The Good, The Bad, & The Unknown

I'm very overdue for an update, a blog post, an anything...so buckle up!

The Good
Some of you may have seen the exciting, official unveiling of the Global Mercy (GLM)! This new, state-of-the-art, built to purpose vessel will more than double the organization's capacity to provide free surgery, and includes some really fantastic features to improve our training capabilities (like a snazzy simulation lab)! 

But don't just listen to me talk about it...take a look!

I'm pretty darn excited about it! The hospital layout is going to be so much better - not just for us, but for our patients, as well. They'll have WINDOWS, a veranda they can always access, and overflow beds for caregivers. The wards have an enclosed nursing station, which is much nicer for night-shift, and will have computer stations for charting! That's right - we're moving into this century with digital charting! 

The GLM just completed its first 'Sea Trials' where the engines & maneuverability were put to test, and exceeded all expectations. I'm looking forward to getting to know this ship when the transition happens - tentatively planned for late next year!

The Even More Good

Even better news, the BBC recently reported on the success of the government, professionals, and people of Senegal at keeping COVID-19 at bay. Several key factors here: they have an incredible infectious disease center (L'Institut Pasteur) which has developed several testing options (including an inexpensive, 15 minute test). They also were able to more than double their ICU capacity. Hearing that they started with only 10 - 12 beds equipped to care for COVID patients definitely drove home how vital it was that our crew not end up taking any of those much-needed spaces. Leaving was tough, but it ensured we would not become an avoidable burden. 

The Bad

Unfortunately, COVID is still making it challenging to pick up where we left off. International travel is hard, and - for most people - may involve quarantines on either side of said travel. In the pre-pandemic days, we relied tremendously on short-term volunteers who spent as long as a few months to as little as two weeks on board. It's pretty hard to ask someone to leave their normal workplace for 6-8 weeks for only 2 weeks of actual service. 

These factors drove the decision to postpone our return to April 2021; although as that date creeps closer, I'm still wary of how unpredictable this pandemic has been. Vaccine rollout is promising, but is still months away from having much of an impact on transmission.

The Unknown

So, here we are. The strangest Christmas in my lifetime after the most challenging year of my lifetime. I am incredibly grateful for everyone who helped support me through this unexpected furlough - from the trailer I was able to quarantine in, to family letting me bring my laundry over, to temporary job opportunities lining up and a living space falling into place. I have joined a reservist roster with the Red Cross, and so expect to be doing...well, something, with them come the new year. Could be COVID testing, could be vaccines, could be something else entirely! And where in Canada that will be is just as much up in the air. As is so often the case, though, the opportunity seemed to fall in my lap right when I was debating what to do next. So I am most grateful for someone who knows my needs before I do, and who always has a route mapped out, though I can only see the next few steps. 

*cue relevant Disney musical number*

I am still tentatively signed up to attend On Boarding, the Mercy Ships training program for long-term crew, come March. This takes place in Texas, and I'm sure you can imagine my hesitance to travel anywhere in the US at the moment! I'm trying my best, though, to trust that map that I can't see, and the One who has already charted the course. 

Thank you to all who have and continue to support me in this journey.
I will leave you with this very awkward bundle of great memories from this time last year, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Joyeux Noël.

-D