Sheila Goes Ghana 2022

Hump Day Update

Wednesday greetings from Africe to everyone and safe travels to Arizona Cheryl. My only regret about this trip is that I can’t be there with You to support our cherished Uncle Ed and his wonderful family at Aunt Connie’s funeral. I’m going to do my absolute best to stream her service on Fri but regardless, I’ll be sending Love, Support and Comfort to all of You. Please know you will all be in my thoughts and prayers. 🙏💗🙏💗🙏💔🙏💗🙏💗🙏

As for this week, my little friend Grant was able to start Kindergarten on Mon. I went to the school that morning with his Mother to register him. Turns out it is $31.60 per term not per year as his Mom Olivia our local shopkeeper had told Me (she speaks broken English so things can get lost in translation) and there are 3 terms in a school year. So after books/uniform, the cost to sponsor Grant was actually closer to $100/year. Well that $65 difference certainly wasn’t changing my plan to start this boy on a decent educational path…. especially when I realized during the registration process that his mother is illiterate and likely wants better for her son. While we were registering him, I asked her how she spells Grant and she had to ask someone. 😔 I tried to play it cool as not to embarrass her but I was so moved by this interaction. Today on our way to work, she ran over to give us all a big hug- and whispered in my ear, “thank you for everything yesterday”.

Grant’s 1st day of Kindergarten. And just like our kids on their 1st day, he was a bit excited and a bit nervous too. So cute!!
This will be Grant’s K classroom. All of the students and staff were singing a Welcome song. Then they will all disperse to their respective classrooms. The school is a horseshoe-shapped building of repeating classrooms just like this one-rickety wooden benches in a row facing a dry erase board in front. There is a large dirt courtyard in the center.

Big entertainment at clinic today!! It was monthly Infant Vaccination/Weighing day! More supplies were needed so the staff called a company called Zipline (which is absolutely nothing like a zipline in our country) and 10 min later, a 5′ wide drone flew over and dropped the supplies via parachute in our lot. Brilliant solution for this remote clinic!!!

Vida went out to retrieve the goods!

The only thing more exciting than the drone today was that our cook Mary has an 11mo daughter that was one of the babies in the crowd today! I spotted the babysitter Grace (Mary’s niece) sitting with all of the Mom’s and babies in clinic, looked down in her lap and there was our little Nataki!! This beautiful baby often comes to work with her mother and crawls around our place, laughing and entertaining us. She is one of the happiest babies I’ve ever met. I just love her!!

Wait for it…..
And there is Nataki’s infectious giggle🤣

Now on the other end of the age spectrum, we had a few elderly women who were struggling with symptoms from illnesses such as Malaria, Typhoid, worms etc … so enough playing with babies and back to work we go because these women needed IV fluids and medication.

Yes I’m wearing gloves even though every time we put them on, the medical staff laughs at us. Have I mentioned how different we practice medicine at home? (I would have added a winky face here to emphasize the sarcasm in that comment but the differences can be downright sad/scary here at times).

Haven’t looked at a datebook nor calendar in weeks so completely missed Labor Day weekend! (Now that’s a lifetime first) Hoping you all had an enjoyable Holiday Weekend to cap your summers. 🇺🇲🌅🇬🇭 We’ll make up for that this weekend though when our group travels to the Cape Coast for a long weekend of sight-seeing.

Big Love to you all.💗💗💗 Sheila

Sheila O

18 responses to “Hump Day Update”

  1. Hi Sheila! First of all, I’m sorry to hear about your Aunt’s passing. Prayers for your family and, boy, I’m pretty sure they know where your heart is and how proud they are of you!

    I’m really enjoying reading all your posts and the pictures are just an added bonus! You are in your element, my friend, I probably said that before, but we can all see it and hear it as you tell us your story. Looks like you had a good day! Hooray for your little buddy Grant and baby Natika is so dang cute!! You are making such a difference! Thank you again for sharing it ALL! I’m glad you get to enjoy your weekends and see the sights. We all miss you but all we can do is imagine we are right there with you and you know we all are in spirit! Much love and big hugs from all the most Italian and alittle Irish Gillespie’s!! xxxoooo

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  2. Thank you Deb and babes!!💗 I absolutely love that you are all here with me! Big Irish, French and now African love right back to You. 🤗
    Please drop Me an email so that I know how you, big Mike and the girls are doing with Michael off to UMass. Sounds like he is thriving, so glad for him!!…. but that’s a big family change for the Italian Mother💗

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  3. Hi Sheila
    I’m sorry for your aunt’s passing hope the streaming can work for you to be with family at the service.

    What a great entry about your day! I’m going to get my daughter to help me with the Venmo thing so I can sponsor a child too- so special❤️The drone drop supplies is amazing- your video was cool. I agree, the little one is adorable🥰
    I loved the picture of nurse Sheila too- you look so … professional!
    Sounds like a fun weekend adventure of travel and sight-seeing. I’ll look forward to hearing all about it in your next post.
    Sending you a big hug and a heart- felt thank you for all the work you are doing.❤️Rachel

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  4. Sorry about your aunt. I am sure everyone knows you are there in spirit.
    Grant is a cutie. Honestly these people have so little and are so grateful for anything it hurts your heart. They so need you and the people you are with.
    FYI , Dick and i are in York Beach , Maine for the week. We were in Kennebunport snd Kennebunk yesterday snd will be there Mon also. So if you need me to do anything let me know. We are seeing the Demers in Portsmouth Sunday. Just a little home info.

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  5. Hi Betty-thanks for that taste of home. How fun!
    So IF you are anywhere near the high school, I’d love a pic of the 2 new houses going in to the left of my old house (15 Longwood Dr).
    Sadly, don’t tell the neighbors who you are…. when I sold the house, I subdivided the land and sold those two lots too. I had offered all of the abutters first purchase rights for the lots to protect their privacy.. but they didn’t want “my wet land” so instead took Me to the planning board to shut my plan down. Well, I guess you can tell that didn’t work out so well for them seeing that I’m asking for a picture of those two houses🤷‍♀️😇

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  7. P.s. speaking of hurting your heart… yesterday when we were out in the rain on our motorcycles doing wound care in the farmlands, we were flagged down and asked to help a patient. We went into her hut to find an elderly women lying on the cement floor in the dark. The smell was overwhelming. When they opened the shutters and took the scarf off her leg, I saw the bones literally sticking out of her shin!!! She was hit by a motorcycle A WEEK AGO, taken to local hospital, advised to seek care at a large Ortho hospital 3hrs away…so it appears to Me that since they have no money, they brought her home to die!! 💔 My guess is that she hasn’t died this week (but my God she is suffering) so they panicked and asked our wound care team to help her. This woman needs a serious Ortho surgery (if it’s not already too late since her bones and tissue have been open to air and infection has set in). I’ve been on the phone for the last 12hrs trying to get thru to Ortho surgeon’s in case they have s free volunteer surgical programn… but to no avail b/c they don’t have surgeons on call and they dont answer the phone at these hospitals. I will keep trying today but it is not looking good fit this lady. Absolutely heartbreaking.🙏

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  9. Couldn’t agree more!! We usually sing and laugh on the motorcycles as we drive home. It was a VERY somber drive last night.
    She has a nephew and a (poor) village but they kept saying “we can’t afford this, she is bringing us stress because we can’t afford her care” (hence my theory that I think they hoped she world die earlier this week-they aren’t bad people, they are desperate.
    I’ve asked them to give her pain medication, bites of food and sips of water until I can reach a surgeon but God only knows what they will or won’t do for her once we left. 💔

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  10. I might be able to scrape together the several thousand American dollars it would cost for her surgery…but like I said earlier, I think it is too late for her after this wound being in this condition for a week. If only I could get a surgeon on the phone to confirm this. Will keep trying.

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  11. Hi Shiels (a/k/a Wonder Woman), the work you are doing is amazing and your storytelling fascinating. Sounds like you’ve acclimated to your new way of life and are making a huge difference in the lives of your patients, co-workers and adorable Grant. So proud of you my friend. I hope you were able to enjoy your trip to the coast and recharge your battery. Xo

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  13. Hi Shiels, free to chat now. When will you be back in Kennebunk? I’ll be there next weekend with Erin.

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  14. Hi Annie!!! Wow, you are fast. Thanks for the reply. ❤️
    I will be back in the States on Feb 1st!! Are you and Erin going to Kbunk to get “my house” ready for Me”? 🤣 Have fun ladies!

    So I’m sure you know by now that Guido’s Dad died yesterday. She and I have been chatting💔 Obviously I will be missing his services. Ugh
    Will you please give her a VERY BIG sympathy hug for Me?

    I’m really looking forward to squeezing y’all soon.
    Xoxo
    Sheila

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  15. My heat breaks for our girl and her family. They are all so close. I will definitely give her a big squeeze from you. She will know you are there in spirit.

    Girl’s wknd for us in ME. Lmk if supplies are needed for the Queen’s return. Happy to get anything you need while I’m there. Will be good to have you back in the States with us. Xoxo Annie

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  16. Yes, definitely heartbreaking for the D’s. Thanks for being my arms that day🤗. Could you please let Me know when his services will be held so I can send extra love that day?

    Have a wonderful time in Maine with Erin and the ladies! Big hugs to her and you too Annie.

    As for supplies: large bag of Starbucks French Roast, 2 bags of Lindt chocolates, 1 bottle Tanguray, 1 bottle tonic water, fresh limes, tierra….and a warm, kind, single 50 something yo American man waiting upstairs😘…. thanks, that’s all!

    Looking forward to seeing you soon my friend…perhaps at Sunday River?
    Xoxo Sheila

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  17. Hahaha! That’s quite a list! I’ll rally the girls for a rowdy Kennebunk pubcrawl to find your fella. Erin probably knows everyone by now.

    Will keep you posted on services. Nothing yet.

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  18. Oh no please, I know all the men in Kbunk, I’ve lived there for 26 years before Erin arrived! I meant please bring in an out-of-towner!!🤣😇

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