Friday, May 13, 2011

Friday Hometown Shootout -- Medical Professionals

ANGRY PREFACE  -

This blog was half done on Thursday morning.  Barclay came in and wrote fascinating captions explaining each of the pictures, where they were taken, what their significance was -- and FREAKING BLOGSPOT.COM CRASHED!!!  When I retreived it this afternoon, the captions were all missing!  I know that Barclay would rewrite them -- but he's into so many projects that I hate to ask him.  If he does sometime rewrite them, I'll repost it.  But for now, I'll post what was one of my favorite blogs until the blogger crash.  Sob sob.  Anyhow - the first part that follows this angry whine is my part of the post.  After that are all Barclay's pictures.  But the real captions are missing.  I'll make a note of two from what I know of them -- which isn't much.

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I'm so glad the topic this week is medical professionals because I've been able to convince a good friend to do a guest blog!   It is with great honor and sadness that I ask you to welcome, Dr. Barclay Stewart!

Ta DA!

Barclay is the one on the right.

It has been an honor to have him living with us when he came back to the Medical University of South Carolina to complete his studies after taking time off from his medical studies to pick up a Masters Degree in Public Health, Conflict and Humanitarian Aid at the University of London.  It's been wonderful listening to his thoughts, his tales of his trips to third world countries during those rare time when he was actually in the house -- most of the time, he has been doing rotations in the MUSC emergency room and other departments and teaching, lecturing, or writing scientific papers.  And it is sad because he will soon be leaving to begin a 7-year residency at the University of Washington Hospital System in Seattle.

For those of you have haven't followed my blogs, Barclay is a son of Karen's best friend since grammer school and I watched him grow up from a bright little kid to a man who, frankly, I am in awe of -- (he probably won't like reading that, but it is true).

Before going to the University of London, he spent a summer in Sudan, researching diseases whose names I won't pretend to remember, and looking for more effective ways to treat them.  I think what I admire more about him even more than his intelligence is his natural way of relating sincerely and patiently with everybody no matter what their age or education. 

But instead of gushing on forever, I need to turn this over to Barclay who has pulled a few of his pictures. 

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Caption:  This is probably in the Sudan where he was doing research on the spread of diseases from animals to humans or humans to humans via animals or something...


Caption:  He called this picture the "Matriarchs" but I'll bet there was more of a story than that.


Caption:  Not the best obstetrics clinic in the world.

Caption:  Although the clinincs he and his colleagues set up in distant camps did research they also treated people.  Come to think of it, I'm betting Barclay didn't actually take this one because the out of focus figure in the background looking at the laptop looks like him to me.


Caption:  I remember him telling me that families in the bush would bring urine and stool samples for one of the research projects.  He noted in this picture that some of them tied ribbons and things to the bottles to make them look more...well, like gifts.


Caption:  Dosing pole -- One of the things he was doing was teaching villagers how to give the correct dose of medicines and they made these dosing poles so the person would stand next to it and the person dispensing the medicine would know what dose to give.


Caption:   I have no idea what this is about.  I sure wish Blogspot hadn't erased
Barclay's explanations.



Caption:  This one was pretty anyhow.



Caption:   Maybe this is a case where we might be glad his description uis missing since the basic jpeg name of this is "leprosy."  


 

Caption:  It is not all peace in Africa.  Although it seems most people accepted Barclay and his colleagues pretty well.  This guy, Barclay pointed out, kind of matched his AK-47 with his outfit.  The fasion of war.



Caption:  Here's a cute little kid posing next to a bullet hole.


Barclay and friends




18 comments:

  1. Fascinating - despite missing captions because of Bloggers wanton carelessness with precious posts.

    I bet Barclay would say you have been a role model for him. :) All the best to him as he continues his studies with a view to humanitarian service.

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  2. You did great getting that up, as far as we know. I know how blankety blank, Blogger can be. He is a fine looking young man and full of energy and aspirations. You are blessed to know him.
    QMM

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  3. amazing photos you got here.. whoa i really miss the Friday Shootout..

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  4. Fantastic photos. I experienced the Blogger shut down myself (sniff, sniff). I think Barclay would understand and approve.

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  5. Your disappointment in this post not working out as you intended is obvious. But I think you did a great job of honouring the young man you obviously hold in high esteem.
    (Your header surprised me, I expected to see bandages and an eye patch for some reason!)

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  6. Barclay has my utter respect for what he does - I truly admire people like him, for I don't think I would be able to do that, I am way too selfish and squeamish.

    And yes, I have lost (or at least I think I have) a post I had prepared, too, and a number of comments from my precious few readers thanks to blogspot's "maintenance"...

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  7. I completely understand your frustration not only that Blogger went down but on top of all it was your friend's guest post that got messed up. I suppose if you happened to be working on it just as things crashed, the captions could have escaped getting saved. Otherwise it seems the Blogger team are still working on restoring things - their Twitter message this morning said "Nearly all posts since Wed. are restored, now bringing back comments from last couple days. They should be back this weekend or sooner."

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  8. a wonderful story and really great photos, even without his comments. we all suffered from the take down, but you seem to have suffered the most. sorry

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  9. Having photographed in Third World countries, and knowing a little about Barclay from our emails, I appreciate your sharing the photos. I am happy to say that I am now retired-retired, at least as far as the kind of photos I have been taking for the past year. I am taking a break from my cameras before jumping into some more meaningful work.

    Hey Barclay, if you ever get up this way, we have 2 extra bedroom, but you will have to share with 5 cats.

    I'm freeeee!

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  10. Bugger Blogger, this is still a stunning post. Thank you for the photographs and reminding me that this a big, complicated world.

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  11. I too am fascinated. More! More!
    And envious of the courage it takes to just go out and do that.

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  12. I do hope you get the chance to post this again with Barclay's help. first off, so wonderful what Barclay is doing. takes a very special person. second, this is so fascinating to me and interesting.

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  13. No matter what happens in the U.S....the world goes on, doesn't it?

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  14. I'm so sorry that blogger's crash erased those captions--those are amazing pictures. What an incredible experience.

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  15. So sad about the blog crash that a real bummer. This blog is still wonderful though he's a hero in my mind.

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