benefit is I get a rest.

If there are interesting developments for me and my friends in Guyana, I'll psta another blog.

Thanks for reading and supporting me.   

John