Dear Colleagues and friends of Kijabe Pathology,
I am pleased to be writing to you at this time as much has happened since my last correspondence of September, 2017. Foremost in my mind are the wonderful volunteers who have served from September 25 to the present.
Thank Yous:
- Drs. Mary and Kelsey McHugh, for covering the pathology service from September 25 to October 20.
- Dr. Fody, for covering the service from October 22 to November 3. Thank you, Dr. Hinson, for covering the service from November 9 to November 28.
- Dr. Parmley, for your service from November 14 working with Dr. Hinson and extending coverage to December 4.
- Dr. Jensen, for covering the service from December 4 to December 15.
- Drs Garcia, Long, and Mantilla, for your coverage of the service from January 1 through February 17.
- Mrs. Ginger Jensen, Dr. Garcia’s mother for her service, too. I can only imagine all the support you give to your daughter and her accompanying fellows over the time you were there. I am sure it was appreciated.
The big news that I have the privilege to report is the installation of the new “Myr” tissue processor. Dr. Davidson recognized the need that many of the volunteers including myself knew, but in August he took the initiative to raise funds for the purchase of the “Myr”, utilizing the existing Pathology Samaritan’s Purse Kijabe Project account # 002585 fund at World Medical Missions, and with the help of David Shirk, soliciting for funds through Friends of Kijabe (friendsofkijabe.org).
Our goal was $30,000 and by October we were blessed with sufficient funds to cover the purchase of the Myr. The contract for purchase was made in October and finally on January 15, 2018, the instrument arrived. Installation
and training took place almost immediately and it was in service on the 16th or 17th of January. Our lead histologist, Phyllis, wrote to me on January 19 the following: “These are the photos of the new tissue processor. We had the chaplains dedicate it and the training was done one day and I and Peris are now using it. It is so nice and easy to use. Thanks to all who have worked towards getting this tissue processor and may the Lord bless them all”.
The old Technicon was no longer oscillating but lasted until arrival of the “Myr”. No small miracle!
I am blessed with wonderful innovative, energetic, and, yes, younger volunteers and friends of Kijabe. Out of this circle of talented people came many ideas. Dr. Brad Jensen and David Hughes obtained a donation of a Sakura flow-through tissue processor. When “road snags” held up the Sakura processor Dr. Darrell Davidson took the baton and arranged the process for buying the “Mir” processor.
Meanwhile Dr. Phillip Ferguson was working on assessing water quality, 10% formalin formulations, and microtome sectioning issues. All of us are at the same time working on recruiting volunteers along with Mary Everett and Dr. Rich Davis back in Kijabe.
With all this activity, Dr. Jensen suggested we set up a somewhat regular conference call where all the ideas could be shared and we all could be aware of the work being done. Our first conference call took place in December. Connected at one time was Dr. Brad Jensen, David Hughes, Dr. Rochelle Garcia, Dr. Darrell Davidson, Dr Kelsey McHugh, Dr. Phillip Ferguson, Mary Everett, Dr. Richard Davis, and myself, the technically challenged one. In one hour we covered topics from equipment, supplies, staffing, what to do in the absence of staffing, water quality, results of formalin testing, costs of shipping, equipment maintenance and repair, volunteer lodging issues, and probably other things that escape my memory. It was a very productive meeting, all thanks to Dr Jensen’s idea and work setting it up.
We met by phone again on the 23rd of January and could see where we were with the topics brought forward from our December meeting. Progress is being made. It is exciting! I would describe the group not so much as “an inner circle” as an “interested circle”. If any of you, my readers, would like to join because of your own ideas and interests, please contact me at marileedm@comcast.net .
Now a closing word of our volunteer need, the need is always there! The 2018 schedule and 2019 schedule is “pasted below” [see Volunteer Schedule]. You will see that there are a few open times (March 17-May 6, and July 27-August 31). If you can help out in 2018 or in all the open times of 2019, please contact Mary Everett at World Medical Mission via e-mail: meverett@samaritan.org or by phone: 828-278-1177.
If you want to find out more about volunteering at Kijabe, you can contact me at marileedm@comcast.net or by phone, 616-283-5793. Leave a message and I will get back to you as promptly as I can.