Genevieve and Rose updates

 

When I was half-way through my contract and on leave last year, I started a post intending to give updates on people I had written about since I returned to Ghana two years previously. But I was on leave and gradually my schedule was getting more filled. Then, when I got back to Ghana in December, there were other things going on in the world (there increasingly are…) which were on my mind, so I wrote about that. Then I received the video about Hope for Life, which I think is excellently done and gives a good image of what is going on, and posted that. And now, I am gradually getting around to updates on people I have written about.

Genvieve (first post & the previous update - 3rd paragraph)

Genvieve was one of the first people I talked about when I returned. It has been thirty years since I first met her. Though she lives in her family home, she doesn’t get a lot of support from the family – even for something as simple as help getting a bucket of water so she can take her bath. It was the same thing thirty years ago. At that time, I had a wonderful local social worker as my colleague and we had conversations with the family. The talks were fine and helpful for a small time while her father was still alive, but, thirty years later, things have reverted. Her father, who had looked out for her, has passed on and the rest of the family treat her as a small child and give little respect or assistance.

Thirty years ago, selling lotto tickets was her primary means of earning a living. These days, however, Ghanaians have gravitated more to online betting and, as I wrote a couple of years ago, Genvieve has been trying to build up a kerosene selling business. After that update, friends sent a donation to give her the needed boost for her kerosene business, which took off for a while. Unfortunately, that was thanks primarily to one specific customer and when that customer was transferred away, Genvieve once again found herself trying to build her business up. 

Setting up the table with some of her kerosene to sell

She had started to repay the money given to her. Without her knowing, the plan was that when repaid, the amount would be returned to her with an additional boost. But when the business ran into difficulties, the repayments (which were basically savings) also stopped. The plan of her getting an extra boost was not successful.

With Christy (her HFL branch coordinator) and Mr. Kyei (HFL president) 

It’s still a struggle for her - - - and I am still struggling to figure out how best to provide support at this time – support at a variety of levels that could actually make her business more helpful for her and encourage her family to be more supportive. She has been struggling in life ever since I’ve known her – I am not giving up hope, but I wonder what else is going on and how can we break this cycle, even if late in life.

Rose

One of the more recent people I wrote about, who I’ve also known for 30 years, is Rose. She’s a sweetheart and she often connects in a very special, warm, natural way with people, surpassing language barriers (especially in my case). Rose and Mariatu, another Hope for Life member from Tamale in the north, came to Bethany House for a couple of weeks over Christmas and New Year’s. They have been good friends for at least 30 years. Several others passed through during the holiday period – to spend a day or, as with Dawood, to spend some nights. 

 

Rose (bottom right), Mariatu (above Rose), Geoffrey, Nasara (Mariatu's daughter), Betty (long-time member/friend

We also visited other long-time friends and members 

Some gifts I'd brought back with me from my leave were wrapped in "recycled" plastic bags that were broken...with the recycling only ending up in the trash anyway...

 

It was a special time - - playing Jenga, eating together, laughing, etc. Michael, who had been taking care of mushrooms at that time, had his wife and kids come for a few days and Mariatu had also come with her daughter, Nasara. 

One of many Jenga evenings, with Prosper and Dawood

With N/A bubbly on New Year's Eve

 

With a friend I brought back from Halloween season in the US (a magnet)

Rose is going through chemotherapy which has been extremely harsh on her. While going through the 6-week treatment periods, she experiences a variety of the expected side-effects, including blisters on her hands, feet and in her mouth. Eating is difficult. We have opened our doors for her to stay with us whenever she wants. She is comfortable here - - thanks to new screens on the rooms, mosquitos are not a problem for her, we have running water, electricity, there are people around, so she can have company, there is help with meals, even though she doesn’t eat much while going through the chemo, etc. Her usual means of getting around, moving forward in a squat position, becomes difficult due to the blisters. 

 

During last year's HFL elections

Fortunately, we have a small wheelchair in the house which she makes good use of during her stays. Following the course of chemo, she chooses to return to her family for a couple of weeks until the next round begins…then she comes back to be with us. 

At her home last year during her treatments, prior to coming to our house for the duration of the treatment cycle

Getting Rene Mei therapy from Sarah, part of the outreach team once per week

I just took her home earlier this week and the doctor will be next week. Rose plans to return to our house the same day she goes to the doctor. She is a special presence in the house and I usually begin and end my days with a stop in her room for a small talk.

I don’t know what her prognosis is. I have accompanied her a couple of times to the doctor when she goes for her review. But it’s never the same doctor. One time when I was there the doctor took time and answered some questions. The next time the doctor didn’t even talk to Rose to ask how she was doing – he only pulled up her files to see what was being done and wrote prescriptions based upon what was done last time. No greetings…no how are you doing with this medicine…no questions about side-effects and how they can be addressed… As he wordlessly gave her the prescription, I asked a few questions about the side-effects and was offered the response: “those are side-effects.” Basically, we were dismissed. I’m hoping for a better doctor this Friday.