More like Parlez-vous
anglais! Je me présente. Je m'appelle Tahlia. Je suis une infirmière. Comment
allez-vous?
Let me introduce myself. My
name is Tahlia. I am a Nurse. How are you?
~
Haha that will do for now
right?
The months leading up to me leaving for Africa I really
had no expectations in my mind. The only way I have had an insight in to Mercy
Ships in the past is through my beautiful Mum and social media. In hindsight
nothing could prepare me for what I felt as I stepped onto the big white ship
in the port of Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, Africa and how much this adventure would change
my life forever. Let me give you a little insight to my arrival to my floating home in Port de Autonome Pointe Noire, Congo and a day on D Ward.
When I first arrived I don’t think words can describe the emotions I felt. I was relieved to have touched down in Africa after a long haul of travelling. I was picked up by a Mercy Ships vehicle from the airport and taken to the ship.
Well it definitely was big and I couldn’t believe I was finally here. The first few days where very overwhelming as I adjusted to living on a ship, getting lost, patients singing up and down the corridors and just the abundance of people I had never met before in my life. I did get lost a couple of times. A kind man suggested I tie a string to my toe... I politely declined.
After a few initial days of
orientation I got straight into it. My ward is called D ward. It is a
combination of pediatrics and adults, an ICU and a Maxillofacial ward. To give
you an idea of how a shift goes on the Africa Mercy we start by praying for all
of our patients. Then someone may share something they have learnt or maybe a
song they like. We then receive handover and then the day is yours. Dr. Gary
(the head surgeon) will do his rounds with the nurse in charge and check up on
all his patients. It’s also a time to get a gauge of where they are at in their
care and any adjustments to be made.
It’s a crazy, noisy and busy place.
It is nothing like a day on
my ward back home. Patients under the age of 18 must have a care giver who sleeps under the bed. Communicating with these beautiful people is always a 3 way
task between me, a dedicated and talented day crew member who will translate
for us, and the patients.
We save and reuse absolutely anything we can. If we throw anything at all away we have to blackout any labelling or just rip it off, and Intravenous tubing and fluid bags must be cut up. It has been found in the past that local people will search rubbish, and fill empty bottles/containers with almost anything and sell it on the side of the road as something it is definitely not. (Here in Africa if your loved one gets sick you have to pre purchase all meds, fluids, bloods, food and more to last them their stay in hospital).
Later in the morning some patients go off to surgery, others stay on the ward getting better and having a whole lot of fun really. We play Jenga and Uno, blow bubbles, have fun with stickers and colouring in and sometimes the ward erupts into a spontaneous dance party (I must admit this is my favourite).
I am learning so much every day! There are lots of dressings to be done and a lot of our patients are on Naso-gastric feeds. Inserting intravenous cannulas isnt easy in tough, sun-hardened African skin and veins so difficult to see, but after one fail I am proud to say I’ve mastered the technique.
If you’re on a morning shift at 1430 we head up and outside to deck 7. This is a time for patients to get some hot, and sometimes not so fresh, air here in the port, but none the less they love it! Take into consideration that the hospital is on deck 3 and these strong and resilient patients walk up all those stairs and usually no more than 24hours post operation. Children sit and get pulled along in little red wagons or ride on little push bikes while the adults sit and chat, play games or make bracelets. It’s a great time of the day and a lot of laughs are had.
It never really feels like work. Everything is an absolute pleasure to do. Sometimes we don’t get out on time and I couldn’t care less. I love going to work here and I love being alongside these people hopefully shining a little light into their worlds.
And I do it all sometimes with a little bundle of cuteness tied onto my back.
Life is good on the Africa Mercy and i couldnt be in this place without the love and support i am recieving from my family and friends on the daily.
