Togo: January - June 2012

Just some pictures to sum up more of life both on and off ship..

My workplace for part of the day..the admissions tent where we see the patients who are being medically screened for the next day's operations.

Little Sammy, one of the patient's brothers who was full of energy all the time on the ward.

Papakey and Toyi with their new noses, smiles and friendship

Alex, post op playing with the other children on the ward when the maxillo facial ward turned into paediatric land!

Chara, a beautiful little girl who was operated on when we had the cranio facial surgery team here from Germany. She had been born with Crouzon syndrome. This meant that her skull bones had fused too early not allowing normal development of her skull or her brain. Without intervention she would have developed seizures and her life expectancy would have been shortened. She underwent the first of a number of operations where her skull was reshaped and moved forwards to allow her brain room to develop normally. She had an eventful post operative recovery so please pray for her continued improvement especially as we are facing the last week of the wards being open.

Chara with her Mum and the staff on D ward. She is always willing to give anyone a wave and smile; such a joyful little girl!

D ward with all the cleft lip patients post op including whisker style bandages!

Esther pre op, a teenage girl who has suffered with this massive facial tumour for many years. At the time of surgery it was close to causing her problems with her airway.

Esther post op with her nurses

My workplace and home for the past 5 months

Once every 6 weeks there was a community gathering on the dock after work with all of the crew and day workers to share a meal together and then to have a time of worship