Lauralee Morris
Dr. Lauralee Morris is a a general practitioner working for the Canadian branch of aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Currently on her first mission with MSF, she is working in Lankien, Southern Sudan where MSF delivers basic health care services, including pregnancy care, therapeutic feeding, and programs for the treatment of tuberculosis and Kala Azar.
Cancer
Author: Lauralee Morris
Tell him that I think he has cancer, I say to the paramedic who is acting as my translator. He looks at me blankly. It's when a cell.....ahh...is out of control, I fumble around for the words that will bridge the language and knowledge gap between us. The conversation eventually ends with confusion all around. As far as I can tell, not only is there no Nuer word for cancer, there seems to be no conceptual understanding of it. Cancer, the great bogey man of aging millions in the West, is off the radar in southern Sudan. It's not that cancer doesn't exist here, I'm sure it does, along with other chronic disease such as heart disease, osteoarthritis and chronic lung disease. Cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, nasopharynx, esophagus, and lymph nodes all occur in southern Sudan. But cancer, in the main, is an age related phenomena. It occurs more and more frequently as people move into their 50's, 60's and beyond. Since the average life span here is only about 50 years old, most southern Sudanese do not live long enough to develop cancer! ...
Author: Lauralee Morris
Tell him that I think he has cancer, I say to the paramedic who is acting as my translator. He looks at me blankly. It's when a cell.....ahh...is out of control, I fumble around for the words that will bridge the language and knowledge gap between us. The conversation eventually ends with confusion all around. As far as I can tell, not only is there no Nuer word for cancer, there seems to be no conceptual understanding of it. Cancer, the great bogey man of aging millions in the West, is off the radar in southern Sudan. It's not that cancer doesn't exist here, I'm sure it does, along with other chronic disease such as heart disease, osteoarthritis and chronic lung disease. Cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, nasopharynx, esophagus, and lymph nodes all occur in southern Sudan. But cancer, in the main, is an age related phenomena. It occurs more and more frequently as people move into their 50's, 60's and beyond. Since the average life span here is only about 50 years old, most southern Sudanese do not live long enough to develop cancer! ...
"If you are looking for fairness, you are on the wrong planet!"
Author: Lauralee Morris
1965, St. Wilibrord's School, Chateauguay, Quebec But its not fair, I said to my grade 3 teacher Mrs. Ducey. I cant even remember what my 8-year-old self was complaining about. Though I will always remember the response. If you are looking for fairness, she said, sounding uncharacteristically angry and exasperated, you are on the wrong planet! The moment was pivotal for me; I was shocked and shaken. What if it were true? What if the world was not a fair place? The idea conflicted with my childish schema of how the world worked. ...
Author: Lauralee Morris
1965, St. Wilibrord's School, Chateauguay, Quebec But its not fair, I said to my grade 3 teacher Mrs. Ducey. I cant even remember what my 8-year-old self was complaining about. Though I will always remember the response. If you are looking for fairness, she said, sounding uncharacteristically angry and exasperated, you are on the wrong planet! The moment was pivotal for me; I was shocked and shaken. What if it were true? What if the world was not a fair place? The idea conflicted with my childish schema of how the world worked. ...
Living Conditions and the Expat Compound in Pictures
Author: Lauralee Morris
Do you like camping? my recruiter in Toronto asked me. At the time I did not understand the reason for the question, but now, 7 months later, I totally get it. In many respects, this mission is like a nine month camping trip! I have been told that the living conditions in Lankien, and in other MSF missions in southern Sudan, are particularly difficult. Of course, no matter how harsh they may be, they are still infinitely easier than those of the general population. Yes, we live in tukuls with mud walls and thatched roofs, and yes there is no running water and limited power. But we do have a reasonably nice pit latrine, a shower, and a combination of solar and generator power in the logistics room and the TV tukul. (Yes we have a TV tukul where we watch DVD's, the latest being Heroes and all of Denzel Washington's movies.) We have staff to cook, carry water and wash our clothes. It is a rather upscale camping trip I would say. ...
Author: Lauralee Morris
Do you like camping? my recruiter in Toronto asked me. At the time I did not understand the reason for the question, but now, 7 months later, I totally get it. In many respects, this mission is like a nine month camping trip! I have been told that the living conditions in Lankien, and in other MSF missions in southern Sudan, are particularly difficult. Of course, no matter how harsh they may be, they are still infinitely easier than those of the general population. Yes, we live in tukuls with mud walls and thatched roofs, and yes there is no running water and limited power. But we do have a reasonably nice pit latrine, a shower, and a combination of solar and generator power in the logistics room and the TV tukul. (Yes we have a TV tukul where we watch DVD's, the latest being Heroes and all of Denzel Washington's movies.) We have staff to cook, carry water and wash our clothes. It is a rather upscale camping trip I would say. ...
Vacuum Extraction
Author: Lauralee Morris
July 1984 About 3 degrees south of the Arctic Circle Do you want the vacuum, doctor? the small Inuit nurse asks, really more of a suggestion than a question. Uhh, the vacuum? I say, hesitating. Yah....OK, sure. It was the kind of exchange that occurs when a kindly experienced nurse meets a young inexperienced doctor. ...
Author: Lauralee Morris
July 1984 About 3 degrees south of the Arctic Circle Do you want the vacuum, doctor? the small Inuit nurse asks, really more of a suggestion than a question. Uhh, the vacuum? I say, hesitating. Yah....OK, sure. It was the kind of exchange that occurs when a kindly experienced nurse meets a young inexperienced doctor. ...
Under African Skies
Author: Lauralee Morris
The rainy season has brought some spectacular sky gazing: frothy cumulus clouds, black thunderheads, beautiful sunsets. Leanna, our multi-talented logistician administrator, suggested that Paul Simon had it right. I would tend to agree. Joseph's face was black as night The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes His path was marked By the stars in the Southern Hemisphere And he walked his days Under African skies This is the story of how we begin to remember This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein After the dream of falling and calling your name out These are the roots of rhythm And the roots of rhythm remain Under African Skies Paul Simon For more information on MSF field blogs, visit www.msf.ca.
Next entries
Author: Lauralee Morris
The rainy season has brought some spectacular sky gazing: frothy cumulus clouds, black thunderheads, beautiful sunsets. Leanna, our multi-talented logistician administrator, suggested that Paul Simon had it right. I would tend to agree. Joseph's face was black as night The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes His path was marked By the stars in the Southern Hemisphere And he walked his days Under African skies This is the story of how we begin to remember This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein After the dream of falling and calling your name out These are the roots of rhythm And the roots of rhythm remain Under African Skies Paul Simon For more information on MSF field blogs, visit www.msf.ca.
