780 Births

There’s a good chance I won’t get a free moment for a while, so here’s taking advantage of it. I’m sitting in the “computer room” in Accra at the Peace Corps HQ (headquarters). The room is air-conditioned and I’m a little chilly even in my jeans and t-shirt. I have a free moment because of the wonderful health care that I’m receiving here in Ghana. Last night I had a twingy eye pain and thought it was maybe just some dust/dirt in my contacts. After a night of not sleeping too much due to eye pain I awoke in much more pain. It felt like something was in my eye, but couldn’t see anything with much probing. Eventually I called the PCMO (peace corps medical officer) who wanted me to come to the capital if I couldn’t find the supposed foreign object. I, along with others, could not see/find anything, so down I came, most fortunately with some Peace Corps staff who were already planning a trip down. The PCMO looked in my eye, didn’t see anything so I went to an optometrist. I was driven there and within 5 minutes of entering the office was getting an eye exam. They were as startled as any optometrist I’ve ever been to, to see how badly near-sighted I am. After putting some numbing drops in my eyes and a stain it was obvious that I had a corneal abrasion upon inspection. It looks “okay” to him, but just to be safe I’m staying in Accra at the medical unit overnight. I’ll be taking some eye drops for the next week and all should heal on its own. I’ve probably been a little too careless with my contacts these past few weeks while traveling and living out of bags, so lesson learned. I’ll probably stick to glasses for the rest of training.

It was really good to be back in my home stay community and to see Momma Rose and Kris. We’ve had our favorite meal the last two evenings as well as pineapple, it seems as though we were also missed. Yesterday I painted my toenails, red. It was perhaps the most normal I’ve felt since arriving in Ghana. I had packed away the nail polish and left it at site for when we get there in the middle of August, Kris was nice enough to dig through my stuff and bring it down for me. What a good husband I have.

Yesterday afternoon I was able to work on my PPP (Personal Project Presentation) which included interviewing a local TBA (Traditional Birth Attendant)—Since I’m part of the government I’ve decided to use acronyms as much as they do (this is not actually possible), though I’ll give you the spelled out explanation of what I’m talking about. She’s an 88-year-old woman who in the last 40 years has assisted/birthed 780 babies (she's had 7 infants die/still born and one mother, pretty good stats). So far this month she’s had 10, and I hope I’ll be around for the next one. When I first met her she used the only English she knew to thank me profusely for coming, she was given no warning. She also had a small boy translate to me that she wanted me to stay for 3 months so that I could replace her/learn everything she knows. Upon interviewing her yesterday I learned that she was serious about this proposition, as she has no one to replace her; everyone in her family is scared about the idea. There is no TBA like her in the community… what’s going to happen to all of the babies to come? This lady melts my heart and boggles my mind when I think about all of the lives she’s touched. She’s delivered 3 generations now, grandchildren of babies she’s delivered. She’s extremely religious; the first thing she does for the mother and unborn baby when they enter her humble “clinic” is to pray for them. “I ask God to protect the mother while she brings his creation into the world.” “I ask him to help his child to enter the world safely.” When I was thanking her for sharing her life and work with me for my presentation she stated that the next time I came I should bring a gift (of course I forgot). I told her I would go bring her a mineral right now, so I brought her back her requested Guinness Malta (non-alcoholic), she prayed over it before pouring it and offering to share it with me. I hope to work with similar people in the community I will come to call home for the next 2 years. (the above photo is one I took of Veronica-the TBA)

I just got back from eating pizza in DT Accra with some current PCVs. I’m spending the night in the sick bay in my own bed complete with SHEETS(!!) and mosquito net. The room has electricity and it’s own air conditioner (!!). After I finish this post I’m going to take a HOT (!!) SHOWER (!!) in the sick bay’s private bathroom. Getting a corneal abrasion has more perks than I thought! Just kidding, I won’t be throwing sand into my eyes and rubbing them vigorously anytime soon.

I have a request to ask of those who are reading along. Do you have any questions for me/us? I feel as though there’s a good chance I’m boring you all to tears while you have questions and wonders about something specific that we’re encountering. Please feel free to comment with questions and/or topic suggestions.

Love and miss you all.