It’s that time again…January and I’m off to The Gambia. I can’t believe this is my third trip already. I didn’t plan on blogging again. I’m not as eloquent a writer as Sue Thompson. She posted beautifully written entries last year, but many have asked in the last few weeks, “are you going to blog?” and I realized people enjoyed reading it. I think mostly my mother likes having peace of mind that I haven’t been killed in some terrible accident and I’m not withering away from starvation! Even thought I’ve been on my own for more than twenty years, she still worries as if I still had pig tails and was about to walk out the door. Quite frankly, I’m very lucky.
I’m not taking a large group of volunteers this year. Experience thus far has taught me smaller is less complicated. A dear friend and colleague Marie Brown-Farley (whom I met at Hahnemann University Physician Assistant Program) will accompany me. She has been practicing for 12 years in pediatrics and is currently employed in the oncology department at AI DuPont in Wilmington, DE. She will bring a wealth of much needed pediatric knowledge to SJGH. Without a doubt Gambian mothers with children in tow are lined up now!
Our second volunteer, Dr Linda Turner, is a family practice physician. She was my patient at Wilmington Emergency Department! How’s that for recruitment? As I was tending to her cat bite wound, we struck up a conversation. Turns out she lived in Tanzania for two years doing research for her PhD. Once she mentioned Africa the flood gates opened. Linda was the last patient for my shift and I recall the nurse announcing ”I’m gona go now” I imagine the conversation in her head went like this, “there goes Lonnie talking about Africa again, I’m outa here.” Linda and I exchanged contact information that night and a few weeks later we met for coffee. I showed her photos from previous trips and after many e-mails, phone calls, Linda finishing her residency, a move to North Carolina and starting a new job… it has all come together. Linda believes the cat bite was meant to happen so we could meet. I agree!
In addition we are traveling with members of the Power Up Gambia team and I will continue my work with PUG. We are starting our second solar installation in The Gambia at the Somita Community Clinic. More to come later!
~Lonnie
Posted by delmed 
