A Shaky Start

In our previously post, we mentioned quite nonchalantly that Jo was feeling a bit sick. “A bit sick” was an understatement of note! Shortly after posting our entry, Jo started throwing up, following which things got progressively worse as she developed a temperature, fever and gastro, and lost 4 kg in 3 days! By the Thursday (we had arrived on the previous Saturday) she had developed a rash, and it seemed she had measles. We went through to East London to have her admitted to hospital there (where it was confirmed that she did indeed have measles) and where she was put on IV antibiotics. She spent four days in hospital and then three days recovering in East London before we drove back to Zithulele. Subsequently, things have improved dramatically and we are really starting to settle in – we have started a veggie garden, had quite a few braais, been down to our nearest beach a few times and generally started to adapt to life in the Transkei.

To give you an idea of just how sick Jo was, we have attached a picture of her after being admitted to hospital.



Not a happy chappie, and indeed not nearly as happy as the jo in the picture below as she embarked on her first day of “proper” work (due to being sick, she had previously only completed a grand total of one two hour ward round before crawling back into bed). Her sickness earned her a mention (by reference, not by name) on the front page of the Daily Dispatch where, in an article discussing the measles outbreak, it referred to a “doctor from Zithulele had been admitted to St Dominic’s”.



Jo’s first day was a busy but fulfilling one. First day back and first day on call (in maternity ward)! One of her first patients had a cord prolapse –that’s when the umbilical cord connected to the mother and baby prolapses out of vagina before the head has come out, causing the baby to potentially have a serious lack of oxygen. The bottom line it’s hectic and involves someone (luckily an elective student was available) to stick their hand up the vagina and keep it lodged there to prevent the baby’s head from coming down further and pushing the cord up. The mother has to be put onto a stretcher and the nominated health professional has to run with hand up vagina to theatre for a Caesar.

Tom (due to being such a dedicated and supportive husband!) had also not properly commenced work until yesterday, although he had had numerous meetings with various stakeholders as he attempted to more clearly define his role within the foundation. Being a young foundation with very little in terms of existing structures, his role will be a malleable one that will undoubtedly evolve as the year progresses; but even at this early stage he is extremely excited about the prospects ahead.