Ramallah clinic

It's always good to have clinic finished. The noise and confusion are tiring. 

We have cases scheduled to Wednesday  and predict many more screenings in the next few days to fill the schedule to Friday. 

Sisters rock the ankle lace at clinic

As is his style, Samer finds a case we have to do today. Reem is 1 year old with chronic, frontal subdural blood clot from a fall. 

Yoki our anesthesiologist, does a great job inducing him and Samer and Dr. Othman put in 2 drains, irrigate the old blood out. Now his fontenelle is sunken and the brain has room. 

Anne, Ian, Othman, Yoki, Samer, T, Samah, and Randa

Ramallah and the day of Anger

This note from my friend prior to leaving:

Hi Teresa,

As u might be watching in the news, it is very unstable currently. the roads between cities and villages are infested by settlers. Inside the cities is quite and almost normal, but it is at checkpoints and if u travel. National societies for resisting occupation are calling for Friday to be a "national anger day", i am not sure what will this mean. I will check on road condition before i leave home, and if it is dangerous, then i will not come on Friday. I will try to visit u during the week in the evening if that works with u.

Take care

Ansam

We made it to the hotel with out any problems. Our checkpoint was quiet. We. Walked around Ramallah, to Yassar Arafat' tomb. Then, 20 ambulances drive by as we safely eat dinner. 

We love Madrid

Still walking and eating, pictures of our last day in Madrid. 

The Royal Palace. Which we view from our apartment. 

Royal Gardens. 

Lunch

Royal Garden

Walk home after great dinner at Vietnam Restaurant. 

Calle Lepanto, 4

 Views around our apartment;

Cafe in front of our building. 

Our living room balcony. 

Evening view from window. 

Transition to Madrid

  I left the Commador hotel in Jerusalem at 2:30 AM on Sunday morning. 12 hours later I arrive in Madrid via Warsaw. Remind me to check a map before I make a plane reservation through Warsaw again. 

  I take the metro to Chueca and walk to the Odessa hotel. The room is small, cheap and clean. I'm am exhausted again. After I got food and water I laid down and sleep for five hours. Get up drink more water and sleep another six hours. 

  Feeling pretty good the next morning, I take the metro again to the Opera station. Our apartment is a few blocks away. It is a beautiful neighborhood. 

  Danielle and Frank arrived a few hours later. We have spent the last two days mainly walking and eating.  Also, seeing an amazing Flamenco show at Casa Patas, and a Cezanne exhibit at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. 

Plaza Mayor walking home after Flamenco show

One of many cool buildings. 

Frank and Tia T

Desert after lunch at La Sanabresa. Great 3 course meal for 10€. 

D and I showing our best Flamemco moves in Plaza Mayor. 

Ansam

 I met Ansam last year through a woman I was introduced to in Portland. It's kind of a crazy story but we ended up doing surgery on her nephew Talal, another crazy story, and we have kept in touch. She is a wonderful, bright and strong woman. 

  Most of the team had left and it is Dr. Jo and I now. We will spend the day with Ansam. 

  Enjoy the pictures and video. 

First a walk through Sebastia, where John the Baptist was beheaded. 

  Olive groves 

Picking wild zatar, oregano

Classic Palestinian country BBQ 

Then we go to her house and watch her make bread with the fresh zatar. She says there is no name for it. I name it sheema. 

It is the most wonderful relaxing day!

Thank you Ansam and family!

Touring Hebron and Bethlehem

After AM rounds ( all kids look better including the baby girl with the trach), we have the traditional tea and kanafee with the hospital administrators. They gives us  plaques, certificates, and Palestinian scarves. 

  It is 1pm when we start our tour day. Off to Hebron. One of the oldest cities in the world. Glass and ceramic factories. Abraham's tomb in a building that is divided into a mosque and a synagogue. 

  There is a lot of conflict in Hebron due to very close contact with the settlers. 

 

Phoenician glass

Ceramics

View of Hebron 

Tomb of Abraham 

The mosque

  Then we dash to Bethlehem, making it into the church as doors close. I am hypoglycemic and can only handle the tour for 10 minutes before I bail to get some food. 

Church of the Nativity

Zealot carrying cross to Jesus manger site

View across the street

It is another long day. 2 hour drive back to hotel and dinner.