“Grace and gratitude are abundant in Ghana. A 32-year-old female came to us with a vesico-vaginal fistula (a hole in the bladder through which urine leaks into the vagina), that she had had for 16 years. After two-and-a-half hours of surgery the fistula was repaired. One evening the phone rang and everyone jumped and became anxious. The Ward Nurse informed us that our patient was crying, but they were tears of joy. She was crying because she urinated the ‘normal’ way for the first time in 16 years. There was a feeling of pride that went straight to my heart. I have never witnessed the post-op recovery of our patients, but now to hear someone cry for something as normal as urination, made me grateful for being a part of this team of volunteers.” - K. Lorraine Bailey, R.N.
“My contributions as an internal medicine specialist were used as a consultant in the perioperative management of the surgical patients and providing medical care to outpatients who had many illnesses due to lack of access to medical care.. We were exposed to illnesses that were specific to the sub-Saharan tropics, such as malaria and typhoid, and to common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma. During our medical mission trip, we not only became familiar with many tropical diseases but also to the Ghanian people and the cultures in which they live. On the weekend, we explored the area around Cape Coast, a city known ‘the Castle’, the dungeon for the transatlantic slave trade. The festival of Afahye was an exhibit of the tribal roots of Africa. A hike through a rainforest at Kakum National Forest complemented the beauty of the coastal area.
"The last few days of our mission trip were spent in the capital of Accra where we lectured at the Ghana medical school and toured the Korle –Bu teaching hospital. It was a privilege to use the talents that God has provided me to serve the underprivileged people of Africa.’And the King will answer them, truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25-40.” - Nancy Hsueh Beggs, M.D.
