Wow i'm in my last week and the 6 months has flown by. I guess that's what happens when you work hard and play hard, but i just feel that i could maybe change a few things here if i were to stay.... Dream on! The reality is that i probably couldn't but many people have been saying nice things to me about my work here. We're hosting a party at my parkhome on Thurs as my farewell, lots of meat, music and Zulu honeys dancing with those great asses...nice!
The contrast here continues with last week the police bringing in a 19yo lady accused of abandoning her baby. The previous day a newborn was brought to the hospital with the placenta still attached, covered in mud having been found in the forest by a passer-by!! The baby amazingly was fine.. Then i was asked to see the accused mother. She initially denied everything, but after peer pressure from the nurses she admitted having given birth alone in the forest the day before! I felt so sorry for the poor girl who seemed very much alone in life, but she was given little sympathy by everyone else. Amazingly she too was completely well (physically, not psychologically) and i discharged her into the care of the SAPS (South African Police Service). Ahh the miracle of birth!!
In complete contrast i played golf last Sunday with a colleague. My swing is still pretty good even after a 2 year absence and i got a par on the first hole - much to my surprise. I gradually got worse from there on! That is a perfect example of life in South Africa, the difference between the haves and the have-nots is so vast it really is inconceivable.
Don't really know how to sum up living and working here, except to say it has been an amazing experience and one that will live with me forever.
Thanks all for reading, i'm sure i'll speak to most of you soon from Melbourne. Australia here i come....
Wednesday 23 January 2008
Tuesday 15 January 2008
Soon to leave
And so my time here is nearly over. As the news filters out in the hospital most people have been saying such nice things to me and sometimes begging me to stay longer. Its difficult to explain to them the ease with which i can move on somewhere else, but its easier for me to comprehend why i can't stay here much longer. Long live the great maroon British passport!!
One friend said to me "why can't all doctors be as much fun as you", its nice to be unique!
I've been looking after the Paediatric ward since New Years and i think this has finally broken me. The african kids are so adorable and beautiful, not very playful and often they die on me. Its heartbreaking and despite all my best efforts a few die every week. I was so angry last week having worked all night on a girl with heart disease, stabilised her and got her transferred to the referral hospital. When the paramedics picked her up she waved goodbye to me and said "bye bye uncle dokotela".. i was so touched. But to my horror she was sent back the same day and then passed away the next day. I was so gutted!
Its heating up here now too and what with no running water life is becoming a real struggle. I honestly cannot wait to hit Melbourne with all its creature comforts there...good coffee, bars, women.. I don't know whether its because i'm leaving (or getting desparate!) but i've noticed more and more beautiful Zulu women here. I really need a girlfriend - yeah thats right the Aussies better beware!
I'll probably post one more before i go - hope everyone is well
One friend said to me "why can't all doctors be as much fun as you", its nice to be unique!
I've been looking after the Paediatric ward since New Years and i think this has finally broken me. The african kids are so adorable and beautiful, not very playful and often they die on me. Its heartbreaking and despite all my best efforts a few die every week. I was so angry last week having worked all night on a girl with heart disease, stabilised her and got her transferred to the referral hospital. When the paramedics picked her up she waved goodbye to me and said "bye bye uncle dokotela".. i was so touched. But to my horror she was sent back the same day and then passed away the next day. I was so gutted!
Its heating up here now too and what with no running water life is becoming a real struggle. I honestly cannot wait to hit Melbourne with all its creature comforts there...good coffee, bars, women.. I don't know whether its because i'm leaving (or getting desparate!) but i've noticed more and more beautiful Zulu women here. I really need a girlfriend - yeah thats right the Aussies better beware!
I'll probably post one more before i go - hope everyone is well
Tuesday 1 January 2008
A New Year
Happy New Year to everyone reading this. I've a feeling i'm going to have an awesome 2008, although 2007 will take some beating. I started the year caning it in Melbourne, holidayed in Koh Phi Phi, went to Liverpool to do a life changing course in Tropical Medicine, a few months living a great life in Brighton before coming out to rural South Africa. Wow - all in 1 year. Dr Bob's life is never dull and long may that continue (although laying down a few roots is a priority for 2008).
So i was "on call" for New Years Eve and Day. Although it was horrific the volume of work wasn't as much as i'd feared. The highlight for me was at 0430 as i stood on the steps to the hospital watching an amazing African sunrise over the mountains. The colours of orange, yellow, red and amazing deep blue sky are so beautiful, like nowhere else on earth. It was like a little oasis during a night of such savage carnage. I saw far too many people in whose hands their fireworks had exploded, and got a great view of a boy's skull from the beating he'd taken. As well as this i'd seen a man who'd shot himself in the head a few days earlier so its been a pretty gruesome few days.
Sorry if this is too much detail for some of you but i'm using this as a personal diary too, and its good to be able to express some of my emotions about all of this.
Its blazing hot today, perfect for sitting with an ice drink and reading in the shade. I've only got 4 weeks left here, in what has been a most amazing, life changing experience.
So i was "on call" for New Years Eve and Day. Although it was horrific the volume of work wasn't as much as i'd feared. The highlight for me was at 0430 as i stood on the steps to the hospital watching an amazing African sunrise over the mountains. The colours of orange, yellow, red and amazing deep blue sky are so beautiful, like nowhere else on earth. It was like a little oasis during a night of such savage carnage. I saw far too many people in whose hands their fireworks had exploded, and got a great view of a boy's skull from the beating he'd taken. As well as this i'd seen a man who'd shot himself in the head a few days earlier so its been a pretty gruesome few days.
Sorry if this is too much detail for some of you but i'm using this as a personal diary too, and its good to be able to express some of my emotions about all of this.
Its blazing hot today, perfect for sitting with an ice drink and reading in the shade. I've only got 4 weeks left here, in what has been a most amazing, life changing experience.
Thursday 27 December 2007
Safari for Christmas
Merry Christmas to you all!! Great news from my old mate Ben that his wife is expecting! That really brought a smile to my face on Christmas Eve and it also reminded me how much i miss all my mates and family at this time of year. Big shout out to everyone....i miss y'all!
Still i didn't do too badly for Christmas: went on a game drive through Imfolozi Park and was lucky to see 3 to 4 leopards feasting on a kill!! Magic.. There was some debate between this hot Saffa chick in a nearby car and myself with my high-beam binoculars as to whether they were leopards or cheetahs. I was more interested in getting her number but she just insisted they were cheetahs and laughed off my advances. They were definately leopards...
We also saw a huge bull Elephant strolling through Mpila Camp and when you're on foot facing one of these badboys they really are impressive. Got some great snaps. With my friends Andy and Yvonne we stayed at Mpila in 2002 but we didn't see half as much as i have this time (AFI - 'another f****** impala'...).
After having stopped to have a braai in the park i proceeded to Durban with a few friends to have sushi, get checked out by some Japanese hookers (i declined their offer) and finish the day with a whisky at Goble Palms B&B - colonial living at its best.
Only a month to go before i depart for Oz, but i'm working New Years Eve in the meantime which is meant to be carnage! Wish me luck..
Still i didn't do too badly for Christmas: went on a game drive through Imfolozi Park and was lucky to see 3 to 4 leopards feasting on a kill!! Magic.. There was some debate between this hot Saffa chick in a nearby car and myself with my high-beam binoculars as to whether they were leopards or cheetahs. I was more interested in getting her number but she just insisted they were cheetahs and laughed off my advances. They were definately leopards...
We also saw a huge bull Elephant strolling through Mpila Camp and when you're on foot facing one of these badboys they really are impressive. Got some great snaps. With my friends Andy and Yvonne we stayed at Mpila in 2002 but we didn't see half as much as i have this time (AFI - 'another f****** impala'...).
After having stopped to have a braai in the park i proceeded to Durban with a few friends to have sushi, get checked out by some Japanese hookers (i declined their offer) and finish the day with a whisky at Goble Palms B&B - colonial living at its best.
Only a month to go before i depart for Oz, but i'm working New Years Eve in the meantime which is meant to be carnage! Wish me luck..
Wednesday 19 December 2007
Zuma from Nkandla
So Jacob Zuma is the new ANC president and likely future South African president next year. He's a Nkandla boy and lives close to the hospital and although i think he's a corrupt chauvanist with some terrible views on HIV prevention the locals love him and feel he is a man-for-the-poor so one can only wait and see what happens.
Speaking of the poor i was summoned to the local magistrate's court today to give evidence in an alleged assault case in which i had examined the victim. It was pretty nerve wracking even though i was only asked simple questions. I can only imagine what it must be like to be properly cross-examined. The defendant decided to conduct his own defence and when asked if he had any questions for me he hesitated then said 'cha' (pronounced with a 'tut' for 'c') which means 'no'!
In my attempt to bring a little bit of festive cheer to the area, as it has been pissing with rain and cold (bit like England), i gave some of my patients a lift to the local taxi rank yesterday. This might sound trivial but i've decided usually not to pick up anyone as the risk of hijacking is so high. I reassured myself that i'd just examined the 13yo girl with a broken leg who was accompanied by her grandmother - so the hijack risk was low! They were standing by the hospital gates in the rain with no umbrella as i was leaving to go to the bank. They were so grateful that i picked them up for the 2 min drive to the rank and it really made my day as it had been pretty depressing up until then. Sometimes its the smallest gestures that bring the most pleasure..
Speaking of the poor i was summoned to the local magistrate's court today to give evidence in an alleged assault case in which i had examined the victim. It was pretty nerve wracking even though i was only asked simple questions. I can only imagine what it must be like to be properly cross-examined. The defendant decided to conduct his own defence and when asked if he had any questions for me he hesitated then said 'cha' (pronounced with a 'tut' for 'c') which means 'no'!
In my attempt to bring a little bit of festive cheer to the area, as it has been pissing with rain and cold (bit like England), i gave some of my patients a lift to the local taxi rank yesterday. This might sound trivial but i've decided usually not to pick up anyone as the risk of hijacking is so high. I reassured myself that i'd just examined the 13yo girl with a broken leg who was accompanied by her grandmother - so the hijack risk was low! They were standing by the hospital gates in the rain with no umbrella as i was leaving to go to the bank. They were so grateful that i picked them up for the 2 min drive to the rank and it really made my day as it had been pretty depressing up until then. Sometimes its the smallest gestures that bring the most pleasure..
Wednesday 12 December 2007
In with the Sharks
Yeah that's right, i went scuba diving with about 50 sharks....and no cage! Correct! It was absolutely insane and easily the scariest thing i have ever done. There were 3 large Tiger Sharks roaming about too - up to 4m in length and potentially very dangerous!! Thankfully they were more interested in the sardine bait than me. But for those of you who don't believe i did it, i have the DVD to prove it (with the image of me looking very seasick at the end!). Awesome!
I realised that i haven't put much on my blog about my work. Its difficult to describe how varied, interesting, relentless any one day can be. Suffice to say that the experience is amazing and so different to how and where i've worked before. Only this week i was looking after a 2yo boy who'd been bitten by a spitting cobra! His arm was terribly swollen and getting worse, but thankfully after a bit of anti-venom and elevating the arm i was able to transfer him to a big referral hospital in Durban (3 hours away) and he is alive and well! I've been in charge of Paediatrics occasionally as well as my usual Emergency work. The Paeds work can be so rewarding but with all the HIV infected kids its also pretty dispiriting. I have this adorable little boy with HIV on the ward who has posed for lots of photos, and i so hope the Anti-Retroviral Therapy works for him. With so many infected the future for South Africa can so often look bleak...i truly hope things change soon as this is a wonderful country. However, i'm not optimistic...
I realised that i haven't put much on my blog about my work. Its difficult to describe how varied, interesting, relentless any one day can be. Suffice to say that the experience is amazing and so different to how and where i've worked before. Only this week i was looking after a 2yo boy who'd been bitten by a spitting cobra! His arm was terribly swollen and getting worse, but thankfully after a bit of anti-venom and elevating the arm i was able to transfer him to a big referral hospital in Durban (3 hours away) and he is alive and well! I've been in charge of Paediatrics occasionally as well as my usual Emergency work. The Paeds work can be so rewarding but with all the HIV infected kids its also pretty dispiriting. I have this adorable little boy with HIV on the ward who has posed for lots of photos, and i so hope the Anti-Retroviral Therapy works for him. With so many infected the future for South Africa can so often look bleak...i truly hope things change soon as this is a wonderful country. However, i'm not optimistic...
Thursday 6 December 2007
2 goals and an Elephant
Just been on safari for a few days with mum and dad at Hluhlwe Game Park in KwaZulu Natal. We stayed at an amazing place called Hilltop Camp where you can see out over the park with water buffalo grazing and birds of prey everywhere. One yellow billed kite tried to swoop and steal mum's rump steak from her plate, but she held on tight! We saw loads of rhino, an elephant, hyenas, porcupine, giraffe etc etc... the big cats were elusive but there aren't many there so it wasn't a real surprise. And tomorrow i'm going on a shark dive on the Aliwal Shoal near Durban (without the folks!!). Likely to be in the water with Tiger Sharks and Black tip sharks, and no cage!! Nuts....
On the way to Hluhlwe i got pulled over by a traffic cop who claimed i was speeding (i confess i was but i didn't immediately admit this). He told me i had to pay a 'cash fine' to which i nearly laughed in his face at how brazen he was being about the bribe. I played dumb, told him i was here working in a rural hospital and miraculously he wandered off after giving me a verbal warning. And to think i was just about to give him R100 cash!
My final bit of news is that i notched 2 goals for the Blue Stars last week at Nkandla stadium in front of maybe 10 supporters (it was pissing with rain). For midweek games our manager gets smashed on whiskey and delivers the teamtalk with a slur. So at half time he put his arm round me, told me to score 2 goals and then took another swig. So i duly obliged... one of which i beat 3 players and then slotted past the keeper. Nice!
On the way to Hluhlwe i got pulled over by a traffic cop who claimed i was speeding (i confess i was but i didn't immediately admit this). He told me i had to pay a 'cash fine' to which i nearly laughed in his face at how brazen he was being about the bribe. I played dumb, told him i was here working in a rural hospital and miraculously he wandered off after giving me a verbal warning. And to think i was just about to give him R100 cash!
My final bit of news is that i notched 2 goals for the Blue Stars last week at Nkandla stadium in front of maybe 10 supporters (it was pissing with rain). For midweek games our manager gets smashed on whiskey and delivers the teamtalk with a slur. So at half time he put his arm round me, told me to score 2 goals and then took another swig. So i duly obliged... one of which i beat 3 players and then slotted past the keeper. Nice!
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