I fell… and then a long journey getting back up
I was just taking a casual walk down a paved road in Lesotho and
then without warning I missed my step on
the uneven curb… I fell hard and landed on my right side breaking 2 pelvic
bones & a couple ribs!
Kind folks rushed to help - I was in agony - but they lifted me
off the road to a safe place & then drove me to a bus station where I had
to catch a public taxi van home. At first I just thought I had pulled groin
muscles but after a night of intense pain & inability to move I realized
that I really needed some help & contacted Peace Corps. Peace Corps
immediately sent a driver to to pick me up & transport me to the famous
Willie's hospital in Maseru for x-rays & a night's stay. Due to the
injuries we all realized there was no going home so I was transported by
ambulance to a hospital an hour away in Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa
(RSA). I had a thorough evaluation by a very competent trauma specialist in the
Emergency Department; more x-rays & a CT scan & then admitted.
I spent 2 full weeks in the acute care hospital; the orthopedics
ward in a 5-bed room with other "old" ladies coming & going after
hip & knee replacements. I was the gimp who was pretty much confined to bed
while they had short stays & went on home. Since I could not stay in the
acute facility indefinitely nor return home to Lesotho on bed rest &
crutches I was transferred to a very pleasant rehab hospital - private room
even! I recuperated there on bed-rest for just over 3 weeks. I had
the most wonderful Physical Therapist - Ilse, and a couple great rehab doctors.
Ilse was there just about everyday to cheer me up and try any and all therapies
to keep my strength up & help heal the muscle tears. She brought in South
African wine - Pinotage, that was terrific and samples of Biltong, a South
African specialty of dried game meat (we would call it jerky in the US but this
is a gourmet version very popular in RSA). Through our friendship we shared a
lot about health care practices in our two countries. When I felt able to
withstand a long flight, Peace Corps sent me back home to Walnut Creek to
finish recuperating.
 |
| Rehab Hospital Staff Singing Morning Prayers |
Peace Corps provided great care and a lot of support though we had
one serious issue. The immigration officer at the Johannesburg
International Airport cited me for overstaying my visa 29 days. RSA
immigration / border crossing laws had been changed in mid-2014 to stipulate
that an alien overstaying his/her RSA visa would be subject to
severe penalties. An overstay of 29 days or under would prevent a return
for one year; an overstay of 30 days or more would result in a five year
banishment. I would now not be able to return to Lesotho for
one year unless I could obtain a waiver!
Access to RSA is required for Lesotho Peace Corps Volunteers as
RSA is the only available destination for medical or political evacuation!
I spent the next several months trying to work with Peace Corps and RSA
to have a waiver for my overstay approved. It was a challenging situation being
separated from work in Mohale's Hoek but I stayed in close contact with
Rethabile & Sister Juliana at the St. Camillus Centre.
In the meantime... I would spend five weeks in my home town,
staying with friends Mike and Deanna in their lovely Lafayette home and getting
physical therapy at Kaiser Permanente while finishing up my recovery (my Peace
Corps medical leave was extended until mid-March). I had a wonderful time
visiting my mother and father, Marta & Lou. And, so many of my fabulous
friends (many from out of town) made such gracious efforts to keep me company
& well entertained; dinners, walks, plays, wineries, movies. Mike &
Deanna, Kate & Adam, Maureen, Sergio, Laura, Janet, Mary-Anna, Paula &
Richard, Suzanne, Jim, Christine, Carole & Barry, David, Serafina & Charles, and Kaiser Permanente buddies!! Who did I
miss?
During that time I wrote to RSA Home Affairs weekly but there was
never a response; Home Affairs seemed like a black hole. After lots of back
& forth with Peace Corps Lesotho & Washington DC, all agreed I would go
to Washington D.C. on an administrative leave of 45 days where I would be able
meet with the Lesotho Desk Officer & Africa Director in person to work
through options. I left for Washington D.C. with high hopes of resolving the visa situation - little did I
know I would have 6 long & tumultuous weeks ahead.
 |
| Kate & Stephanie |
I arrived in Washington D.C. in early spring and left just before
the first days of summer. It was wonderful to see the seasonal changes -
particularly the transition from one spring blossom to another… daffodils,
tulips, tulip trees, cherry trees, dogwood - something new each week. The
Cherry Blossom Festival and all the cherry trees in bloom in DC was
spectacular. Every weekend there was an event on the Mall or somewhere in the
Capitol. Best buddy Kate came all the way to DC to spend a long weekend with
me! JOY!! We walked all over - visited the White House Rose Garden, saw comedy
at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center, enjoyed some great meals, wandered the
DC neighborhoods, and moved from hotel to hotel at PC expense :-).
The flip side though was so much angst & grief dealing with
the RSA visa issue. The Peace Corps Washington D.C. staff & leadership were
very supportive & kind. The Africa Region Director & the Operations
Director offered all their support & made what attempts they could to
connect with RSA Home Affairs. The Desk Officer tried to keep my spirits up
& even took me to see a play with her. But the reality was absolutely no
progress making inroads with RSA Home Affairs; my only options were to either
leave the Peace Corps or transfer to another post.
I never had second thoughts - I was not going to terminate Peace
Corps service!! Though I was heartbroken that I could not return to Lesotho I
committed to making the best of the situation & was certain I would make
whatever adjustments were needed to continue on. With lots of assistance from
the Directors & the Desk Officer, I decided to interview for 2 possible
African countries, The Gambia & Ghana - both had great reputations.
Fortunately both sites accepted me and I chose The Gambia - knowing so very
little about either one except that they are West African nations and oh so hot and
humid. It was extremely difficult to have to inform Sister Juliana &
Rethabile at my lovely site in Mohale's Hoek, Lesotho that I would not be able
to return. I was so sad & actually depressed that I would not be able to
see them & all the wonderful St. Camillus kids again. Without access to RSA
it seemed unlikely that I would ever have a chance to return, even for a visit.
So, The Gambia! I had very little clothes with me suitable for the
tropics so I spent a little effort shopping for light clothes. During my last
days in DC I was able to connect with Tracy, my dear Lucy friend, & ask for
help to pack what I wanted to keep & to help give-away clothes & items
I would not need. She enlisted PCV Eloise to help with the effort & they were able to enjoy a nice weekend at my site in Mohale's Hoek.
All that effort to get
ready for Lesotho - shopping & preparing...the warm clothes, the down sleeping bag, jacket, &
vests; the gloves, mufflers, thermal underwear, & wool socks - now no
longer needed.
My long journey getting back up continued on...
