Friday, February 13, 2009

Stories Through Pictures

An Extraordinary Experience


Because of the dangers of fire, burns among children are quite frequent. 6 year-old Gabriel had a burn scar on his left elbow that substantially minimized his range of motion. And not too long post-operation...



...Gabriel had a huge smile because his range of motion had improved and he could go home!



8 year-old Samuel arrived at the clinic on his mother's back, unable to properly walk as a result of osteomyolytis which is an infection of the bone - a condition very common among children and adolescents. 7 weeks post-operation, Samuel has gone through a myriad of post-operative conditions - possibilities of infection, rapid recovery and bone regrowth. Although he comes in daily for dressing changes, he rarely ever complains about the pain.

The children that live in the sparse conditions of the patients' village while family members undergo treatment at the neighbouring clinic never seem upset. The tough lifestyle, small meals and tight living quarters do not appear on the face of the children, as they smile and laugh at every possible occassion.



Looking over the city of Lubango in the background; standing at the edge of the Cristo Rei statue on the mountain top. Children tend to hang out around the area because of visiting tourists. Clearly, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have visited Lubango and left their mark!


The view from the top of the mountain overlooking the city shows a stark contrast between the city slums and affluent homes (sometimes across the street from one another)! Local parks, state hospitals, government buildings and the new Lubango shopping mall are all clearly visible on a clear day when the view stretches all the way to the mountains on the horizon.


The absolutely jaw-dropping scenery from a mile high - the Leba Cliff. The road towards the port of Namibe winds down the side of the mountain. It is so easy to get lost in the lush green hills under the bright blue sky with scattered white clouds.


On the way to the port of Namibe, almost every type of terrain imaginable is crossed... including a desert area! The rocks in the background have been "etched" by wind storms gushing through the area.

And there it is... the South Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Angola! Waves reached up to 6-feet high at times and came crashing against my back.



The breathtaking sunset from the hospital lasts about 120 seconds while the sun fully disappears behind the distant mountains!



This is a self-explanatory photo taken on the Kalukembe Airstrip. My three-month volunteer placement in Angola has come to an end, and I can definitely say it was an exceptional experience.

No comments:

Post a Comment