While We Are Absent One from Another: (Until We Meet Again)

By Dr Joyce Dixon Hightower

This third volume of the Johnston-Anderson Family Story is a fast-paced adventure of world travel, a life threatening viral epidemic and self-discovery, based on real life experiences. This last book in the trilogy features the fourth generation coming of age, spanning adventures in the North American and African Continent. T

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: Jan 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948556385

Dr Joyce Dixon Hightower

Dr. Joyce Dixon Hightower's professional medical career has taken her around the world in efforts to improve medical facility safety, with a particular emphasis on preventing and controlling infections. Her experiences include work in over 27 countries and living in 6 of those countries for 1-7 years. Her detailed descriptions of scenery and cultural practices result from personal experience concerning medical as well as cultural and social issues, in the African Region. She writes with passion concerning orphans as a result of her work with widows and orphans in many countries, particular an ongoing work in DR Congo, which benefits from the profit from her writings. After retiring in 2015, she treasures time with her children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family and friendsall over the world. She continues as an international health consultant and writer. She says she feels so grateful to have such a wonderful life.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Salome wouldn’t usually be in such a hurry, but the call from Moses early this morning had disrupted her calm and her schedule. Now, headed from the surgical staff dressing room toward the elevator, she was on a mission to meet her brother in the cafeteria and find out what he was really up to. The sharp rapid clicking of her high heeled steps echoed along the long empty hospital corridor. After finishing the last surgery of the morning, she had quickly changed out of her surgery scrubs, and readied herself for working a full afternoon clinic, later. Question swirled around her mind. Why had Moses come all this way, Kenya to California, without any warning? Does he really think I can’t see through his call two hours ago from the airport? It was ridiculous for him to pretend he was in town on business, and merely needed a place to stay? The morning conversation replayed for the hundredth time in her mind.

Hey Sis, I don’t want to put you out. I know you have a busy schedule. How about, if I come to where you work to get the key and directions?

I’ll only have a short time between my last surgery case and my afternoon clinic. You’re going to have to make good time to get here. I’ll text you the directions.

Great! By the way, if you do have a few free minutes when I get there, why not get a bite to eat, together?

Why would Moses travel 10,000 miles, all the way from Nairobi, without any prior notice? Then he decides to give me a call to merely chat? Rubbish! He’s up to something and wants me to be caught off guard.

The combination of the highly-polished floor tiles brightly reflecting the ceiling lights and the newly painted white walls projected health security. This distracted her for a moment. This was very different from the hospitals back home, most of which were housed in buildings that were well over 50 years old. It wasn’t just the age of the cracked walls and broken tiled floors, it was also…tidiness. The concept of the value of unoccupied space… The idea that it is a good thing when there is nothing leaning against the wall at every available inch or stacked in some broken cabinet. Space… yes space was seen very differently here in California. Then again, so were many other things.

Arriving in front of the elevator, she pushed the down button and was reminded that there were important things to be focusing on, at the moment. Moses couldn’t be here because of a family member, parents or one of their other siblings Isaac or Alegria. Mom would have written if there was something wrong with grandparents or cousins. This has to be a Moses only thing, but what could it be?

Waiting for the elevators, she checked her pager for missed calls. There was only 1 and she had taken care of it before the surgery. She was startled as the elevator signaled its arrival with a muffled ring. Adjusting her white coat, Doctor Salome Anderson Delgado entered the open doors and pressed the basement button, destination: the hospital cafeteria.

The sound of many conversations and cutlery and dishes from the lunch crowd warned her of what she would see. She turned the corner into the cafeteria, crowded and as hectic as usual. She sighed, as she less than hopefully scanned the room. Seeing no sign of Moses, she reached for her cell phone to call him. As she waited for him to answer she glanced upwards and saw a funny movement against the back wall. She cancelled the call, as she recognized that funny movement was Moses standing, smiling and waving for her to come join him at the table near the back of the room.

Smiling, she nodded in agreement, then began navigating around tray carrying diners, children running around and people filled chairs sitting a bit too far back from full tables. She paused a few times to return the greetings of other staff members. Finally, she was within earshot of him.

Hey Sis! Thought I would try to grab a table, before they were all taken, Moses said greeting her with a warm embrace. You look great, Doc. Quite striking, actually. Look at you, all professional and stuff with your white coat.

Thank you. Nice of you to say so… Ohhh! I forgot! We’re not supposed to wear our white coats in here. She quickly and surreptitiously removed her white coat, folded it carefully inside out, and placed it on the chair beside her as she sat down. There!

Do I have to go and take a chemical shower, now that I hugged you with the coat on?

No, I got a clean coat after morning rounds and before surgery. So, it has not been used in patient care and poses no risk of transmitting disease, she replied, dismissing the idea.

That’s good, he said in mock relief.

You seem to have found your way, without a problem.

Hey, when you have to travel as much as I do, you develop another sense for direction… Can I get you something? You said you had a short lunch break, right?

Yes, she said glancing at her watch. I do have a very short break, but no thanks. I usually try to eat something, before the last surgery preceding clinic. The last morning surgery has an ugly habit of being longer than expected, leaving no time for lunch afterwards. Fortunately, today that didn’t happen. But feel free to get yourself something, if you like.

No, I’m fine. I can always get something later. I’m not the one with a clinic full of people waiting for me.

So, what’s going on Moses? What’s wrong? Don’t give me that innocent look. I know you. Why did you have to come all the way to California to talk to me?

"Why does there have to be something wrong for me to visit my sister? What if I just missed you and came to see how you were doing?"

Look Moses, this is Salome you’re talking to. I know you inside and out. We’re practically twins, but I’m still a few months older than you. Look, I have surgery clinic this afternoon. So, you don’t have much more time to spit it out. Of course, we could always talk over dinner, which would be your treat of course. Noticing a frown suddenly appear across Moses brow as he gazed into the distance, she stopped short. Don’t tell me you came all this way with no money.

What? No, of course I have money. I was distracted by that guy over there, behind you. He just gave me the most caustic glare I have ever seen. The funny thing is, I don’t think I have ever seen him before.

Where? she said turning around to see.

He’s just gone around the corner, now. I thought at first, he was going to come over to our table. He turned around, just after he gave me that look. He was tall, well-built, must work out. Must be a doctor, too. He had a white coat folded over his arm.

So, you want me to believe that a doctor you don’t know, hates you for some unknown reason? Oh, don’t try to bring distractions, she said warily. Anyway, I’m on call tonight. There’s no telling when I’ll have to run to the hospital for a case.

Well, I’ll gladly take you out to dinner tonight, no problem. But there’s no time like the present. He took a deep breath. So, this is the thing... I...want your advice on a project.

What kind of a project?

You know I started that program for kids with cleft lips three years ago, with that organization that has been doing that for years.

Yes, and that is the best way to approach that type of outreach, because they also train qualified local staff to actually do the surgery and follow up care.

Yes, exactly. Then we started the burned children project for all the children who are disfigured from being burned by falling into open cooking fires or being in houses that catch on fire from fallen candles during the night.

Again, I think your choice of working with the international organizations, which do burn care and follow up with grafting is the best approach.

Yes, so do I. He eagerly agreed and then was quiet.

Somehow Salome sensed he was skirting around another issue and became a little impatient. You have 30 more minutes Moses. What is the problem?

The problem is this. I have no group to come in and help with the children that have clubbed feet. The parents hide them out of shame and never take them for help. If they ever do take them to someone, it is late in the game. The opportunity for the best results are long past. I need you to come and bring your friends to offer this type of surgery for the children that need it. Even for the older ones, maybe something can be done for them.

What?

I need you to promise to come to Meru District Hospital to set up a program for correcting this problem for the kids that need it… at least once or twice a year.

Moses! I knew you were going to come up with something to make me work harder. You always do stuff like that!

Now, Salome, can you listen to me first?

Okay. Go ahead, have your say, she said as she sat back in the chair, crossed her arms and stared at him.

Thanks, Moses said trying to gather confidence. He reached for a napkin from the dispenser in the center of the table and the pin from his shirt pocket and wrote the number one. Just think, you are an orthopedic surgeon, and I hear you are good at your job. You don’t have a family yet, so this is the perfect time for you to do something like this. Salome, imagine of all the good you could do for so many children.

Do you even understand what you are asking? It’s not as simple as you think. What do you mean by saying I haven’t started a family yet, so I have time? I will have you know that I still do not get a full night’s sleep more than 3 times a week. This is my first year with the orthopedic group I joined. I’m still trying to build my practice, so that I can be sure I will have enough to eat and a place to live. And furthermore, I did not go through 4 years of university, 4 years of med school, 5 years of surgery residency, and 2 years of orthopedic fellowship, just to have you tell me what I should be doing with my time!

I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I am simply asking you to help. Now, if you feel that you cannot, for whatever reason be personally involved, then give me some direction...or a contact of someone who can look. All I want is to find a way to help these kids, Salome. It goes without saying that you have really sacrificed a lot to get where you are. I am not trying to down play or devalue that. You are the first in our family to do anything like this. You always were so good in science. I... I just need help and I don’t know where to get it. When we were growing up and I couldn’t find the answer to something, I could always go to you and you would research a solution. I was hoping you could use your magic to do that again, especially since this is your field.

Salome threw her hands up, before uttering a spurted sighed. I’m not promising anything. I especially do not promise to find an answer to your problem. I will ask around and see if any of my partners have any ideas or experience with this kind of a program. Who knows? They could surprise me.

That’s great, Salome. He relaxed back against the chair. I won’t ask for anything more…

"You’re still taking me to dinner."

Of course, I am. What time will you be free and where do you want to go?

I want to go to Le Bistro and I will be ready at 7:30, if all goes well.

I have no idea where this Le Bistro is, but if you tell me where I can pick you up in my rented jalopy, you can show me the way.

You’re staying at my apartment, right? You finally get to take advantage of the spare bedroom. I am always offering it to family, if they come to see me... Wait! How long are you going to be staying?

I came prepared to stay for two weeks, but if it takes longer than that to set things up, I can stay up to a month before I will be counted as being A.W.O.L.

Must be nice.

"I am the founder of the NGO and I also work every day, sometime 14 hours a day. So, I can take some liberties for such an important investment and the overall good."

"One day I will be the senior partner in an orthopedic group. I’ll be able to do worthwhile things like this, without risking my career. I will be so happy to see that day."

You’re not the only one.

∞

I like this Le Bistro place, because they usually have a fresh trout entrée, Salome explained to Moses as she regarded the menu.

That’s right, you only eat fish and chicken these days.

Yes, but chicken less and less. The other secret is their garlic mashed potatoes.

Sounds good. I’ll get whatever you order. Moses put the menu down and looked around. I’m impressed. This is a pretty swanky place. I remember you being quite the frugal one.

"I still am. That’s why you’re paying. Actually, this is somewhat of a treat for me and a celebration. It’s not everyday my twin brother comes all the way to the states just to see me."

Ouch! He grimaced. Fortunately for me, you are so good at making sure you come home at least once a year.

Yeah, you can’t afford to forget where you came from. Mom is so amazing! When I tell people who my mother is, they are impressed that I know her, not to mention I’m related to her. I… uh… don’t usually go into details about the fact that I was an orphan and that she adopted me.

Yeah, me neither. It doesn’t seem important to tell most people. I do mention all of the foundation’s work for orphans. It ties in of course with what I am doing and is a nice segue to explain the projects we have. Sometimes I mention the ones we’re planning, which brings us to the subject at hand.

Right! Well, I have some good news for you. The senior partner in my group was walking down the hall today at the clinic. Knowing I would have to face you this evening, I bolstered up my courage and asked him.

You asked him what, exactly?

I asked him if he knew of any one doing the kind of work you mentioned and …he did.

He did?

Yes, he did. He belongs to a service organization, that has these orthopedic camps once a year in different countries. He of course used the opportunity to invite me to become a member.

Of course.

So, I will be going to a meeting next week to see what they do and whether I want to join. It won’t only be to have them consider doing a project for your need, but it would be a nice opportunity to meet people who have a heart for giving and networking with the community. He was telling me that all kinds of important people are members of the organization. They do some impressive projects.

Sounds great.

Grandpa always says ‘when you make an effort to help others you usually get more than you give’. I really miss home and all of the love and support there. This world is a very different place, with people who don’t care about anything, but what they want. You have to work hard to not let them change you.

I can imagine… and you have been right in the middle of them for quite some time.

Yeah. Small wonder I run home, whenever I can.

Good evening valued guests, the quiet-spoken, yet friendly waiter had appeared noiseless to stand beside their table. My name is Serge and I will be your server tonight. Would you like to hear about today’s specials before you order?

Yes, that would be nice.

Serge went through a list of mouthwatering delights. They finally settled on the stuffed trout, and the evening passed pleasantly, before they retired to Salome’s apartment.

The world must know that Moses is in town. Usually, I would have gotten ten calls by now.

She got called two hours later and had to go in to the hospital. She didn’t make it home again until after hospital rounds the next morning. Even that was just for a quick shower and then off to clinic. She called around 9 am.

"I’m so sorry I forgot to tell you where