Medical Missions Foundation

Farewell from Zina

Following below is a brief summary of Zina's gratitude as told to Moussa, a translator and part of the Kansas City "village".  Zina is returning to Mali to plant his crops and care for his family.  Moussa would like to convey that the translation below does not fully capture the sincerity and essence of Zina's words:

To Abby and Tammy, words are not enough to show my gratitude and thankfulness for all you have done and continue to do for Boi and myself. I do thank all the doctors; (he listed them all by names) for such a wonder you have done for my son. I talked to an acquaintance of mine back in Mali; he is a physician, and when I told him all you have done for Boi, he does not believe it. He thinks it's impossible. To me, if someone like that; a trusted physician - healer cannot believe it; it just shows me the magnificence of what you all accomplished. I thank all the people that I have come across, who have shown love and acceptance to Boi and myself. Being from a rural area, I really have no concept of how much money the surgery cost; but I know it has to have been a lot.  I do thank you all very much for showing us such generosity and healing to my son.

In Mali, we have a saying that when you meet a stranger and visit with him; upon departure from each other you have to ask for forgiveness and wish him well. That said, I do want to offer my apologies to anyone I might have offended.  Being from a different culture, I am sure I did offend some of you; please accept my apologies. 

"I leave Kansas City, knowing that my son is in good hands and again thank you."  "I wish you all well."

Zina

The Long Weekend

And that it was, for Boi and Zina.  Boi spent his weekend in the KU PICU asleep.  Yesterday, they took him to the OR to "wake him up".  He is congested and has a sore throat but I know will be back to his usual self in a few days.  Zina on the other hand had a very exciting weekend.  He spent some time with Moussa and his family.  It is always nice for him just to "hang out" with friends that speak Bamaran.  On Sunday, he went with Doug Hagen and his kids to their lake house.  Zina had a great time riding in the boat and the wave runner and even took several rides on the tube behind the boat.  The Hagen's took this on without a translator, must have been an adventure for all.  When I asked Doug if Zina knew how to swim he said, "yes, we figured that out by trial and error!"  Another change of plans, with the time table not set for Boi, Zina will be going back to Mali tomorrow. He needs to care for his family and his fields are growing weeds.  He will be going home with suitcases full of gifts of clothes, gifts for his family, a solar powered battery charger (they use a car battery for power at night) and money to replace the 2 ox that he sold to pay for Boi's medical care before we came.  With the ox he will be able to plow his fields and plant his crops.  So, he is entrusting Boi's care to us, the Kansas City village, and Tammy and I have promised to send him home healthy and spoiled rotten!

Abigail

Resting Comfortably in PICU

After 8 more hours in the operating room on Wednesday, Boi is resting comfortably in PICU.  Part of the tissue flap to his soft palate is not healing well because he seems to have a clotting abnormality in his blood making the blood flow to the tissue flap not good.  The new flap also is not taking well so they are investigating a new plan to cover that space.  Boi is doing well and all of the other reconstructive work is healing great.  He will need more surgery though to correct this problem. We are not sure yet when this will be scheduled but plan to keep him here as long as we need to be sure he is well healed.

The Flap, Trust and Bravery

Yesterday Boi had surgery at KU Med.  I think the falling "free flap" was bugging him more than the tumor. Or he has so much trust in all of us that he knew everything would be OK.  He showed very little fear and was so brave!! Maybe it was a little of all, the flap, trust and bravery.  I packed a little bag of toys for him to bring to KU, he wanted to leave it here.  He ran to the car and walked into KU like he owned the place. 

We breezed through registration and went right to pre-op where we were greeted by the same crew. He had a few tears while drinking the "magic juice" Ron gave him, it does not taste good, but was soon drowsy and ready to go to the OR.  This time, no trach, and a straight forward intubation.  Doug, Chris, and David, with many other helping hands, proceeded with the free flap procedure and 10 hours later, Boi was on his way to the PICU.  While they were wanting him not to come back, they are so happy to be the ones to care for him.  Today, he is doing well, resting and will stay there until some time next week.  So, again, a heartfelt thank you to all the villagers at KU Medical Center!!  Abigail

View Face of Bravery

Medical Missions Foundation Board member, Elizabeth Alex, aired an exclusive story on NBC Action News on May 14th called Face of Bravery.  You can view the story on You Tube by going to www.youtube.com/mmfworld.

A Celebration and a Change of Plans

Sunday evening at the Hayo Compound was a blast!  It was a beautiful day and the compound was full of villagers. The theme changed from a going away party to a celebration of all the good things that have happened for Boi and Zina and all of the new wonderful friendships that we all have made throughout this journey.  The food, wow, the food!  Cindy, Mary Alice, Sakou and Moussa all brought "peanut butter gravy", it was fabulous!  Sakou and his friends taught us how to marinate the kabobs "Mali style" and they were great too.  Mary Jane made mango salsa, also a hit.  Zina made "special gun powder" tea just like he does at home.  We listened to Mali music while Boi played the drums and "nagoni".   We also celebrated Boi's upcoming birthday with a huge cake covered with his favorite things, cars.

As far as the change of plans...The "free flap" in Boi's mouth is not healing properly.  To quote Doug Girog, "we want him to go home bullet proof" so Boi will go back to KU Med Tuesday for surgery.  Drs. Girod,   Kriet, Larson and Torline are all scheduled to be there.  This is the procedure that requires microscopic, vascular anastamoses, which is tedious and time consuming.  They are projecting a 6-10 hour case.  Boi will go back to PICU for a week or so and will need to stay here for 3 more weeks.  So, looking at the big picture, the tumor is gone and Boi has the best care in the world, my opinion, available to him.  This is just a bump in the road.  And when he does go home, he will be "bullet proof".  Abigail

A House Call and Worlds of Fun

This morning Dr. David Kriet came by to look at Boi.  His visit even incuded a ride in his Porsche!!  In the afternoon, Tammy and I took Zina and all of the kids to Worlds of Fun.  Zina rode the Boomerang and the Finish Flame.  He was in line for the Mamba but escaped just before boarding.  He was shaking his head most of the way out and asked Dennis later tonight, what happens if the power goes out and you are hanging upside down?  Good point, it happens!  Boi, spent the whole time at Camp Snoopy.  We rode the Wacky Worm, many times and rode all the other rides.  He on the other hand, cried the whole way out, wanting to know why he could not ride the big roller coasters.

Abigail

Congressional Forum, fun at the TV station

Boi, Zina, Dennis, Cindy, Elizabeth, Jane and I were the guests of Stephene and Congressman Moore today at the Congressional Forum in Kansas City, Kansas.  Stephene gave a very nice talk about Medical Missions Foundation, which of course included Boi's story.  From there we went by the KSHB News Station for a tour.  Gary was there too with Stormy, Boi and Zina were quite impressed with the station and Stormy's tricks!  It is finally reasonably warm for Boi and Zina, so the rest of the day will be spent outside.

Abigail

Our Contrasting Worlds

The small rural village of Daganbougou, Mali, to Kansas City, the heart of America, are worlds apart. Vastly different customs, cultures and world views.  Zina and Boi’s trip to the US is a dream come true for literally every Malian.  Everyone holds the U.S. up as the greatest country, the most developed country, the richest, the best place to visit. Zina and Boi have now seen it with their own eyes and experienced it.  Zina confirms that the stories he has heard all his life of this great country are really true!  This is the greatest country. However, the contrasts are striking.  Here are some cultural encounters the Doumbia’s have noticed.

• In Mali, food is prepared and then served in one large common bowl/pan with every one sharing equally together, eating out of the same bowl with their right hand. Here we each need to have our own plate, silverware and our own potions! If anyone is around when food is being served they are always invited to eat!
• In Zina’s village, everything in the hut has practical useful beneficial value that is helping in the struggle of day to day life.  Here the houses are filled with things that just sit, on shelves, on tables on the floor, never touched or used Things that are just for the eyes to look at with no apparent “practical” value for helping in the struggle of life.  Just a lot of “nothings”.
• In the Malian village there is one outside bathroom for the extended family.  Here there are 3-4 bathrooms in each house, while only a couple people living in the house.  Why do American’s need so many bathrooms?
• Why in America do we keep dogs in the house with us?  And why in the bedrooms? In Mali dogs are left to run. Why do we leash our dogs and walk them?
• For Zina and Boi, America has been the coldest place they have ever been! They have never been so cold.  Even tap water is too cold to drink.  But why do American’s always put ice cubes in the drinking water to make it even colder?
• In Mali, coffee is with tons of sugar and NEVER milk.  How can American’s drink coffee with no sugar? (Zina used 12 packets of sugar in his small coffee)
• While watching traffic, most cars only have one person in them.  It seems the husband and wife never leave the house in the same car. Why can’t American husbands and wife’s ride in the same car?
• The extended “Boi family/village” in Kansas City treat Boi like their own child. Why? It is difficult for them to understand such kindness. But they truly appreciate it! 
• In Malian culture you ALWAYS acknowledge people when you enter a room.  You greet them and in most cases go around the room and shake their hands. While in the waiting room at KU Medical center, people would enter the room and never acknowledge us, never greet us.  People come and go and never acknowledge us! Why? 
• In Malian culture, when you visit a new place you are assigned a host family.  While you are there and when ever you return that family always remains your host family. To move to another host family is strange and culturally unacceptable, even unthinkable.  Why do American’s always keep changing our host family?
• As subsistence farmers in Mali, only a few kids in the family get to go to school.  Why do all American kids get to go off to school each day?
• In Mali, as a third world country, the struggle is for development.  The mindset and world view is in the context of a constant struggle to “keep building, keep improving”  one life, one neighborhood, the community and country.  Here in America the “development is done.  The country is all built, developed, the struggle of development is over.  We have achieved it.  Now we can rest, look at it, enjoy it!”
• In Mali, you drink water AFTER the meal and you drink all you need.  Why do American’s have to keep sipping little bits of water, with ice cubes in it, between meals?
• IN Mali work is accomplished with their hands.  It seems Americans have machines to do all their work.  Don’t Americans want to work with their hands?  While in the lobby of KU Medical Center, the front door kept opening for people and then would close after them.  No one ever had to touch it!  The door just knew when to open!!  We don’t even open our own doors ourselves … machines do it?
• In Mali, ONLY men wear pants. In Mali ONLY teenagers and not yet married girls wear pants.  If a Malian women is wearing pants she is “without direction” and no authority to guide her.  Why in America do men and women all wear pants?
• Why do men in America wear earrings?
• Sitting in the waiting room at KU, people kept coming by and purchasing drinks and food from the vending machines.  Zina’s curiosity finally was too much. He asked me about it.  People put in what is almost the equivalent of a day’s wage in Mali and all they get out is a small bottle of Coke? Why not just drink free water on the other side of the room? And the vending machine just keeps “eating” people’s money and “never fills up”! It’s like it’s always hungry.  Why?  Where is all this money going?
• These issue were discussed how different cultures are, neither being wrong but just different.  This was truly an eye opening, amazing, life changing experience for Boi and Zina!!!
• While there are cultural contrasts, Zina and Boi are appreciative and thankful for the generosity and hospitality shown to them.  While they may not express it in ways we would recognize they are extremely thankful to their new “village”. 

Dennis and Cindy Wiens

A Final Day with the Doctors

Another first for Boi and Zina today, a trip to the dentist!  They both had their teeth cleaned and got the "run down" on the importance of oral hygiene. Thank you Dr. Nora Frandsen for the donation of your time and talents, welcome to the village!  Boi had his final CT scan at KU Med this morning, Boi's last trip to the hospital.  They are coming back to the Hayo compound tonight, just a few more days in Kansas City, hard to believe.

The Fun Continues...

Today at the Girod house, we ventured to Bonner Springs to Moon Marble Company.  As we jumped out of our car a coal train went whizzing by just steps away - it was very exciting!  Inside Moon Marble we filled two tubes of marbles - one for Boi and one for Zina.  After that we went to Oak Park Mall to ride the carousel - which was a big hit with with both of them.  Moussa Ba was able to join us for dinner tonight - it was fabulous to ask questions with an interpreter there and learn about Zina's life in Mali and to hear what he thinks of Kansas.  I asked him if he was happy with the way the operation turned out and he said that he never imagined they could have such a good result.  He couldn't believe that it was possible.   Tomorrow we are invited to Moussa's home for dinner!

Tune in to Boi's Story

Medical Missions Foundation Board member, Elizabeth Alex, will be airing an exclusive story on NBC Action News at 10 pm, Wed. May 14th on Channel 13 in the Greater Kansas City area.  Please tune in and after the story is aired, log on to www.nbcactionnews.com to view the story online.  Additional information and pictures will also be posted.

Burgers and a Bald Eagle

Today was a terrific first full day at the Girod's.  After a breakfast of scrambled eggs, Boi met the two neighbor boys and had a great time playing on their swing set and riding bikes.  Zina was able to chat with the neighbors who speak French.  We had lunch at Tanners - hot wings and burgers for all - and then headed to Deanna Rose Family Farmstead.  We went on a hayride, Boi rode a pony and we fed lots of goats and ducks.  Boi and Zina saw their first Bald Eagle.  They seemed to really enjoy seeing all the animals.  After a busy afternoon, we retreated back to the house for a nice family dinner where Zina helped with our pronunciation of the Bambara language (from the phrase book).  He seemed to enjoy our efforts!  We are looking forward to the rest of our week together.

Jimmy Girod

A Day at School

After helping with translation for the last footage for the documentary on Boi we took Boi and Zina to our home in North Kansas City.  After three helpings of peanut butter gravy and rice with Malian balaphone music playing, and a round of tea we were ready to head to school.  In Daganbougou, Mali where Boi lives, his school only goes up to third grade.  Class rooms are very simple and one teacher may have up to 75 children in one room. Occasionally you are required to bring your own stool to class to have a seat. Often times slates and chalk are used for writing tablets. There are no cafeterias, computers, bathrooms, or playground equipment .   In fact there is no electricity or running water in their village.  After you pass 3rd grade you are either sent away to a bigger town for further education or you work hard in the fields helping your family make a living as a subsistence farmer.  Boi has had several opportunities to visit schools here in Kansas City and yesterday he got to visit Ravenwood Elementary School where Brooke teaches.  You could just tell that he was thoroughly enjoying writing his name, painting a computerized picture in the computer lab, recess, and the highlight was watching the kids all board the big yellow school busses and waving good bye to them as they left!  Zina asked a lot of questions about the school.  He noticed that most of the teachers were women  whereas in his country most teachers are men.  He also was very interested in the fact that Special Ed. kids were a part of school and playing on the playground with all the rest of the kids.  That wouldn't happen in his country where handicapped or special needs kids are kept hidden away behind the walls of their compound.

From school we went to Penguin Park where Boi enjoyed the large statue animals, swings, slides, motorcycle on a spring, and absolutely loved the merry go round.  He just wasn't sure at all about sitting on an elephant!  At the end of the day Boi was pooped!  After about 5 minutes in the car he conked out!  Dennis, Brooke, and I had a wonderful day with Boi and Zina.  It was so fun to see and experience American life through their eyes.   ~Cindy Wiens~

The Adventure Continues...

Boi is having a great time at the Beirne's and has been on many "outings".  He has been to Katie and Matt's school, to the Uecker girls school and today is visiting Brooke's class.  Yesterday I took him to Ryan Beasley's fire station in KCK for a quick visit and I mean quick.  After a short tour of the fire truck they were called out, so we got to see them in action.  Today, Elizabeth came for more filming and interviews. I hope to know the air date of her story today and will forward this information.  Boi is eating TONS!  I guess that is where he gets all of his energy.  I cannot believe the farewell party is in the planning, time has gone by SO fast.  Hope that everyone can come.

Abigail 

Outdoor Fun

Every day has been a new adventure of fun for Boi.  Both Zina and Boi have enjoyed the warmer weather and being outside.  Boi has a new bike (courtesy of Abby) with horn and bells (courtesy of Paul) that he can't wait to ride first thing he wakes up in the morning, 6:30am!!!  Also thanks to the neighbor girl, he has a motorized car to tool around and around and around the driveway.(we think he's even burning rubber!!)  There have been many kids to play with which he has enjoyed.  We also got to experience the wonderful peanut butter gravy again thanks to Messaua and family.  Tonight we went up to the Nationals Golf Course for the Cerner/First Hand fund raiser where Boi was treated like a king.  Especially enjoyable was the ride in the golf cart and finding souvenirs (golf balls) on the course.  We are very grateful to First Hand for helping us make this happen for this wonderful little boy.  Needless to say Boi is thriving.  He has several appointments this week at KU for followup because they all want to see him again.  Tammy

A Heartfelt Thank You

Yesterday, through our friend Yeah at Mali Rising Foundation, I received a call from Ambassador Diop, Mali Ambassador to the United States.  He asked me to thank ALL of you for the great care that Boi has received.  He is truly grateful for all that has been done for Boi and Zina.  So, a heartfelt thank you from Ambassador Diop and the people of Mali to you all!

Abigail

Let the Good Times Roll

The last couple of days have been great. Boi continues to make strides towards healing and I think is happy to be down to just a couple of medications. We have spent much time here just relaxing and letting Boi and the kids play. Thanks again to Doug Hagen and Abigail for the kite flying field trip. Abigail took Boi and Zina to Michael's school carnival yesterday afternoon and Boi came home fully armed with balloon helmet and sword, I love it. Boi has enjoyed playing outside in the yard and our girls have enjoyed having playtime with Boi. The turtle tent in the living room was a big hit. Tammy and Matt came by for a visit last night and Matt schooled Boi in the art of basketball. Boi helped make muffins this morning and ate his weight in cheesy eggs, the kiddo can eat. Moussa is bringing the kids over today for some more playtime, then the transition begins to the Neblock "compound" this evening. We have so loved having Boi and Zina here, can't wait to spend more time with them and will enjoy seeing Boi continue to heal.
 
The Ueckers      

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Boi is doing great since his release.  He and Zina spent the first night with us, the toys are out again, Boi played on the swing set and Zina helped the boys spread mulch.  Wednesday, I took them to Fritz's for lunch, the delivery of our food by train was a big hit.  Boi now has a train whistle, which he has mastered.  Last night they moved to a new "compound" for several days.  The transition was very smooth and I know they feel right at home with the Uecker's.  It did not take long for Boi to find all of the girl's toys.  Today I went with them to meet Doug Hagen at Swope Park.  He had his kite in tow, not just any kite,  some fancy kite boarding trainer kite.  Zina, Boi and I, Boi with some assistance as all of his 43 pounds would have been blown away, got to fly the kite.  We all had a blast and Zina laughed and smiled as much as I have seen since he arrived.   So, all is good, hope to be sharing fun stories from here on out!