through the roof

Greetings.

My first few days in Benin were splendid.

Then I crashed through the roof of a monastery.

Thus began a whirlwind tour of African medical facilities. I’ve fractured my L1 vertebrae and shattered my right foot like porcelain. There’s no nerve damage to my spine, but it’s pretty delicate.

After a codeine-blurred 36 hours bouncing around in the back of an ambulance and visiting many of Benin’s finest doctors, I finally settled into the med clinic at Peace Corp headquarters. For the next 3 days, Doctor Lomo and Doctor Roufin toiled over me trying to determine just how badly I’d jangled myself up. Turns out I did pretty good job. Peace Corps spared no effort or expense in caring for me. I was flown by air ambulance to South Africa for further neurological testing. After a few nights in the Unitas ICU, the South Africans crafted me a fine custom back brace, fed me lots of rooibus tea, and sent me on my way for treatment in the USA.

I'm headed for surgery at George Washington University in DC.

I suppose I should revisit the part where I crash through the roof.

After three hectic days of training, I sought to escape the busy noise of the trainee dorms with my friends Karina and Carlan. We climbed to the third floor of the monastery for a little peace and quiet. We decided to relax on the roof where numerous trainees in years past had enjoyed the view of the courtyard.

As soon as I stepped onto the roof it collapsed and I crashed into the building below. I fell to the concrete floor in a shower of broken tile. It was pretty scary, and it hurt a bunch.

And that's how I installed a new skylight at the Saint Jean Eudes Monestary. Right to work.

It does make me sad to be away from my Peace Corps cohorts who have now joined host families in Porto Novo. You are good people. But I won't shy away from unexpected adventure. I suppose I can't plan for everything, so I'll just keep smiling at people and shooting pictures.

downtown Cotonou, street soccer

Doctor Lomo, stern love

Sheryl Cowan, Benin Country Director, advocate for my return

Monsieur Clement, night shift nurse

Doctor Rufin, "Le Professeur", and the air ambulance team

steve, carlan, karina, jaren

Lucienne, angel of kindness and croissants

Florence

air ambulance

flight paramedics

miniskirts, so hot right now

my South African vacation