The Load Out

(put on some Jackson Browne while reading this – it’s what I’m listening to as I type).

Sunday is the final day of Open Heart International Rwanda 2012. The team has begun to disperse – with some already at the airport (and Jen, Lisa and Mark having another crack at getting a flight this morning after their flight was cancelled last night). The time has come to say goodbye…

Most of the packing was completed yesterday, an amazing assortment and amount of gear that is sorted and stacked, some to remain here, some to come back to Australia.

It’s a busy time, an efficient process that sees every consumable catalogued, every box labeled, and the ICU space we’ve been occupying for the last 10 days cleared out.

A couple of patients have been transferred to the existing KFH ICU, while all the other kids are either on the ward or already at home. Saying goodbye to these beautiful people is an emotional time, even for a grumpy bloke like me. The people you meet on a trip such as this are an inspiration – both the volunteers (love every one of you guys!) and the patients (who bring a tear to my eye) and the families (who are so gracious and grateful).

We’ll see you again in 2013 Rwanda!