Together, Ensemble

 "It would not be a trip with Shannon if there weren’t any excitement along the way,” Ryan remarked as we jumped into the car to hastily make our way BACK to the airport the morning of departure. He was referring to several other travel escapades we have had, the most memorable being an in-flight baby delivery. Sarah Kennedy, an OBGYN resident, and I had found ourselves in a bit of a frustrating back and forth during check-in. We had 9 bags filled to the weight limit stacked next to the desk, having just said goodbye to our families. 

We were anxious to get rid of our burden for a moment and get through the security line, but the process came to a screeching halt as the agent scrutinized our covid tests. “It needs to be 3 days before arrival. This won’t work.” We showed her the official embassy website (even updated this month) which clearly states a neg covid test is required from 3 days before DEPARTURE. She called the helpline. They wouldn’t budge. We couldn’t check in. I called Ryan to come back to get us instead of going to work.

Thankfully, the third member of our team, Katherine Krosley, had gotten her test a day later and thus, was given the green light. She stayed with our bags while Sarah and I ran to the car and sped to a just-opened urgent care with rapid PCR testing. Minutes ticked by, and finally we were told we had neg tests. As soon as the papers were in our hands, we ran out the door and back to the airport. Back through check-in, then to security and onto the gate where our plane was already boarding. Our seats weren’t together. When we finally made it to the first of our layovers in Atlanta, I grinned and said, “Sarah, meet Katherine. Katherine, meet Sarah.” We were finally able to establish our team.

Lounging during a layover

The details of this fistula campaign are very similar to last year. Same dates. Same place. Same urologist and his resident. But this year has felt more like a smooth zipper bringing all the people, organizations, and supplies together, slowly but steadily, whereas last year was a parting of the waters and a muddy slog through a COVID red sea, with ultimate success. Both feel equally orchestrated by the hand of God.

Our team was the first of the details to come together. I had dinner with the Krosley family just before Thanksgiving, when Katherine happened to mention that she had a free semester prior to starting nursing school, having just obtained a degree in public health. The conversation went something like this: Do you want to come to Congo with me? Yeah, I’d love that. Are you serious? Yes! I’m very interested. A few weeks later when we proposed dates of the trip, I let her know and she started making plans to come.

Sarah’s participation was a welcome surprise. I sent an email to the residency director asking if any resident would be able to participate, fully expecting to be told it wasn’t enough time to arrange a schedule and apply for funding, etc. But instead, it was, “I have a resident who is planning a career in global health and we’ll try to make it work.” We applied, got approved, and with hesitant excitement pressed forward. We knew if Congo went to level 4 or 5 health risk (covid) that it would be a no go. This was in January at the height of the most recent wave of covid in the US, and when the US itself was likely a level 4. Like I said, hesitantly excited.

Covid has kept planning a little dicey. I was not surprised to test positive in January given the sheer number of exposures I had every week at work. Katherine had it around the same time. The silver lining in this was the knowledge that for the next 90 days, a positive PCR would not hinder us from returning to the US. We would not be stuck overseas. It was eerily similar to last year when I had tested positive in December and got vaccinated Jan and Feb. This year I had the new variant, then got my booster.

World Medical Mission has again been instrumental in supporting our work. They have assisted in security, travel, and managing the funds donated towards the work. As much money as I can raise myself, and this year together with Sarah and Katherine, that is how much we can use. With the scale of work and the number of fistula patients continuing to grow as we get into an annual rhythm, I have had a long-term goal of having another resource to support us. It seems to be coming together! One of the doctors in Vanga applied for support and funding from the UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. I didn’t find out until we landed in Congo that they are indeed supporting us with materials and potentially even funding. Dr Paulin, the urologist on our team, is well-known in Kinshasa for fistula surgery. This, combined with the evidence of our commitment to repairing fistulas in this region over the last few years made a strong case for their support!

Box of supplies from UNFPA

Another new development has begun this year. One of the patients in my practice put me in contact with a microfinancing organization in St Louis who is already working in Congo, in another region. We discussed the possibility of helping the fistula women not only with their health and healing, but also in helping them get out of poverty by supplying a small loan and means to repay it. Sometimes this is in the form of animal husbandry, 2 pigs becoming a litter and giving back to the program 2 piglets to pass on to another in need. Sometimes it is a loan for materials to support a trade, such as supplies for a hair shop or an oven for a bakery. These details came together nicely and there is a team of 3 people joining us for the second week in Vanga. This is PERFECT timing, as we will have done the bulk of our operations and will be able to help facilitate discussions and teaching with the women who are convalescing.

Lastly, surgeries cannot happen without supplies. I was accepting items daily to bring to Congo. A satellite phone for safety reasons. Bags to help support a maternity safety kit to distribute to the community. Ethicon, the main manufacturer of sutures, donated a large box for the campaign. Throughout the last year, the hospitals I work at have helped collect unused items which are essential. A last-minute need for spinal needles was supplied within an hour of my asking the day before we left. All of the items we have stored in our basement, and it felt filled to the brim. We were able to get humanitarian fares and thus were able to bring 3 bags each. Nine bags filled with essential donated items- so exciting to watch all of this come together. In French, the word is "Ensemble"

So the snafu at the airport with the covid tests? Honestly it didn’t even make my heart race. I had such a peace that this barrier would not stop us. We are so grateful to be together, ensemble.