Post by Ann Marie

So I was able to talk to Mai (at 4 AM) today and get more information.  She said she is doing the blood testing of the kids for malaria and cholera but she pricks their finger to get the blood.  At first I thought she meant that she full-on had a syringe and needle to do it and thought "those poor kids!".  Mai laughed at me and said, "it's Ghana so it's OK."

Mai also gave me more details on the house she is staying in and said that they have toilets but none of them really work.  She told me a funny story about how one girl went in to use the toilet and came out as it virtually exploded shooting "stuff" to the ceiling.  Not a pleasant thought.

Mai said that there is trash everywhere and that there is not a garbage man to pick things up so everything goes into a pile in the yard and they burn it...plastic and all.  Doesn't sound like something you want to do everyday but if it gets the job done you do what you need to do.

The team took yesterday and today to go to a different area about 45 minutes away for the weekend and stayed in a hotel overnight.  Mai said she was able to take a shower in a real shower and everything which was amazing!  They went to the beach and had some fun before they head back to area they have been staying.  Mai said the food has a lot to be desired compared to what we eat here.  

The little boy in the house Mai is staying in took her new toothbrush again.  They are in a place she was able to buy a new one but she has another week or so to go.  Next year she will be taking a ton of toothbrushes with her so she will be ready for whatever happens.

Post by Ann Marie

There isn't much of an update today from Mai other than they had a chance to relax a little bit and go to the coast.  These kids definitely need a little bit of rest at this point, they are working hard over there making a difference.  

Hopefully I will get more details tomorrow.

Post by Ann Marie

Today Mai went to another school to teach the kids about malaria and cholera.  She said they also dressed the children's' wounds but I am unclear on what kind of wounds needed to be cleaned and bandaged.  She said they were doing blood tests for hepatitis B and malaria at this particular school.  I believe someone else takes the blood and then Mai is doing the testing of the blood.  Don't worry, Mai has been vaccinated for hepatitis B (along with everything else that she could possibly get over there) and is taking antimalarial medicine until after she returns to the US so "in theory" she should be fine.

Mai unfortunately has a cold and is extremely exhausted.  She said she is really really tired because they are working long days and the young kids around her wake up at about 4 AM everyday and aren't very quiet.  The area where Mai is there are not any televisions around or other technologies that parents rely on in the modern areas of the world to keep the kids busy.  

As far as the food goes Mai said they are eating a lot of rice and pasta which is far from what her normal diet in California is like.  They don't have access to fresh fruit and vegetables so everything is either canned or simply plain rice and pasta.  This probably isn't helping her from getting sick and we have already promised to pick her up with a veggie platter for her to eat on the way home.

Food and health are some of the the things that inspired Mai to want to do what she is doing with Hearts for Hearts in Ghana.  She said we take for granted these things in our daily lives because we are fortunate enough to live in a country that they are  plenty. When you visit developing countries around the world people would be shocked at how they can make it by on the basics.  

Post by Ann Marie

There isn't much of an update today from Mai since they were busy at the hospital.  The couple times we spoke were less than a minute because she was in the pediatric ward at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.  The only thing she was able to tell me during the very quick call was that she was taking the temperature of the kids and then we were interrupted so she was off to work again.

Mai said she delivered the medical supplies but I didn't hear how it went.  We are still working on getting the additional glucometers and test strips from Johnson & Johnson in Dubai and South Africa since the One Touch devices she brought use a test strip that isn't licensed in Ghana.  Figures...Mai brought them five devices too.  The folks at Johnson and Johnson are being really helpful trying to get Mai alternative devices to give them.

Short and sweet but I also received the official text from Mai saying "I am alive".  She had promised that no matter how busy she was she would at least let me know once a day that she was still alive.  

​

Post by Ann Marie

I will forewarn you before you read this whole post that is gets a little bit gross.  I wasn't sure how much detail to include but I decided if I give you a heads up you have the opportunity close out. If you want to read half of the post I will let you know just as you are getting to the point you may want to close out.

Mai was back at the Anakaful Leoprosy Camp today and brought ALL of the supplies that she had collected for this particular location.  She was super excited about how thankful they were to receive them,  This location had requested gauze, gloves, bandages and masks which Mai delivered two extra large suitcases filled with these items.  The suitcases were so full that when you start to unzip they nearly pop open because they were so full.

WARNING: This next part that makes you realize why some huge hearted people want to be doctors and why the rest of us send "get well soon cards". 

We knew that Mai would get some really great hands on experience in Ghana that she would never be able to get here in the US.  That said, I wasn't sure they would give a sixteen year old a scalpel but they did.  She said that today she got to clean out the wounds of people with leprosy.  

Mai - I cleaned and cut a leprosy patients' pus filled wounds and I cut off the extra stuff with a knife!  (I think she means scalpel but I am not sure)  Some of the wounds we cleaned were a finger length deep.

Ann Marie - Did you like it or were you grossed out?

Mai - Both for sure!  

Post by Ann Marie

Mai called late in the day to tell me how she went to a school and taught kids about malaria and cholera.  She is really loving the kids and says everyone is incredibly nice.

There is a story about a twelve year old boy that seemed particularly enamored with Mai but that is a story for her to share when she gets back.  

After a long day there is nothing better than going back to the "house" she is staying in to get cleaned up.  Keep in mind that "cleaned up" means a bucket shower with murky water that was collected in the morning.  At least she has her toothbrush and toothpaste so she can brush her teeth.  Well....Mai came home to the kids in the "house" she staying in brushing their teeth with her toothbrush!

Apparently they needed those too but it had not occurred to any of us that such a simple item would have been such a hot commodity!  I asked Mai what she was going to do and fortunately one of the girls on the trip with her had a spare toothbrush.  So Mai's plan last night was to brush her teeth and then lock up her new toothbrush in the lockbox.

To most of us this sounds awful but Mai insists she is in Heaven.

Post by Ann Marie

I was texting last night with Mai and she is in absolute heaven in Ghana.  I told her so many people are asking about her and although I am updating posts on Facebook a few pictures would be great.  She sent some overnight but the best part is what she had to say.  For the same reason she started her foundation is turning out to be as rewarding as she had hoped it would be.
 
Texts from Mai:
“BTW if I didn’t tell you before I love it here so much.  Absolutely in love with the place, the hospital, the people, the kids.  They make it worth the fact that the showers make you dirtier than you were before and when you fill up the bucket the water is so murky you can’t see to the bottom.  Even the fact that there is a massive spider crawling up my mosquito net right in front of my face.”
 
“I really love it here.  It’s completely absolutely amazing and I get excited to wake up every day.  I love not having data and not having to stress about any of it.  And the fact there are no mirrors in this house so I haven’t seen myself at all since I got here.  I just wash my face and go.  I’m ready in three minutes which I love also.” 
 
Ann Marie - I texted that I was jealous.
 
“This is the most amazing experience of my life.  It’s crazy how poor it is here.  Even the nice places are so run down and poor it is absolutely crazy.  The house I am staying in is basically all outdoor, a hut with a roof.”
 
Mai said she would send more pictures but I have includeded one for now.

Post by Ann Marie

​Not much of an update from Mai today since this was the first day she really got to interact with patients. I got the texts "I am alive" and "I love you". 
​
I can't complain when she is at least letting me know she is ok. 

Post by Ann Marie

​Hi everyone! I spoke to Mai this morning and she sounded great. She said she got a wind burn on her face because it took an hour and a half to get to the Cape Coast and she fell asleep with her face up against the open window. 

Mai said today they started the day going to a local church which was fun because they sing the whole time. Her homestay resident has a four year old little girl that she was spending time with and is really cute. 

Tomorrow is the day they really start working with the people who need help which is probably best since they are a bit jet lagged.

Post by Ann Marie

Mai Griffith was interviewed by Maria Dorfner, read the article.

Channel 7 ABC news came out today to interview Mai about her foundation and Ghana. She did great! It airs tomorrow in the 4 PM news hour and we are hoping it brings in more donations before she leaves. We still haven't heard back from Delta about the shipping and we are only a week away 😬​

We received great news this morning!!  One of the companies that we have been working to get donated supplies from is willing to help Hearts for Hearts and donate medical supplies.  We are still working to see how much we are able to get but since they do it by the pound we will choose the lightest items to try to get as much as we can. 


We are also working on getting lower rates for shipping these supplies directly to Ghana since that is probably the best way to get everything through customs (from what we understand).  It is all starting to come together with only five months to go!  


I am still reaching out to other companies on the World Health Organization list to get additional supplies.  Now that the hospitals in Ghana know that supplies are indeed coming they are getting excited too.  I'm just glad to be able to help even if it isn't much.


More updates soon!

Medical Supplies...It's who you knowFebruary 6, 2017
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Mai Griffith
Hi everyone!


I wanted to give you an update of what kind of progress we have made so far.  We have received approximately $2K in cash donations that will help pay for travel and shipping of supplies to Ghana.  Right now I am reaching out to the World Health Organization, on a global level, and local city council members for assistance in getting medical supplies.  


Believe it or not, virtually everything has an expiration date of some kind.  You may wonder, "Why would a bandage have an expiration date at all?"  Well....after a certain amount of time the adhesive on a bandage may not stick to the skin as well so hospitals, clinics and doctor's office have to dispose of these items.  The US restrictions don't allow some of these  items to be used after the expiration date even though they are still sterile and usable.


These supplies are ideal for use in Ghana!  They are still perfectly fine for medical use so why not donate to Hearts for Hearts?   Do you have a surplus of unwanted medical supplies or know of a hospital or Dr.'s office that would be willing to donate? You can make a difference by donating those supplies to the foundation and we will take them to distribute where they are most needed and put to good use.


Please email me at mai@hforhfoundation.org if you have any contacts that can help.  


Thank you!!

Hi everyone!  For all of you wonderful people out there that donated to Hearts for Hearts in 2016 you are helping make a difference!!  By now everyone should have received their receipts for donations so if you haven't please let me know ASAP.  ​

We had our first formal fundraiser last weekend and it turned out great!  We had a bonfire at the fire pits at Capo Beach with 25 friends from SMCHS.  We raised almost $500 towards the goal of $5000 so we are on our way!!  I am so thankful for the friends and families that have donated so far.  


I have stickers and pins that I am selling to get the word out about Hearts for Hearts so please let me know if you would like one.