While I was undergoing Basic Safety Training (BST) in Texas, friends on board were screening approximately 4000 adults and children in Togo. Approximately about 1500 patients are booked for life-transforming surgeries in the operating room. Thousand more will undergo dental and cataract surgeries as well.
The video (see right) shows footage of the screening.
More photographs of screening can be viewed by clicking on the above tabs, as can photos and video of the basic safety training - fire fighting and sea survival.
All done here in Texas, leave for Africa tomorrow....33 hours and 4 flights later we will be in Benin....and then 20 days later we arrive in Togo to join the ship....can't wait. Next blog post will be from on board the Africa Mercy.
Miche you look as though you're having about the most fun you've had in your whole life! Love seeing the pics of you righting a raft, firefighting and dressed up in a massive sea survival suit. So great to see your super happy face!
ReplyDeleteHope the flights go smoothly and next 3 weeks prep are a good time of friendship and confidence-building.
Loads of love to you, Lx
Hi there Michelle, today is international womens day. And today I woke up and the first thing I thought about was you, and what you are doing, and what you have given up in order to do so. You are one of those inspirational women we would all love to be like. Apart from the fact that we are somewhat related I do not know you. But I admire what you are doing immensely - you are an inspiration to the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteA bit about me. I am the distant cousin who could only ever speak one language. Horse! Never grew out of it. I am currently working nights. I work for Coolmore Stud working in one of their foaling units. Most foals are born between 6pm and 6am - only about 10% foal at a more civilised hour. Most births are straightforward, but when things do go wrong, you do not have much time to put it right. Most mares give you plenty of notice they are going to foal. But then again, some give you none!! So you have to be well awake to catch the ones who try to catch you out. Then you have the whole suckling thing to get going. Most require no help, but first time mothers often do try and kick and reject their newborn - they do not know what it is. And they most certainly do not like them putting their noses in their nether regions and trying to find the tit. So I love the work, find it very rewarding. But I do hate the nights!! Ah well, cannot have it all.
Just wanted to let you know that this is your day - you make us all proud and I hope very much to meet you on when you finally make landfall back in the UK again.
Travel safely, Ginny x