Where in the World am I Going? A Sneak Peek...

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth an entire book.  Last week one of the full time staff at the Hospital of Hope in Mango, Togo sent me this video.  You can watch it here by clicking on this link:  Hospital of Hope.  Here is a glimpse of the place I will be serving in just a few weeks.  [Please do not re-post this video on social media or other blogs.]

20 days and counting...

In just 20 days I will be leaving for Togo.  Three airline appropriate shipping containers are filled to capacity and sticky notes and "to do" lists surround me.

Many of you have been asking if my family is going with me this time.  Anna and Amber will be starting eighth grade, and Andrew will be heading back to Westmont College.  Michael is working and Teresa will be taking Andrew back to college the same day I leave for Mango.  So, I will be traveling somewhat alone, except that I will be meeting up with an NICU nurse from Banner Good Samaritan (now called Banner University Medical Center - Phoenix), and a general surgeon volunteer and a pediatrician.  Our planes will all converge in Paris so that we can take one flight together to Togo.

As of last week over 180 people are part of my team that have helped financially so that I could purchase the necessary surgical supplies and a new ultrasound machine.  Many others are praying for me.  I am grateful to all of you.

To Go To Togo!

 Do you know how to go to Togo?  Considering a few months ago I didn't even know where in the world Togo was, I am learning quickly!  

On August 28, 2015 I will fly to Paris where I will meet up with the rest of my team and then continue our flight to the capital city, Lome, Togo.  The next day our team will make an eleven hour drive to the northern part of the country to Mango, where the Hospital of Hope is located.  

  

Here are some interesting facts that I have learned about Togo and the Hospital of Hope. 

• The Hospital of Hope opened on March 2, 2015 and on the first day they saw 200 patients BEFORE LUNCH!
• In the first week that the hospital opened they saw patients from Togo, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ivory. 
• One patient traveled three days (from northern Burkina Faso) and then walked directly into the hospital, found an empty bed, and lay down. 
• The ratio of doctors to patients in Togo is 4 doctors for every 100,000 patients.  
• The ratio of doctors to patients in the United States is 256 doctors for every 100,000 patients.
• 10% of the population in Togo is infected with HIV.
• The infant mortality in Togo is 78 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births.
• The infant mortality in the U.S. is 7 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births!
• Nearly 200 donors have helped to make this trip possible.  Because of an amazing group of donors, I will be bringing:
• A new portable Sonosite M-Turbo ultrasound machine with two probes.
• A Designs-For-Vision Daylite surgical headlight.
• Twelve Standard Register reusable surgical gowns with overwraps for sterilizing.
• Ten Cook Medical Bakri Balloons (life saving treatment for postpartum hemorrhage.)
• Eleven Kiwi obstetrical vacuum devices (for operative vaginal deliveries.)
• Fifty-two boxes of Ethicon surgical suture.
• Fifty-plus pounds of German stainless steel new and refurbished surgical instruments.
• Adjustable Allyn Stirrups for the operating room (for doing gynecologic surgeries)
• Surgical Gloves
• Obstetric Dopplers
• Pulse Oximeters
• Life saving medicines

Thank you for your support and prayers.  I will be returning to Arizona on September 15, 2015.