Last night Patience and I took a trip to the Emergency Room - at the Ngailema Medical Clinic. Early evening, she took a fall and banged her head, immediately cries, then an hour later was vomiting a lot. Panic. Ok message Dr. Andy and Amy Kahn again (who are living here from the US until they can bring their son home).  He gives me names of several clinics but we need one with a CT scanner. Finally we decide on this one. Georgette sees the panic and tears. She starts to cry. My friend Cindy who is staying down the hall comes and takes Georgette to her room, crying loudly as Africans can.   Auntie Cindy comforts and takes care of G while the guest house calls a driver. Its Sunday and its late, not everyone is available. Two drivers are called to the hotel, I jump in the first car that arrives. Sorry for the second guy. I get my French speaking friend, Nadine, on the phone to give direction to the driver who cannot speak English. He pulls over to the side of the road to make sense of the direction. Nadine, does he understand where this clinic is. We need to get there immediately. Yes he does understand. I notice his door is falling apart and does not lock. Ok keep driving. We arrive after 7 minutes.  This is the time you realize that love for your child is so overwhelming.  

He walks me to the clinic and again Nadine is on the phone translating to the doctors what has happened. I first must pay, then they will call the dr. $26 for the consult.  Affordable.  They are in no hurry. They aren't feeling panicked like I am. Patience vomits again.

She gets assessed and looks ok but because she is vomiting she needs a scan. The dr. questions me several times, where is her mother. I AM HER MOTHER!  How can you tell. The minute I lay her down and the dr checks her over, she freaks out with her arms held out to me Mama Mama!. The dr. looks at Patience's passport and adoption order and is satisfied hat I am her mother.

 Walk down to the payment centre before scan can be done. $60. Again, affordable. They inform me she needs her head shaved for the scan. She has beautiful little braids. Ok can we make a deal. By this time a resident doctor comes on board and speaks enough English to get by.  I cut it down to 1 inch then pull out the rest of the braid so she still has some natural hair left. They agreed that was ok. Good, she isn't bald but at this point I was ready to cut it right down if that's what it took.

We wait again for the technician to come. I check out this contraption in front of me and wonder if that's what they will use. Nope, there is better equipment inside.

They have to take quite a few angle scans so each time I leave the room, Patience is crying until she gags. They call me in each time while they get the next slide ready. I chat with the resident dr. and says he wants to come to Canada some day. He is happy for our girls going to Canada. So refreshing to have a Congolese supportive of adoption.  We are finally finished and head back to the dr.   She says the scans are clear - no injuries. Concussion I am guessing but her limited English doesn't pass on the little details.   She gives me her phone number and follow up appointment.

By now its 11 pm. We call the hotel to send a driver (only get drivers they know). We wait 20 min. No one shows up, We call again. That driver went home and he calls another. This goes on several times and by midnight a driver arrives. The drive home is quick as there is little traffic.  BUT we run right into a road block. NO! Please God, NO! Blind their eyes. Thankfully, the vehicles windows are tinted.  I slouch down in the back seat as I see them searching thru another vehicle. They let us pass. Thank you, Lord!

In the meantime, Cindy has woken up the house keeper and they clean up the bedding and she puts Georgette to sleep in her bed.  I snuggle her back into her own bed and am so grateful my babies are safe with me in bed. We had a good sleep and Patience is 100% again laughing and running around. So thankful!

(police are known for their harassment to obtain money. Especially if they see foreigners.  Many don't stop for the police. And you ever look them in the eye. No security guard with a gun or military or police. Keep your eyes forward and keep moving.  We have seen police stop (nice) vehicles at intersections and one guy jumps in the front, the other in the back and they take a drive around the block. Get their money and let the driver go. Crazy stuff. )    We mostly feel safe and our drivers are good and always watch out for us. We are in the central part of town which is better. I wouldn't worry so much but because the girls are with me, I have to be extra careful.

God is our protector.