Blu suggested that he take us to Choma to visit the hospital to see if making contact there would help. Choma is a town about 45 minutes from New Day on a nice paved road. So...Blu, John, Chris, Jason and I all made the trip to Choma hospital.
The hospital seems like a step back in time. The facility and equipment are all dated. Definitely not the high level of medical care we are used to here in the U.S.
This is the nurse from the eye clinic at the hospital. She was very helpful. She even called someone she knew that needed a prosthetic eye to go to New Day to see John while we were there. She will be letting people who need prosthetic eyes know about John and us coming next year.
This is the building that the eye clinic and physiotherapy department are in. Chris and I were able to talk with several people in the physiotherapy area (physical therapy). They could think of several people they knew right off hand that need prosthetic legs....but had no way of contacting them until they show up at the clinic. We told them we will be back in May 2015 and gave them Blu's contact information. They will be notifying people throughout the year about our team and having them contact Blu. Good news!
These are all people waiting to be seen in the eye clinic and physiotherapy area.
After our trip to Choma, we returned to New Day for more fabricating in the afternoon.
In addition to all of John's eye and teeth work, he helped Chris and I with some fabrication. Here he's breaking out the plaster mold from the finished carbon prosthetic socket with an air hammer.
Our little "lab" set up in the not-yet-finished bedroom. The machine closest is a Trautman...one of many expensive pieces of equipment we were able to purchase with donations that can stay packed up at New Day for the next trip with all of our other parts and supplies. We are so very, very thankful for all the donations that made this 2014 Prosthetic Promises trip possible.
Another Jason-in-action picture. Installing the washer and dryer, which we were very thankful for since we had to wash clothes during our stay.
Blu and Jason at work.
Tuesday dinner was family dinner night (I think that's the name they give it) with everyone at the dining hall. Dinner was pancakes and eggs!
Everyone hard at work making pancakes.
All the kids sit together at one big table to eat meals. Maybe a little noisy with everyone talking at once but these kids are SO well behaved. They all seem to get along well. I was amazed how this many kids can eat meals without mishaps.
After dinner, John and I climbed the water tower for pictures. The sky seems bigger to me in Zambia. Perhaps it's the lack of large buildings...not sure what the difference is. But, wow!, it's so beautiful.
Jason on the ground from the water tower. He didn't care to join us up there.
*Next post is Day 8: Work continues
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