The Week After and The Week Before

Departures and Arrivals

Emilee Flynn has left and is back hard at work and Dennis LeBlanc is in the air going the wrong way from Boston to get here, but he said it was quicker.    So this week has lacked a little panache... Good but average... and for most of the week I forgot that I had my camera in my pocket... Must be my age or my biorhythms are off.   Anyhow, a colleague in Nova Scotia wrote me: "I guess the scary part is that neither Julie nor I found this last two weeks boring at all, even though this letter is about as mundane and ordinary as you can imagine. So either I am not much of a writer, or we are just getting more and more ordinary."   And I remembered a quote from Malcolm Muggeridge [1998:p 112] wrote, with much wisdom, that "the true wonder of life is indeed its ordinariness."   Sounds okay to me for a week, but I hope next week will be unordinary... at least a little.

Saying farewell and
Maggie looks happy?

Dennis will be joining me for the third time, so he is an old pro... And he has set out an ambitious agenda for the three weeks he is here.  I hope that I can keep up with him; I should, as he is older than I am.

 World Mental Health Day  

As you may remember, Guyana is Number One in the world in the number of suicides per 100,000; the WHO suggests that it is 44 per year.  The average in neighbouring countries is about 7 and in the world about 11.   So the Guyana numbers are really worrisome.   And to their credit the previous government and the present government have been trying to address the problem directly.    Today, the Ministry of Public Health hosted an awareness information session at the National Public Library (I may be wrong I think it is the only public library in Guyana. Yes or No?).

My friend Bhiro 

William Adu-Krow, Leslyn Holder,
Mosa Hudson, Morris Edwards

In typical Guyana fashion the 9:00 sharp start time became somewhere after 9:30 and the introductory greetings ran long, so the workshops were somewhat shortened.  However, this year's event was better attended than last.  I was talking about "Helping people who have suffered a loss by suicide".  I was actually quite busy with questions about almost everything in the Mental Health field other than the topic.    Actually, a medical student was there and we had a great conversation about coping with the special griefs surrounding a suicide.   She is a bright, young, engaging doctor and will be waiting for the Master in Psychiatry programme to get going at University Guyana, so she can begin her residency training.  And did I mention she thinks I am smart?  

The usual cast of characters filled out the speakers and presenters.   Bhiro Harry, Jorge Balseiro, Indhira Harry, Maria a Cuban psychiatrist, several psychologists, including Mosa Hutson who has been working now for over a year in Mental Health.   There were representatives from the Ministry of Public Health and William Adu-Krow, the head of PAHO in Guyana, and the Acting Chief Medical Officer Morris Edwards.    There is a National Coordinator of Mental Health, Leslyn Holder - a first for Guyana.  She is Guyanese and trained as an RN in England; she has returned to give something back to Guyana.   Her position is a vital step in the organization and growth of Mental Health Services.   I am starting to get tempted to believe that mental health services will improve and improve quickly .....  Mind you,  I have been wrong about married priests and just about everything else I have prophesied .....  But (just like the lottery ticket I just bought):  this one I have a good feeling about!

Leslyn Holder addressing the "Crowd".

Miss World Guyana was there with her entourage. She has
been dedicating her year to talk about youth suicide prevention. 

If you have read the following on FB you can stop.

Lunch with Kavita and Dolly

As I wrote on FB: I was honoured today by some old friends: Kavita Karran Sookhoo and her  husband Naresh, and Dolly (her mom) and the wonderful grandchild Kadesh. They celebrated a meal after church and it was the first time that they had a sit down meal since Kavita's father Kampta died several years ago. Dolly had made a special snapper meal; it was delicious.

I had to think for a while about what to get Kadesh to annoy his parents. A cricket bat, wicket and ball - just the answer as Kadesh started playing right away in the house. 

And as it is all over the world, especially since Robert Frost wrote a poem about it, there was  disagreement about where the fence should go.  It wasn't settled when I left...  It is somewhat comforting to know people are the same all over the world.

Have a good week, readers.  John

The Big Surprise... [drum roll, please]

Dr. Emilee Flynn Arrives

On Monday night, Emilee arrived in Guyana.  Emilee has been trying to come to Mercy Hospital for about a decade to see and work with me.   Yet for one reason or another, could never get here.   Now she is so important, a distinguished senior paediatric resident at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, that I am really just helping her.   I have known Emilee ever since she was born.  She is the oldest child of my sister Monica and her husband John Flynn (I think he's also a doctor  ).   It has been many years since I actually have seen Emilee in person, so it has been a great time to catch up with her life and living... and get some new and embarrassing stories about my sister which I'll be able to use the next time the clan gets together.

Emilee has matured into a wonderful woman and sensitive paediatrician -- and she has been on the go ever since she arrived.   Emilee is interested in practicing medicine in some developing country after she finishes her residency this year, so is here to look at how children are cared for here and has accompanied a local paediatrician Dr. Malika Mootoo on her rounds and clinics for a couple of days.  When she returns she will team up with Dr. Rohan Jabour another long-time paediatrician here, as well as a new (to Mercy) Cuban Paediatrician Dr. Rosa.   

In the middle week she is travelling to Linden and then back to GT to lead a programme on Helping Babies Breathe -- a course in neonatal resuscitation.   

Emilee is walking around the Bourda Market.

with Dolly  Karran
who has a stall at the market
 and is an old friend of mine. 

I have gotten her out in the city walking around. Don't worry, Monica: she had me and my awesome strength to ward off any muggers.   As well, she has been helpful with the PBL course and other classes.  In fact, I was going to cancel my afternoon class and walk Emilee around the city; however, the students so wanted the chance to talk with her about her life and becoming a paediatrician that they begged me not to cancel.   I did not realize how much of an embodiment of their dreams Emilee represents; she is a symbol of the kind of person they wish to be.  Emilee gave them a chance to see themselves in the future .....  and for a few moments it was close enough for them to taste.  

Of course we went to St Ann's (see slide show at upper left); she also met my friend Dr. Bhiro Harry and attended several planning meetings at the Everest Cricket Club where she enjoyed some Banga and Shark as well as Plantain Chips.   She watched Bhiro and me imbibe a few drinks and she stuck to water.   Georgia, Bhiro's wife, invited her to their home for dinner.  She met Indira who is Bhiro's and Georgia's favourite daughter and a doctor who is pursuing further education in psychiatry to be able to help cure her father ..... and their favourite son Pravesh who is a dentist.

Emilee came to a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention meeting with the local press corps and the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Norton.  She was introduced as part of the team of technical specialists working for the Ministry!

It is good to have her here; I have been honoured by her wanting to visit me and see my life here.   I am sure she will be in more of these blog posts, but for now - enough.

My Health

I have been recovering from my cough etc., and now feel only about a decade older than I actually am .....  I went of my own accord to see Doctor Devi who lives in the flat next door and who has been checking on me every time she comes or goes.   She put me on a bag-load of pills and tonics and home-squeezed fruit juice! Now I do feel well -- and I hope this means that I won't get my usual bronchitis after I get home.

A New Ambulance for Mercy

A colleague, Chris Klaffs, who has been coming to Guyana for many years and is from the Florida Synod of the Lutheran Church has assisted her friend, Pastor Mike Mielke who lives about 30 miles from her in Florida and has the great Wilderness Lake Church.  He has friends/family at Banks Distributing -- my beer company, eh?  He loves Guyana, and several of his congregation are Guyanese.  He and his church raised money for two ambulances -- and one of them is for Mercy!  This is a great service for the hospital and its patients.  Thanks!!

Some Thoughts on Receiving Donations

Here are parts of a recent email from Dennis LeBlanc who has been down for the last two years and is planning on being here again in October.   He had a reflection on asking and giving that I want to share.

Hi Jo'c,

Yesterday you wrote "I am always humbled by donations" . . . that is a word I have always felt and used myself. I carry all sorts of baggage about asking for money, but a couple people have pushed me beyond my self-imposed limits around "fund raising" over the past few years. I can't say it's gotten any easier, but I have tried to be a little more bold and creative (the tin cup routine never worked well for me) in asking for money for causes important to me.

This is the outdoor "playground" at St Ann's we are trying to improve.

When people give, I am still truly humbled by their care, concern, generosity and support. Well, I've had a lot of practice in humility lately! Today at the nursing home, three staff people came up to me (separately) and talked about the newspaper article and how they "wanted to help out a little". One hundred and fifty dollars ($150) later, I staggered back to my desk, overwhelmed by their words and gifts. It has truly been "a wonderfully humbling day"!  The total amount raised now is $704 (that's good 'ole U S of A dollars, not Guyana dollar value)!

Thanks for reading... More next week. John

except .....  does anyone know what this is?

There must be a Secret Guyanese Code

National March for Suicide Awareness

This was the scene at 6:40 this morning before the advertised 7:00 start of the March last Sunday.  I will give an all-around view  for the full effect…

 

Through some special communication only known to a few Piai men, the March was going to begin at 6am, not at the newspaper published 7am -- though it only left about 6:20 and did not follow the designated route.  A security guard from the Bank of Guyana had pity on the only person sitting on the stairs and said, "They already left."  "No, that is okay; I am waiting for the 7 AM National Suicide Prevention March."  "Yes, they left with the Minister of Health after he gave a speech."   I did find out that they were not going to end at the Umana Yana [probably because it burnt down last week], but would finish right here.  And about the time for the March to start, they were finishing.    I did get a few pictures with some people actually in them.

If this was supposed to be the National March… I would have hated to see a local one.   However, I did get a chance to chat with the Minister of Health... and a picture to prove it. 

Well, that freed up my morning, so I consoled myself on the walk back that I would stop at my favourite french fry place for a double order of breakfast fries; AND, it was not open.   Why would it have been when their sign says open at 7AM?

 And in the same Inscrutable Vein of Guyanese Logic..

I was wanting some newsprint paper for my class at St Ann's.  In one of the Nursing School's rooms there is an easel - a really nice, sturdy, wooden one, but with no paper.  I asked a few teachers and they did not remember seeing any, but there must be some around.  When the secretary arrived after lunch, I asked Kelta if there was any newsprint paper.
She said that they didn't have any.
But what about the easel?
Yes, that is what it is for, but there is no paper, as no one uses it.
Could it be that no one uses it because there is never any paper?
What if I wanted some newsprint?
I don't think so, as there is no budget for it.
Thanks.
Luckily, a secretary in Hospital Admin loves me and let me have a few sheets from a hidden stash.

And one more "head scratcher"

There is a new disease here in Guyana "Chikungunya".  It is related to Dengue and seems that every third person you meet has it or has had it.  So the health prevention crowd is out informing the public.  Here is the sign near our flat.

 Be sure to read the Prevention Section
before looking at the following pictures

And then not too far away is the area below our flat.





Another Special Mercy Staffer
Margaret Douglas

Margaret doesn't need to go to the gym; she tosses around heavy loads all day

Margaret is a 17 year veteran of the hottest part of Mercy - the Laundry Facility.  She has been in that facility for all those 17 years and now is the Head Laundress.  She does like to stay put.   In fact, she was born on Norton Street in Georgetown and now lives in the same house on Norton Street.   She was married but has been a widow for 16 years.  She raised her family there, and now there are 9 grandchildren for her and her daughters, Brandee and Deedee to spoil.

Margaret said that the best part of coming to work each day at Mercy was giving herself the challenge to try to  improve something.  After all those years, the machines are really her second set of children.  She can tell by the sounds and rhythms if the machines are not right.  And in 10 years from now?  You guessed it:  Margaret sees herself still in the laundry because she likes it there and she watches her diet and stays fit ..... and there are still some parts of the facility she can improve.
So her wisdom for the readers:  As you get older, you get more wise.  You get more knowledge about life; imagine if you could go back ten years in your life how much smarter you would have been.  If you get to be old, use your wisdom to help younger people.

Police Rodeo
Saturday was the Annual Police Services Rodeo right across the street on the Parade Grounds.   I knew it was on because the gentleman on the loudspeaker almost blew out the glass on the flat's windows.   There are always lots of people there and some food and beer, so I went over for a few hours.   Now:  you know of the famous Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride?  Well, the Guyana Police force topped it with the Guyanese Mounted Police Musical Chairs.

There was also the usual display of close order marching, police dog obedience and skill maneuvers, gymnastics, hand-to-hand combat and then at dusk there is the horse jumping show when the horses jump through a flaming hoop .....  And one can't forget the ubiquitous motorcycle races.   I did get to see some of my old students with their families out to enjoy the activities -- and I even remembered all their names.

Some PBL... or Rather "Field Trip" - Almost
Still following the old axiom that almost anything is better than teaching; I announced to the students we were going on a field trip...  They were exuberant and wanted to know where and did they have to wear their uniforms?  I said yes, but I would pay transportation .....  We were going to the Radiology Department!   (I was really glad that no one had a gun with them!)  We had talked about lots of Imaging techniques and we wanted them to see them in action as well as see some of the images.   They were shown MRI, CT Scan, Xrays and Ultrasound.   The Radiographer and Radiologist were patient and good teachers... and it took the whole hour.

Radiographer Tijo explains the CT.

Dr. Persaud discusses Ultrasound.

And Finally Christmas Early
Whenever a container arrives from the North, it is almost as intense as watching kids unwrap their presents at Christmas.   It is also "all hands on deck" as much needed items get distributed to the right area.    I think that this particular shipment came from "my"  Guyana Christian Charities Canada.

So much stuff in one container.

Doesn't Dr. Bridgemohan look like the CEO? And in the picture is Mr. Williams and  St Juanita's Daughter, Joannah Ramsammy.



Thanks for reading.

John -- now a proud official member
of the Mercy Student Nurses Association.