Barton's Journey from St. Francis to :

The journey from St. Francis Hospital, Mutolere Uganda to the Kisoro airstrip was a bit hazard- ous , as the ambulence was unavailable. So we loaded Barton on the stretcher, me carring the glass IV bottle and off we went in an open bed small truck. Fr. Ignatius was kind enough to offer both his truck for the journey and he also sent me these pics.
I have heard and read from the Blogs of Barton's friends and family that he has arrived in New York City and , I assume, is safe and sound ina city hospital, but that is only hearesay for now. Click on one of the comment from my blog and read lots more than I could ever tell you about this remarkable man!
Blessings
Marie

------Dr. Lou Coda and I assisting the stretcher to the truck

-WHO IS BARTON BROOKS?

Dear Friends

Last Weekend was quite the adventure for me and several others: It was friday night and I received a phone call from a Nursing student telling me an American Man had been in a motorcycle acident and was now in surgery.
So, being the dutiful "American Nurse Caregiver of Uganda-ha" I rushed to theatre (Surgical Ward) to check it out. It seems he and a friend had been hit by a vehicle and the Ugandan friend, though injuried, was not as badly hurt as the American.
----Anthony, the Ugandan was in pain with a broken arm, which would be repaired the next day, but since he is , maybe, the sweetest man alive, his only concern was his friend Barton.
---When Barton arrived in his private room , he was confused and in a great deal of pain, as our wonderful surgeon from Holland, Dr. Robert, was only able to stabablize his fractured leg and wrist as we do not have the necessary equipment (pins etc.) for the needed surgery and the X-ray tech was too inhibriated to take decent photo's (smile).
---Hearing my American english was a comfort to Brooks and he latched onto my voice like a lifeline, which is totally understandable when you are soooo far from home and in pain.
Barton just wanted to "go to the States "which though understandable, was impractical.
That is when our dear new American MD Dr. Lou Coda, can galloping to the rescue: On Saturday, he must have made a 100 calls gathering information from the American Embassey, Barton's friends and family and local contacts. What a great job he did! So much so that an airplane awaited us at Kisoro airfield on sunday to whisk Barton to Kampala for surgery and care.
There were, of course, many difficulties but for me the main issue was getting decent pain control for Barton. Uganda still has the mindset that addiction is a primary concern, so injections were few and far between.
I am sorry to say the nursing students saw a side of me they had previously not encountered; resulting in harsh words, while I tried to relive this mans pain. Again Dr. Coda came to the rescue, ordering Demerol and Phenergan q4 hrs, instead of four times a day.
----I knew friday nite and only just read about his journey to Uganda and his work here, last nite (Thur) on the Internet.
--- He is quite an interesting guy and thought his NGO Global Colors has a website I was more successful in reading about him on another site called http://www.guerrillaaid.com/
----Barton is now now recovering from extensive surgery in Kampala and since my friend Robina works there, I am able to keep tabs on his recovery.

So many awesome pics were taken of our weekend adventure, but none with my camera, so I eagerly await copies. But until then just click onto his sites and imagine the journey of riding in an open back small truck with Brooks on a stretcher, six of his friends doing the lifting and me sitting on the side of the truck holding a glass IV bottle up in the air-ha. WHAT A SITE !!!!!!
---------------------------Marie


-----Who is BARTON BROOKS? Barton Brooks founded Global Colors http://www.globalcolors.org/ and continues to run day to day operations. He strongly adheres to the principle that if you think something should be done, well then, figure out a way to just go and do it. My story: I founded Global Colors after years of volunteer work and international travel, starting with a couple of years in London before studying political history and theology in Israel and the Middle East. I developed an insatiable case of wanderlust and explored Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa - and in the process, became acutely aware of the individual needs that plague our world. Traveling to take pictures and collect souveniers started feeling a bit hollow, and it was in Cambodia where I finally was inspired to make a difference. I changed my life to reflect that, and started my little organization to just do random acts of service around the world. I started creating projects, and to make it all happen sold my only asset (a Shelby Cobra replica that I built by hand) to personally fund the first GC projects. I'll still cry about that car if you catch me on the wrong day, but that beautiful hunk of metal became an education for kids in Cambodia, and changed the lives of some beautiful women in Kenya. So in reality, it was a no-brainer...

Meet my new neighbors--The Coda Family!

----------------From Left: Me--Marty- Anthony-Dr. Lou and John Coda

Dear Friends
This is such a busy, but happy, time for me ----as I now have American neighbors—The Coda Family---for (almost) 6 months. This wonderful family has warmly accepted me and in only 10 days we are swapping meals, lending pots and pans and last Sat. we had our first “Movie Nite” What fun as we fought playfully on the decision of which movie to view, then with popcorn popped and soda’s chosen, we were all seated theatre style watching “Meet Joe Black” from the hospital projector. Going to the movies has been one of the top things I have missed since arriving in Uganda, but no more!

When the power went of for about 20 min. , no one panicked, we just rearranged out seats to all view the battery operated computer from which the movie originated. A great time was enjoyed by all!

-----Let me tell you about the Coda’s: Dr. Lou Coda or” Louie” is the Pediatrician of a lifetime! He is knowledgeable, yet not the least bit afraid to “look it up in the World Health Book”, should he question a diagnosis or appropriate treatment. The nursing students just love his easy going manner and willingness to share his experience with them. Having already done two stints as missionaries for Medical Doctors Association (MDA)---a sister organization to Lay Mission Helpers (LMH), he is quite familiar with the destruction Malaria + AIDS has caused in Africa.

His wife Martha or “Marty” is the glue that keeps this family from unraveling, with two college age girls in the States and two teenage boys who have joined them here in Uganda. John, age 16 years and Anthony nearing age 13 yrs., are both bright guys and have arranged to “home school” while here.

My Printer-Copier-Scanner is finally paying off , as Chemistry homework finds it’s way from paper to Scanner, to flash stick and eventually is emailed to the States

Last Sunday at Mass, I had the honor of introducing the Coda’s to my church family at St. Francis Hospital Chapel. Fr. John Vianney, our Chaplain, was warm and welcoming, thanking the family and God for the gift of their time and talents

Lots more about their stay her in Mutolere to come, but for now I must close as tomorrow Marty and I are having a girls day out in Kisoro.(smile).

===================Blessings
----------------------------------Marie

---MIX + MATCH

Olivia, my Supervisor's daughter, loves her doll baby and couldn't wait to put it on her back!

The children are carrying their lunch and picking up their soda (truly a special day!). We had hoped to picnic outdoors that Doll Party Day but were rained out.

The children love Crazy Straws with their soda's--and so do I!
These adorable girls in green are twins and both are precious.

----AIDS Orphans Saturday---making beaded neclaces with the girls.

----Walking Baby Emmily and Mom back to the Pediatric Ward.

--Behind me, Baby Emmily and Mom, you see my home, as this pic was taken by Marty from the front of their home. We really are next door neighbors!

----A sweet baby from Pediatrics, named Emmily--and her Mom Jacita and I took a walk last sunday to meet the Coda family. Here I am honing my "carying a baby on my back" skills.