July 12th

Yesterday a group of us went to the waterfall. About 30 minutes in, it started to rain. Half the group turned back, but the rest of us proceeded on. It was pretty much a torrential downpoor off and on for the next 3 hours. Peter, our mighty leader who was very certain he knew the way, totally had us wandering around in the mountainous rainforest for a while. But it was a lot of fun! We finally got on the right track thanks to a really nice village guy taking us to the right path.  I can only imagine what all the people we passed huddled under their huts were thinking of us crazy Yovos going to look for a waterfall in this weather.  But it was totally worth it!! The path was a bit treacherous (like to the point if you took a wrong step you would most likely die- and as often as I do exaggerate, I’m quite serious about this). The waterfall was really big and gushing tons of water from all the rain we’ve been having. We climbed up part of it and made it a waterslide down. Our clothes were soaked through by that point anyways.  3 of us ruined our cameras L I have yet to ask my parents to mail me another small camera haha they won’t be too thrilled.

This morning we delivered a 28-weeker (preeclamptic mother). He took a while to get going but he did great most of the morning. Started to fade a little this afternoon and I’m sure he will be making his trip to heaven sometime tonight.  Two weeks ago I would have been throwing a fit out of frustration because in the U.S. this wouldn’t happen, but I have gotten a lot more used to not having the equipment/technology and just accepting this way of life the Togolese live.  There are 5 other tough cases this week that will not have a positive outlook.

Oh, something gross: I watched them remove a uterine fibroid that weighed 11 pounds.  It was pretty disgusting.  Andy (a new OB doctor here for a couple of weeks) and I were discussing how it’s going to be difficult to listen to the complaints of patients back home… compared to just about every single patient at this hospital they have absolutely no reason to be whining haha.

I am tired of my feet being muddy, I am tired of finding new bites on me, and I am tired of my hair being pulled back in a ponytail every day. And I really miss shorts.  Hope you are all enjoying some good summer fun!