KENYA 2013

It's been a long time since I've posted because things seem to keep changing.  The civil unrest in DRC has made it too unstable to travel there.  On any given day it might be OK, but because of the rebels in the Northeast who recently took more control and threatened the capitol city, Dr. Fletcher warned us not to get our tickets and to hold off for now on our trip.  We were terribly disappointed  as we have done all the leg work, made plans and have been getting our shots for Congo.  I've put out feelers for other trips and we were all ready to sign on to a very good mission to Haiti when another African opportunity presented itself that we couldn't pass up.  This is to travel with Friends of Naivasha to Kenya with Dr. Coleen Stice, who I trained with at Mayo, and who has extensive mission experience.  Her team has helped in the building of a women's hospital in an area greatly underserved north of Nairobi.  We met with her today and made all the arrangements for 7 of us to join her group of 11 and travel together to Kenya.  Our team consists of myself (ENT), John (McGyver), Kevin Harm Pediatric NP, Wendy Kallhoff, RN, L&D nurse, Molly Dreesen O'Tool, BSN L&D nurse, Erin Scoggins, BSN, L&D nurse and Megan Kresha, Paramedic.  I will be working with a Kenyan Otolaryngologist, John will help with a stove project designed to build stoves for the huts which will prevent burns and smoke inhalation with the open fires in the homes, Kevin will work with Pediatrics, the nurses will work in Labor & Delivery and Megan will help out wherever needed.  We will all get to teach and work on a very ambitious project.  There are several websites and a YouTube video about the organization.  I'll try to link, but just look for Friends of Naivasha on the internet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxcvcm4ePL8&feature=share and you'll find lots of information on it.  We also have a Facebook/Columbus Medical Mission Team - Africa page that we will link to.  We are very excited and everything seems to be falling into place.  We'll be having 2 fund raisers.  First at Pizza Ranch on Dec. 17, 5-8 pm, second a potato bar at Federated Church January 13, 11:30-1pm.  Also, don't forget the Nicaragua team spaghetti feed tomorrow Dec. 9 at Peace Lutheran Church at noon.