Day 69 of 365 Days of Being Thankful

   

       Today I am grateful that Renee called us from South Africa! She is having a wonderful time and learning so much.  Sadly, the hospital where she is working has very limited resources so it is understaffed and supplies are not always available.  She said that the hospital had ONE bag of O blood, that's it.  If a patient would need more than that or need another blood type, they would die. They don't have many machines to diagnose patients, no MRIs, just an x-ray machine that only works sporadically.  Renee said that the U.S. hospitals are so much more equipped to help patients and save lives. We don't realize how fortunate we are to have access to up-to-date medical equipment and supplies!  She also told me that the hospital is not in the safest area, they get a lot of stabbing victims and gunshot wound victims.  The staff work at a less frenzied and hectic pace.  In the U.S., if you have  an emergency with a patient, everything turns into fast action with many doctors and nurses. She said the hospital where she is working has a slower pace of patient care.  There is one doctor only in the trauma unit. Renee said that the doctor there is very nice and enjoys teaching her and Ashley and allows them to do procedures they were not given access to do in the U.S. on their rotations.  They are taking a few days off and traveling, tomorrow they are going to the beach which is four hours away.

   Next weekend they are going on a safari. They are also driving to Cape Town in a few weeks.   They both love to travel and see new things.  Renee is the designated driver.  In South Africa, one must drive on the left side of the road, she said it gets tricky when she has to make a left turn! I am so glad she is having a good experience.  I think that Dan and I instilled a love of travel in our kids! Renee loves to travel as do Olivia and Olya!

Cape town