The next week I spoke with her again and asked her about her work and said I'd like to visit her hospital some time. She seemed open to it. Then the the 3rd week we made arrangements for me to go to her clinic on Wednesday. 030216. She said she went to lunch at 1. So I asked if I could come at 2. She was fine with it.
The day came I was to meet Mariam Kane at her hospital, dogotoroso. It was a little scary to go in the taxi by myself not really knowing where I am going. But I gave him the information Mariam gave me.
Medina coura.
Makoroba
Pharmaci. Badji
I asked him if he wanted me to call Mariam and he said no problem. So I didn't. When we got to the bridge he said to call her. My problem being my phone was dying. Not sure why it was out so early in the day. I tried to call her and got no response a couple of times. Then she said "hallo?" And I started talking. But it was like the phone had gone dead. I kept calling her name but she didn't answer. I did this about 3-4 times, when I realized it had gone on to voice mail. I told the taxi driver I couldn't reach her and showed him the information again and he went on. He took me to a place called Medina coura, and dropped me off at a place that he said was the dogotoroso. Just at this time Mariam called me and I told her I was there.
I went inside and it looked like I was going into the courtyard of someone's house. There were several ladies sitting around. I approached one and asked for Mariam Kane. They didn't know her. I showed her where I was trying to go and said pharmaci badji. They pointed me down the road. So I started walking. When I got to the cross road, I couldn't see anything that looked like a place of business. Just a long wall. So I went back. This time she walked with me to the crossroad and pointed me down the road and told me to turn right and go left. So I went. When I turned right I passed a building with many people sitting around outside, but there was no wording or signage there to indicate anything. So I kept walking. I got to the main road and found a pharmacy with the word badji on it. I went in there and waited my turn. Shortly a man came up from behind me and greeted me. I asked him for Mariam Kane. He didn't know her. By this time he was speaking to me in English. I gave him the info she had given me and he pointed me back the way I had come. Then he said he'd have someone take me. He got a young man to show me. He took me back to that place with all the people sitting outside. I walked in the door and there was Mariam waiting for me. I was glad to finally be where I was supposed to be.
Mariam took me into a little room that wasn't any bigger than my clothes closet back home. There were two other ladies, Mariam and me in there and sometimes another doctor. There was AC in there and that is why everyone was piled in there. Mariam told me the ladies were nurses. She introduced me to the doctor who was so very friendly. He only spoke French and Bambara. So Mariam had to interpret for us. And Mariam's English is rather poor. But we made it through. I asked questions and he asked questions. I asked to see an exam room. Most of the patients had already come and gone so we were waiting for someone to come in.
Finally the doctor asks Mariam and me to go into his office. He sat behind his desk with a large computer screen on on side and a large box on the other side. So there was only a narrow window to see him. We talked a bit more and then a patient came in. A mom with her young baby about 6 months old. He had the baby sit on the exam table on the other side of the room. The baby cried for her mama. He tried to listen to her lungs but she was crying too much. So he had mama hold her. Then he could listen to her back. He said she had a lung infection. I asked if she had pneumonia but he said it was bronchitis. He said he gave her an antibiotic and a anti cough medicine. She had to go to the pharmacy to get it.
During my time with these gracious people, the doctor shared a picture of his 4 month old daughter. I told him I was a musocoroba (I thought grandmother, but found out later it just means old woman) and he said no. I said, Yes I am. I have 6 grandchildren. I showed him my family pictures.
After the patient visit, the doctor said he'd like Mariam and me to come to his house to meet his family some Saturday. I was very surprised, and told him I'd love to. I told him Mariam has my number. He gave me his business card with his telephone number on it.
He asked me if I wanted a drink, but I thought he was asking if I wanted drinks when I went to his house. I said, sure. So I was ready to leave, but Mariam said to wait. Pretty soon he gave me a Coke to drink. It was so thoughtful of him. I don't usually drink soda, but I did this time. I wouldn't be disrespectful for anything in the world, at least not if I know what I'm doing. I had already gone outside, so Mariam had me sit in the shade until I finished my Coke.
I left it that I would come back some Wednesday in the morning when the patients are there so I can see how things are handled. They seemed happy for me to do that.
I asked Mariam what time the clinic closed. She said it didn't close. People stayed there all night. I asked her when she got off work. She said usually 1 pm. I didn't get there until 2 pm. I said, "You stayed here just special for me?" She nodded her head. It was a matter of miscommunication. That was so sweet of her.
She walked me out to the road to get a taxi and hailed it and told the driver where to take me. I gave her a hug goodbye.
God is good. Pray that this relationship continues to grow.
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