March 6, 2008 – Day 14
After enjoying the last breakfast at the guesthouse (warm biscuits and jam) we set off to the hospital to perform a last minute cysto and tie up a lot of loose ends. The cysto patient was a no show and that allowed for us to split up all the jobs – paying multiple bills, picking up some finished sewing, giving out some donations and gifts, handing over the numerous patients that we had operated on over the last couple of weeks. On a personal note, it was interesting to see how our urethroplasty patient with buccal graft did over the 2 weeks. We never see those patients every day and I think it was interesting to see him each day and the course of his convalescence (the patients in Nigeria don’t believe they are getting their money’s worth if they are sent home “prematurely”) and he’ll stay until his foley comes out 3 weeks postop.
We then had enough time to dart out to the HIV widows quilting shop and got some last minute shopping. Many spent more than they planned when we saw the wares and it couldn’t go to a better cause. The beautiful fabrics of the region were on display in a traditional art form (apparently they do American style quilting….whatever that means) J…
We popped back to the VVF clinic and the OR for a final lunch of rice/pounded yam and the red stew. It was nice to have the time today to say a proper goodbye to all the new friends that we had made. Many nice and thoughtful words were shared on both sides. Lots of “Kodak moments”. With a tear in our eye we set off back to the guesthouse to pack up for Abuja.
After bringing out the baggage we realized that there was no way we were going to fit all the baggage in the back of the Peugeot station wagon. Fortunately Sunday and Chima arrived with the upgrade – Land Cruiser. Despite the upgrade we still ended up sitting four in the back seat…with Pauletta on the floor behind Tom’s seat. With knees and elbows everywhere, backs cramped and everyone hot (and most of us smelly), we set off. Another truly Nigerian experience. The trip was as harrowing as I remembered from the arrival, with multiple passing attempts being “white knuckle” moments, although Ezekil did an excellent job of avoiding other cars/potholes/bikes/motorbikes/people/goats/roosters thanks to his trusty car horn. With bags all around (and on top) of us we pulled into the Abuja airport….
The Abuja airport (aka Danté’s Inferno) was as hot as I remember. I was the only one in shorts and I was sweating buckets. The long lines and cramped quarters made me glad that we had come several hours early….After negotiating security, check-in, 2 surveys, and emigration we sat down for quick and well-deserved beer in front of the only (and small) air conditioner. The ice cold Heineken and Pringles were a very satisfying dinner. We then had to say goodbye to Tom and Susan as they were taking an earlier flight to Amsterdam. I am sure that we’ll sit down for a dinner/drink at the AUA. After seeing them off, we waited for our flight – basking in the glow of the icy cold A/C. We were called in a couple of hours prior to our departure into the preboarding lounge (after another security check). Even though I didn’t believe it, it was true….this room was even hotter.
Equipped with bright lights that were blinding if viewed from the proper angle in addition to the 110+ heat, I felt like I was in an interrogation room from the former Soviet Union. After an unending session in the hot box, I was ready to give up any of the classified information I was privy to…fortunately they called us to board just as I was about to break down. Realistically, how much information can you give up as a Canadian? The specs on the 6 helicopters we have available for military service? J
We got aboard and fell asleep quickly. Economy class seating seemed like first class when compared the car ride down….
Tim’s Lesson of the Day:
“Traffic rules aren’t a bad idea”
Tim “Blogman” Davies
~Catherine deVries
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