Life goes on….but will never be the same

     If you’re receiving/reading this blog post, it means that you played some role in enabling me to live and work here in Mtatha, South Africa for the past three months.  My time has come to an end and I cannot begin to explain what a life changing experience this has been for me and how grateful I am for your continuous love, prayers, and support throughout.

     I know I’ve mentioned before that when I first arrived, another volunteer had given me the sound advice of, “don’t come here expecting to change things because you’ll leave disappointed.”  I quickly understood what she meant by that as this is a culture which has operated a certain way for years and to change the way one person thinks, responds, acts to situations is profound but to change the way an entire culture thinks?  That will take the work and will of MANY and much more time.  I have faced several obstacles and challenges along the way trying to improve how physical therapy is administered in order to make their system more efficient, and I have met resistance to change.  And as much as I’ve pondered the reasons, the bottom line is South Africa is a unique country with a unique culture of its own and if it does not emulate America, that’s OK.  I have tried to lead by example and offer a helping hand (or hands), but my way is by no means the only way and for that matter, not necessarily the best way.  I am more aware of that now, and amidst the frustrations, I have grown a deep respect for South Africans as well.  I have taken part in their traditions, learned about their culture, and broadened my own mind.  I have in my time here met some incredible people and have made wonderful friends, and have memories to cherish forever.  I will miss them dearly.  So have I changed things?  No.  But I have come to share a different opinion now three months later of whether one person is capable of making a difference.  And will I leave disappointed?  Definitely not!

     Last month, I treated a boy who had developed a deformity on his right foot from an injury sustained several years prior that had gone untreated.  Due to this deformity, the boy’s foot was misshapen and he was unable to wear shoes, walked with a limp, and could not run and keep up with the other boys his age.  I set up an appointment with an orthotist after several weeks of aggressive stretching, and had him fitted for a special orthotic that could help correct the deformity and allow him to bear weight on his right foot.  I came in the next morning and he came running full speed up to me tugging on my shirt with the biggest grin I had ever seen pointing to his feet.  He was wearing his first pair of custom fit shoes and was walking AND running.

     One three year old girl who was admitted to the hospital with tuberculosis of the spine laid still in her crib because the TB had affected her trunk stability, sitting balance and she was now unable to walk.  I added her to my caseload unsure of the progress we would be able to make but I thought it was worth a shot.  She was discharged home 2 months later able to sit, stand, and even walk with NO assistance.  I had come to say goodbye when her grandmother had arrived to take her home and when I put her down and had her walk, the grandmother’s eyes welled with tears.  The little girl reached her arms out for me and cried when I handed her back to the grandmother after saying goodbye. 

     Pumeza, another little angel, and the child I have devoted the most time to has made miraculous improvement.  When first arriving, she was the quiet child in the corner hospital bed with an expressionless face who had been severely burned and abused by her own parents and then abandoned.  After stretching her hips, knees and ankles, she would tear up and cry at first.  But quickly she came to know my face and trust what I was doing.  One day, as I was stretching her, she just blurted out “hi-five” and I looked over as she was holding her tiny little hand in the air and smiling.  She now can also say, “hello Joy,” count to ten in english on her fingers, and sings and plays patty cake.  She has not cried in close to a month now from therapy, in fact, she throws her little head back and laughs her head off every time I come work with her.  The attention outweighs the pain I guess.  She can now independently roll herself in bed from her belly to her back and vice versa, sit up and hold herself upright for a brief period, and can wheel herself around in the wheelchair as well as tolerate sitting for up to 3 hours.  A couple weeks ago, I asked a North American volunteer doctor to come assess her with me and when I was leaving, she grabbed my hand with both of hers and wouldn’t let go.  I have spoke with two social workers at different orphanages to make a long term plan for her but have faced frustrations there as well.  Some don’t want to put the work forth to get her moved or it seems she’s either too young, too old, or wrong diagnosis for the other facilities.  It is breaking my heart the thought of leaving her behind not knowing what her outcome will be.  But I know she is a happier child knowing somebody loves her. 

     So no, I have not changed the way people here think, I don’t know if I’ve motivated them to do their job with more compassion, but if I have made a difference in the life of one child, just ONE child, given them hope for a better future, given them function back, allowed them to trust or love someone, then my job here was a success.  I have witnessed small miracles in these children and for that, this entire experience has been well worth it. 

     I have compiled a list below of some of the things I have been able to contribute and accomplish over my time here with YOUR support.  Your contributions have made this all possible and I hope you will see as I have that together we have made a difference!  Thank you again from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

 

•   Treatment of over 200 paediatric patients

•   Helped run a clubfoot clinic to manipulate/cast/brace babies’ clubfoot deformity

•   Sponsored mothers of clubfoot babies by funding taxi money for those traveling far distances for treatment

•   Purchased therapy and play supplies for the pediatrics ward

•   Equipment/supplies donated to outpatient clinic at Bedford Hospital

•   Helped coach a 10-14 yr old boys’ soccer team and purchased uniforms for the team to allow them to play in a local league

•   Donated soccer balls to several different soccer teams

•   Taught inservice lectures to local physical therapists and assistants

 

                                                   ENKOSI!!  (Thank you in Xhosa)

 

 We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.

~Marian Wright Edelman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Day in the life of a Xhosa Woman

Hi everyone!  It has been way too long since I’ve written and I apologize.  I really had intentions of sending more updates regularly but it is quite hard to organize posting a simple email in South Africa.  From organizing use of the volunteer car for transportation, downloading pictures on someone’s computer, waiting an hour at the internet cafe for the pictures to upload onto the site, that’s if internet is working period, etc.  And as time passes (quickly at that), I have found myself busier than ever with work, and other exciting projects I’ve become involved with here.  Be on the lookout for one more post before I leave and I will post all my pictures when I return to the states.  Only a three weeks left!  It will be bittersweet…. 

      A few weeks ago, I did have the pleasure of travelling to a village a few hours from Umtata called Bulungula for a weekend stay and I wanted to share the amazing experience I had there…..

     The backpackers facility (South African name for hostel) sits on the edge of the Xora river mouth on the wild coast, 50km off any paved road and only reached by foot or very sturdy 4×4 truck.  It was started by a South African named Dave Martin whose goal was to build an eco-friendly, community based business that gave back to the surrounding village.  So Bulungula Backpackers is 40% owned by the local Xhosa community who run tours like canoeing, fishing, horse riding, and a “woman power” tour where you live a day in the life of a Xhosa woman.  I decided I could canoe or ride a horse in a lot of places but I can’t experience life as a Xhosa African woman anywhere!  So I opted for the challenge and that’s exactly what I got.  I’ve included some pictures from my day of hard work!  But here is a recap of what it entailed….

·        Early Saturday morning I met Nomisale, a 24 year old girl who has lived in the Bulungula village all her life and who is in charge of the tour.  At 8:30, we started out our day by hiking from the coast, over and through the hills to her house.  As we walk, she tells me the population of her village is 856 people but there are only 92 houses.  You do the math.  When we arrived at her house, I met her mother who was hoeing in the garden, her 2 sisters, 1 brother, her sister’s two children and her own child, a 3 year old named Sonny boy.  She actually has 8 brothers and sisters!  She first showed me around their land including the room where her, her son, her sister and sister’s two children ALL slept.  It fit only 2 beds, and a small plastic bin they were using as a dresser.  A plastic bag duck taped to the wall was being used over the window to keep bugs and wind out.

·        We started our day by going to the woods to fetch wood for the wood burning stove they use for cooking as well as heat and light because they have no electricity.  I fought through the bush and gathered my bundle and was so pround of my pile until Nomisale emerged with her MUCH larger bundle of wood!  Once returning to drop off the wood, we turned back around down the hill to the pond where we collected water in plastic bins.  These women are incredible and are able to carry buckets equivalent to 5 gallons on their head and balance and walk with it!  They take multi-tasking to a whole new level.  I was given a much smaller bucket and still couldn’t walk without using my hands for balance.     

·        Before heading back outside, she painted our faces with white rock, a stone they wet with water, then rub with a second stone and smear onto their faces to avoid sun exposure or burn.  A homemade sunscreen of sorts!  It was then off to make mud bricks used to build the traditional rondavel houses.  Her family built their own house.  They use a mixture of cow dung and water to line a rectangular metal tin, and this helps the mud conform and stay together better.  They then pour water into the soil, till it to mix and then fill the tin with the mud.  It takes approximately 2,000 bricks to build one rondavel so you can imagine the labor involved.    

·        Then it was time to prepare the meal.  Corn is one of their main crops and grows really well here.  It is therefore a staple food in traditional Xhosa cooking.  Once the corn or maize is picked and dried, the kernels are put on a rock slab and crushed by hand.  These are then put into a pot with beans and cooked.  This meal is their common lunch called sempe and beans or in Xhosa, “gnosh.”  After lunch, hand washed laundry was done and hung on the lines to dry.  We finished up and hiked back to the backpackers around 3:00 and I was SO tired!

      Now imagine doing this routine every day of your life!  I have gained a new respect  and understanding for the culture, the traditions, the lifestyle of the Xhosa woman.  My time here in South Africa has humbled me on a regular basis and this experience was no different.  I am continually reminded of the conveniences and pleasures I have the opportunity to experience daily in America.  Yet I continue to learn and grow from the people here. 

“People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live.  You encourage people by seeing good in them”              ~Nelson Mandela

A Picture is worth a thousand words…

Molwene!  (Hello to everyone)

      I won’t pretend I’ve learned Xhosa, this language is EXTREMELY difficult to speak and understand because of the clicks, so I have to show off and throw in one of my 20 vocabulary words in the blog!  Haha. 

      Things are going well here in South Africa.  I can’t believe I’ve already been here over a month!  Time seems to be flying, as I expected, so I’m trying to enjoy every moment.  And most have been just that: enjoyable, memorable, and rewarding.  Well….maybe not every moment has been enjoyable.  I got tick bite fever last Friday and I was sick for 4 days with a 102 fever, chills, body aches, and migraines.  I must say, that has been my least favorite experience so far.  Imagine that!  I have fully recovered now and am feeling much better.  There is a saying a lot of the volunteers and doctors use around here abbreviated T.A.B. That’s Africa Baby!  I have now adopted it as well. 

      I have finally figured out how to get some pictures to you all so I’ve copied them here.  There are so many wonderful ones of the children but I had to just pick a few favorites.   I hope you enjoy!! 

Picture descriptions: 

• The first two are of two of my clubfoot babies and their Mom.  The one wrapped in the towel (the traditional way of carrying children here because no one owns a stroller or baby bjorn so they made their own invention) is the patient I got to assist with the tenotomy on.  The other is a severe bilateral clubfoot baby we’re currently treating.
• The round houses are called “rondavels” which is the traditional Xhosa house.  They cover the green hills for miles and miles!  It’s a beautiful site.  They are made of brick and clay and they only paint one side typically, the side that gets the rain is left unpainted b/c the paint is not water proof so they don’t bother!  Funny.  The color is traditional, been used for years, and is supposed to bring good luck. 
• The picture of me standing on the edge of the cliff is the famous Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.  I walked six miles on this hike to a rock formation in the middle of the ocean called “hole in the wall.”  Self explanatory but I’ll show pictures when I return.
• Twice a week, more if weather permits, I take my patients and other children outside for play time!  I bought balls, bubbles, hula hoops, you name it, to entertain them and they LOVE it.  They all know how to say in English now, “play ball?”  This is a picture of some of them with me.
• The one with the beautiful smile and hand on her chin is Nomhle, a patient of mine with TB of the spine.  She has been in the hospital since I got here but always smiles and loves to be held. 
• Walking in the way too big for her walker is Potsana, who has osteogenesis imperfecta.  She’s been in casts for SO long due to contractures that formed from no one doing therapy with her.  She is not only walking but has since had the casts removed, trained in calipers and is now walking with the walker and nothing on her legs AND no pain!  She’s come a long way and will be going home next week.  Yeah for her, sad for me. 
• The last one is my little angel, Pumeza, who I talked about last post.  I have a lot of pictures of her little body and the condition she’s in but I will spare you those sites.  She is making progress slowly but surely with her burns and contractures but has made HUGE progress emotionally and mentally.  She can now say, “Hello Joy” and waves at me every time I pass by her bed.  She is tolerating wheelchair sitting now so I am taking her to the little school they have on grounds for a couple hours a day and I think she really enjoys it.  She smiles every time I see her. 

Happy Easter!

    Happy Easter to you all!  I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing weekend with family and friends.  I had to settle for the next best thing to my own family and friends….new foreign friends!  I had quite an enjoyable Easter myself.  A friend I’ve met here invited me to spend the holiday at the coast with 6 of her other friends.  Her one friend owns this cottage right on the ocean, it was beautiful.  So I was actually very spoiled, laid out on the beach and worked on my South African tan, read an entire book, went on a few hikes, swam in the Indian ocean, and played board games!  What more could a girl ask for? 

      I hope this update finds you all doing well.  Things are plugging along here in South Africa….a new adventure, new experience every day.  I must say, there is hardly a dull moment! 

     I have gotten more settled in with my job, learning quickly how to adapt to a much different culture, work ethic, managing structure, etc.  I am working in the pediatrics ward mainly and am the only physical therapist as of now.  I do have a South African physical therapist assistant working with me but she seems to take a lot of vacation since I’ve arrived.  On Tuesdays, I run an outpatient clubfoot clinic with a former physical therapy volunteer from Germany named Astred who never returned home after her experience here 6 years ago! (no worries, I’m still planning on returning home)  She has taught me a lot and we’ve become good friends.  We treat all clubfoot babies on Tuesday who travel in for treatment from as far as 15 hours away.  These are dedicated Moms!  I have learned the Ponsetti Method for serial casting and splinting and am really enjoying seeing the progress these babies have made so far.  I leave work almost every Tuesday with a headache from all the crying but it’s so worthwhile when these children are able to stand and walk on their own and their deformity has diminished!  I have also gotten to scrub in and assist in several of my own patient’s surgeries with the orthopedic surgeons which has been an amazing experience as well.  I held the fractured femur of one of my little boys in my hands and helped suture him back up, assisted with two achilles tenotomies for our clubfoot babies, and watched a closed reduction/manipulation of a wrist dislocation.  OK, so maybe I’m boring everyone now except for my coworkers but you get the idea.  Cool stuff! 

     I am falling in love quickly and easily with my patients here.  I have taken to one in particular named Pumeza, a 7 year old girl who was severely abused.  She was admitted nearly a year ago to the hospital with severe burns, deformed limbs, contractures so bad she was curled in a ball and an emaciated little body who barely spoke.  When I first arrived and added her to my caseload, she would lie on her stomach with a glossed over look on her face and never smiled.  In the last few weeks, the transformation has been amazing!  Now she lights up when I enter the room, she laughs all the time, even when I’m stretching her and causing pain (I use tickling for distraction and it works wonders).  And I had a huge breakthrough with her last Thursday when she started speaking English to me!!!  I couldn’t believe it, just like that, started repeating words I would say to her.  Her favorite is “hi-five.”  She is an inspiration to me.  At such a young age she has already experienced so much pain, suffering and hardship and yet she is still able to smile, laugh and continues to grow.  She has made me smile here as well.  J

       Another volunteer who has been here once before said to me, “Don’t come into this experience expecting to change things because you’ll leave disappointed.” Sometimes I feel like I’ve done nothing productive and have been frustrated with how much difference I am actually making.  Isn’t that why I came?  I have become so much more aware of the problems that lie in this government, the politics, healthcare system or lack thereof, and how that has dictated the way these people live their lives.  These are issues on a much grander scale and changes that are much bigger than what I’m capable of changing obviously.  But I will continue to treat these children, do my job, and most importantly perhaps now I’ve realized: I will try to continue to make them smile every day.

 I miss you all and will write again soon. 

Much love,

      Joy

First Days in South Africa

Hello everyone!

     I just wanted to let you all know I’ve arrived safely in Mthatha, South Africa.  The trip here went very smooth, no major problems.  I arrived in site Friday morning and immediately went to work! 

     Part of African Medical Mission’s cause is a project called the Itipini project, which is a small community on the outskirts of the village where extreme poverty exists, probably some of the worst in the entire country of South Africa.  They live in shacks built with pieces of scrap metal and tarps as roofs with rocks to hold it in place.  The hospital administator was out on Friday so I was taken here to help out for the day and what a sight.  I’ve never witnessed such horrible living conditions.  When we pulled up, I was surrounded by barefoot, hungry children.  What AMM’s mission here is is to provide free healthcare to mothers, children in the community and provide education to those who have no other means of receiving it.  They have built a free clinic as well as a preschool for the children and AMM provides lunch and snacks to the kids as well as free medications to HUNDREDS of HIV+ mothers, children, patients with tuberculosis, etc.  I treated several wounds from simple lacerations on children from not wearing any shoes to diabetic ulcers that have been present for months because they have such poor nutrition and healing is drastically delayed.  It was quite an eye opener for a first day, I must say. 

     I started my job at the hospital yesterday and it was both inspiring and frustrating all in one.  The culture is very different here and it will take getting used to.  People are very slow to work, and the entire system is very unorganized.  I will be working in the pediatrics ward for at least the first month as well as running an outpatient clinic on Tuesdays to strictly treat clubfoot deformity in babies.  I have seen such shocking and horrible situations in just the first two days but it is a good feeling to know I have a place here and feel like I will be able to help a great deal.  I have already seen a lot of abuse cases, several femur fractures due to a high incidence of motor vehicle accidents, tuberculosis of the spine causing paraplegia if not treated quick enough, cerebral palsy, just to name a few.  The children are adorable and it’s so easy to make them smile.  Their courage and hope is SO inspiring to me! 

     As far as I’m concerned, I’m doing well.  I miss the states a bit, not gonna lie.    But I’m trying to adjust to the culture as quickly as possible.  I’m going to try and take lessons to learn the native language Xsosa, which is a click language.  We’ll see how that goes.  My living conditions are better than I even expected, a small brick house with electricity and running water.  Although the water didn’t work on Sunday and the electricity went out last night due to a terrible thunderstorm.  I have a small kitchen so I’ve been cooking all my meals trying to avoid getting sick.  I eat a lot of peanut butter, yogurt, fruits and veggies so far!  No meat yet, but I may get daring in the near future.  I got to go for my first run this morning, did 4 miles and it felt great.  The roads are not safe and another volunteer was actually attacked last year so I will only go when I have someone to run with.  The other volunteers are already laughing at me because the first question I ask is “do you like to run?”  I’ve been having some shoulder pain, a bit of tendonitis and impingement but nothing some anti-inflammatories and a good physical therapist can’t fix!  There are currently 3 other volunteers here and they are American and German.  The doctors are almost all foreign: Italian, Cuban, American, etc.  Everyone is very friendly and we have our first volunteer dinner all together tomorrow night.      

     I will try to send pictures and updates as I can.  Internet access is expensive and difficult to get to, but I will keep the stories coming.  Thank you to all of you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.  I am very grateful to be here and hope my presence will have an impact.  I hope you are all doing well in the states and I look forward to hearing from you all soon!

Salani Kakuhle!  (goodbye in Xsosa)

                        Joy

    

Off to South Africa!

Well, the time has finally come!  It seems like just yesterday I was contemplating the idea of volunteering in South Africa and I remember thinking I had all the time in the world to prepare for this journey.  The time has come…..six months later and I am READY!  My flight leaves tomorrow, March 5 and I return to the States on May 30.  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for safe travels and a safe return home! 

Fundraising update:  the silent auction was a HUGE success!  There was quite a turnout and I was able to raise over $2,500!  A special thanks to Carol and Brian Phipps who allowed me to host the event at their house and my gratitude to my friend Al who catered all the food.  I have now not only reached but exceeded my goal of $7,000!  With the extra money raised, I have been able to buy extra medical supplies and therapy equipment to take over with me and will be able to give a larger donation directly to African Medical Mission as well. 

From the bottom of my heart, I cannot begin to thank all of you who have been so supportive and loving through this entire process.  It is so humbling to know those surrounding me are willing to open their hearts (and wallets) to support me and my efforts.  I know so many will be blessed from your donations and what your money is able to provide for them.  So again, THANK YOU to my friends and family!!!  You have made this mission possible and I promise not to let you down!

I apologize for not sending out thank you notes to everyone.  I had good intentions to mail them before leaving but preparation for this trip has taken all my spare time.  I know it will be late, but I will be sending you all something when I return.    

I will continue to post as often as possible throughout my service in South Africa to update you all on what and how I’m doing so please stay tuned…….

Much love and gratitude,

               Joy 

*Below is my address in South Africa for those who have asked for it:  

                                              Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital    

                                              Joy Doner                                         

                                              C/O Jenny McConnachie

                                              Private Bag X5014

                                              Mthatha Eastern Cape 5100

                                              South Africa

THANK YOU!

 URGENT: I will be booking my flight this coming week and I am going to use my points from my Bank of America Worldpoints credit card to put towards the ticket.  If anyone has a Worldpoints credit card and would like to donate points to me, you can easily transfer them.  Let me know if you’re interested ASAP by email as I’m booking the ticket soon.  This is just another alternative to donating without having to give a monetary donation.  Every little bit helps!   

 I would like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all who have donated so far to this worthy cause!  I am overwhelmed and touched by how gracious friends and family have been and continue to be through this process.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I could not serve without your help.  Together, we can accomplish great things!  Only 2 more months until I leave and the countdown is on….. 

Last post, I included several shocking statistics regarding the Transkei region of South Africa where I will be serving.  I think they may have gotten overlooked at the bottom, so I wanted to include them again.  Also, below is a link to a british site, World Orthopaedic Concern UK, which promotes orthopaedic education in developing countries.  You can go directly to real cases of people treated at Bedford Hospital in Umtata, South Africa where I will be working and serving.  Check it out, very sad but REAL.

• In the US, the ratio of orthopedic doctors to patients is approximately 1:15,000-20,000
• In the Transkei region, that ratio is 1:3 million
• The average American hospital draws anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 patients from a surrounding community
• Bedford Hospital where I will be working serves a surrounding community of 4 million people
• The most common illnesses seen in South Africa are rarely seen in industrialized nations like the US: tuberculosis of the spine, polio, clubbed feet, and several other congenital diseases
• In Umtata alone, at least 50% or 700 out of 1,400 people at the local hospital tested for the HIV virus were found to have the deadly disease
• Volunteer professionals such as PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, general surgeons and social workers are NOT provided by the government

 *World Orthopaedic Concern, UK:  http://www.wocuk.org/bedford_orthopaedic_hospital_2.htm

FUNDRAISING UPDATE:

I will be hosting a dinner party and silent auction on February 8th as my last big fundraising event.  To all in the greater Charlotte area, you will be receiving an invitation by next week with more details.  I look forward to seeing all who are able to come.  It is sure to be a good time!

                  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  I hope 2008 is a great year for everyone.

Running with a purpose

The half marathon was this past Saturday and it went very well!!  I finished 13.1 miles in 1:59:10, just under 2 hours, which is my best time ever!!  I think running with a purpose and for a cause makes all the difference.  I escaped with only minor aches and pains as well, which was a relief.  My training partner, Leigh did very well also for her first half marathon.  What a trooper.

I had a great time running and had great friends to support me! Erin came down from Raleigh, NC and was a huge support along the race route. Thanks Erin!!!

My good friend Meg was so sweet and although she couldn’t be here in Charlotte for race day, she sent me a great care package containing a shirt that sported “joy for africa” on the front.  I wore it proudly on race day and I think it brought me good luck!  Thanks so much, Meg!  (the print faded so she doctored up this picture a bit…you get the idea though I’m sure)

Fundraising is going well and I have raised just over $1,000 now.  YEAH!!!  I want to thank all of you who have generously donated towards my efforts so far.  My volunteering would not be possible without your help.  I cannot do this alone.

As you can see, I’m still a long way off from my goal.  It’s not too late if you would still like to sponsor me through the miles I ran for the half marathon and training or just make a general donation.  Remember, it’s tax deductible and the end of the year is around the corner….I also realize it’s the holidays and money can be tight.  If it’s more feasible for people to donate after the holiday season, I understand completely. 

Here are a few facts I would like to share with you all about the Transkei region in South Africa where I will be volunteering.  Pretty shocking and eye opening to how much in need these people really are of basic healthcare provisions and beyond.  I can’t wait to help!

• In the US, the ratio of orthopedic doctors to patients is approximately 1:15,000-20,000
• In the Transkei region, that ratio is 1:3 million
• The average American hospital draws anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 patients from a surrounding community
• Bedford Hospital where I will be working serves a surrounding community of 4 million people
• The most common illnesses seen in South Africa are rarely seen in industrialized nations like the US: tuberculosis of the spine, polio, clubbed feet, and several other congenital diseases
• In Umtata alone, at least 50% or 700 out of 1,400 people at the local hospital tested for the HIV virus were found to have the deadly disease
• Volunteer professionals such as PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, general surgeons and social workers are NOT provided by the government

A Thankful Reflection…

     GREAT NEWS!!!!  I would like to personally thank Brian Phipps and ELEMENT Church, who have offered to help support my cause in ‘giving myself away’ to South Africa and their medical needs.  The Element family adopted me when first moving to the Charlotte area and have given me direction and guidance in making this decision to serve.  I am very grateful!  If you would like to help Element support my cause, you can now make a year end tax-deductible donation by mailing a check to Element Church.  Their address is listed to the right.  Please include “joy for africa” in the memo line.

*There is now an option to donate online through paypal as well, but they charge a 2-3% fee for all processed transactions.  To ensure that 100% of the proceeds go to Element, you would have to send a check through mail.  Thanks again for all your support.

     Well, the countdown is on!  The big race day is only a few short weeks away!  The training is going well, I ran 9 miles this last Saturday, 10 next Saturday, 11 after that and then the big 13.1 miles on December 8th!  If you would like to sponsor me through miles I’ve completed during training, here are my run totals:

Miles run thus far: 204

Miles Total: 263

Only 59 miles to go!

     As I’ve been training for this race, I try and use my running time to reflect on why I’m doing this, why I’m running to raise money, why I’m giving up a salary for 3 months, why I’m going to live in a town of impoverished conditions and work full-time with no pay…..it’s simple, really.  God has blessed me with a rich life and I want to share that gift with others who are not as fortunate. 

     Think about it, here I sit at my flatscreen computer typing this post to you all, just ate a nutritious lunch that I compiled out of my refridgerator and pantry stocked full of groceries, in my townhouse that I own, with the heat running because it’s a little chilly outside.  Every day, I have shelter, food, technology and the list goes on and on.  It’s the simple things in life I have so often taken for granted.  To think there are people in this world who don’t have any of these options, luxuries in their life.  And not even luxuries but basic healthcare needs!  If I have a cold, I run to the store and pick up some coldeez, maybe some tea or orange juice perhaps.  Or if I am real sick with a bacterial infection, strep throat, I just call up my doctor, make an appointment, then pick up my prescription from the pharmacist after paying my $10 or $20 copay and be on my way.  To think that none of these options exist for people is so disheartening!  I know here in America we have our own problems with the current healthcare system, but can you imagine getting an infection in your spinal cord that causes paralysis and there is no way to stop it, no treatment for it nor if there was could you afford it, now you’re wheelchair bound for the rest of your life, have lost use of your legs, and there’s no one there to teach you how to move in and out of your wheelchair, how to avoid pressure ulcers, how to keep your upper body strength and health to avoid overuse injuries, and no one to council you on the emotional effects of losing use of your legs.  This is just one example of what the people of Umtata, South Africa face.  THIS is why I’m thankful, THIS is why I’m running, THIS is why I’m volunteering. 

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!!

History of Transkei Region

Hello again to friends and family,

      I would first like to THANK YOU for all of the amazing, encouraging and inspiring comments and emails I’ve received since sharing my news!  I am SO blessed to have such a wonderful support group, such wonderful people in my life!  This trip would not be possible without your love and support so thank you again.

     I have been doing a little research on my own to educate myself better on the area I’ll be volunteering in and finding out more about the history of South Africa and what has led to its current state as well as why my service will benefit these people……

Apartheid:  From 1948-1991, a system of laws and measures designed to oppress the rights of blacks while maintaining white supremacy within the ranks of the government as well as society.  These rules and regulations were often harsh and unjust in nature.

Bantu Authorities Act of 1951:  established homelands; each African was assigned a homeland by the government on the basis of their origin.  Voting and all other political rights were restricted to the designated homeland.  The objective of creating homelands was to force Africans to maintain loyalty to their respective homeland, thereby relinquishing their South African citizenship.  The gov’t hoped this would result in blacks not being able to participate in South African Parliament.  Blacks then became foreigners in their own country.

Nelson Mandela:  the leading figure in the anti-apartheid movement. He joined the ANC in 1942 and formed the ANC (African National Congress) and Youth League in 1944. Mandela directed a campaign of defiance against the South African government and its racial policies. This campaign was executed through mass civil disobedience instead of violence. As a result of leading this campaign as well as others similar to it, the ANC was outlawed and Mandela was banned, arrested and imprisoned. In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage. Over the next two-and-a-half decades, Mandela’s neglect to concede his anti-apartheid position became the symbol for black resistance. On February 11, 1990, Mandela was released from prison and the ANC was officially reinstated. In 1991, he was elected president of the ANC and in 1993, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with de Klerk for their efforts in dismantling apartheid. Mandela was elected President of South Africa in 1994 and currently retains that position.

Current State:  The end of apartheid was a great victory for blacks after a long struggle for freedom, but the country of South Africa has a long way to go before the depression will end. There is still a massive amount of poverty, malnutrition, disease, and violence. According to the National Congress Health Care Plan of 1994, 18 million people are below the “minimum living level” and almost 11 million are in poverty. It is going to take time for the nation to rid itself of the “bitter taste” of apartheid. Although South Africans are faced with these troubles, they can be optimistic of the rebuilding and renewing of all aspects of life after having been oppressed for so long.

 **WHY THIS IS ALL RELEVANT:  During the period of apartheid in South Africa, the gov’t declared 7 black homelands as independent entities, the Transkei region being one of them.  Funding for basic gov’t services had been limited and during the 20 years of indpendence, health care facilities deteriorated while medical personnel, equipment and supplies went lacking.  In 1994, the Transkei was incorporated into the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa but today it is still one of the least affluent areas in the entire republic.  This is why I’m going to help!!

For more information, please visit:

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html

 http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/f97projects/apartheid/Document5.html