We arrived back in Chad Wed July 3 and took the long bus ride (about 8 ½ hrs) back to Bere. The road was dry but we have had a rain today that is very refreshing and temperature about 80. It is muggy when not raining. They had had some severe winds while we were gone that blew off some roofs but they have been repaired. Some of the buildings maybe were not braced sufficiently. Even part of a brick wall was blown over. It is nice and green and the corn and other crops are coming along. Lots of plowing with the oxen is being done. But up at Ndjamena it was barely beginning to green up. Apparently not much rain there yet.
Yesterday we did a bowel resection (took out about 20 cm small intestine) on a man that came here from CAR (Central African Republic). He previously had had surgery for urethra stricture through the bladder but apparently had cut into the intestine in the process so he had draining intestinal material coming through a drain. We took out the involved intestine that was very adherent to the abdominal wall and cleaned it out as best we could then reconnected the small intestine. He was very skinny but hope he will do okay now. He had had 3 previous surgeries. I’m glad Danae insisted we do the surgery that I was considering postponing for a time. We also did an eye enucleation for an eye that was blind and bulging out greatly. Possibly was retrobulbar tuberculosis with white cheesy material there. Don’t think it was a cancer. Also did a removal of a parotid tumor yesterday. His facial nerve still functions. Last night did a C-section for a shoulder presentation that I was unable to get the position changed. It was a second twin. The first is fine but the second one was dead. I let Danae rest last night.
We left Jay area last Sunday afternoon and drove to Janelle’s in Oklahoma City and repacked some things there and left there Monday morning. Our flight from DFW was cancelled to IAD in Washington DC so had to get another flight arranged but still got there by 3:30 pm. Kermit and Ronnalee Netteburg picked us up and we stayed the night at their place and packed in some more things that had arrived there for us such as our new SIGN orthopedic equipment and some ureteral stents. We left DC on Tues and arrived back in Chad Wed. We had to pay for some extra baggage but we expected to.
Sometimes one wonders why one would leave all the comforts of home and the family and friends there but when one sees the need here and the friends here it becomes more evident. Of course we also have family here although they will be back in the USA the next 3 months. Another family member will be coming about Aug 12. Danae and family will be coming back here in Oct.
Thanks to everyone for their donations and prayers.
Pray for our health and everyone here.
Our blog is: www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
Danae’s blog is: www.missionarydoctors.blogspot.com
Our email’s are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland@gmail.com
Love, Rollin and Dolores
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