Blog 22: Equipment hassles

January 2018… Well, the last 9 months have been an uncomfortable ride of fund raising and trying to source equipment to take back to Lesotho. I seem to have been constantly begging for favours and begging for money. My goal was £3000, which I’ve reached by giving talks, busking on street corners and some kind donations from friends, patients, rotary, church congregations and charities. A chunk has been spent on brand new physio equipment, posterior walkers, wall bars, parallel bars and a gym mat. I've saved some of it to sort out things in Lesotho.

I've also been given second hand equipment of considerable value for free from NRS stores, equipment suppliers for Powys health board, including two standing frames, a physio bench, walker and chair. I've accumulated other equipment from various sources, amongst it my own medical couch (having decided to give up private practice), two walking frames (donated from Quest and their customers), assorted crutches, sticks, a wheelchair, boxes of toys, more than 20 pairs of special orthopaedic boots, a static bike, gym balls, mats etc, etc

I was sweating it, not knowing how I was going to get this equipment to Lesotho without it costing thousands. In September a charity I met while in Lesotho, called Action Ireland, agreed I could have space in their container. I could have kissed them ... except they were in Ireland. Anyway, all I needed to do was to get the kit in Dublin by November. The new stuff I had posted directly to a school and the lovely Niall, who I have never met but have had numerous Whats App exchanges with.

Niall was a sea of calm while I began to lose my cool with a company called Artimex in Germany, who had promised equipment delivery within 10 to 12 days. A month later the items still hadn't turned and my faith in German efficiency took a nose dive. The heated email exchanges with customer services eventually resulted in a tracking number for 2 items of 15 kg stuck somewhere in Bavaria. As I pointed out couldn't be right as I had ordered and paid for three items weighing probably twice as much. A compromise was reached with the tracking service then deciding there were 3 items of 20 kg doing a grand tour of Germany. These finally made it to England, and then to Ireland. Niall assures me the right items did turn up, but if I ever get hold of Florin Tatau of customer services it won't be pretty.      

Meanwhile the second-hand equipment was accumulating in my garage along with increasing anxiety levels of how to get it to Ireland. With eyesight problems I was unhappy to drive a large van to Dublin as I am unable to judge where the left-hand side of the vehicle is. Then, miraculously I had a message from an old friend, Martin, who now lives on the West coast of Ireland and said he was coming over to visit. I tentatively asked if he could combine it with a trip to take back the equipment with him and he said "No problem" ... only of course it didn't quite turn out like that.

Deadlines came and went as Martin decided to buy a trawler at the same time as two hurricanes hit the West coast of Ireland. He was forced to change moorings, batten down the hatches and ride out the storms. After the storms passed a fresh attempt to reach the Irish sea was aborted when the wheel fell off his trailer. I began to doubt whether he would make it in time, should I line up a van, book a ferry crossing and to try get someone else to do the business? The stress of it all, combined with other stresses in my life led to a persistent headache at the end of October and a serious lack of sleep.

Two long weeks passed when it felt like someone was trying to drill a hole through my head. Having never really been victim to headaches I began to wonder if I had a brain tumour. I was forced to act and decided to go to a "Wellbeing at Work" day, kindly offered by the NHS to its employees to refresh and restore them in times of need. Lots of deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and copious amounts of paracetamol followed.

Then one dark rainy night I received a call from Martin, "Jan I'm here! Where are you?" I ran out into the road and directed him to back up towards the garage. I haven't seen Martin for about 20 years and without a light in the garage and using only head torches I couldn't really tell if he'd changed in the time that has passed. Amazingly he had managed to hire exactly the right size of vehicle, which we stuffed full of the equipment in the frantic 20 minutes that followed. He didn't even stop for a cup of tea and turned straight around to catch the 2am ferry from Holyhead. The following morning, he was in Dublin, delivered everything and sped straight back home. My headaches ceased, and I remain eternally grateful to Martin and Action Ireland for all their help in transporting the equipment.

The container is due to arrive in Maseru train station around Feb 4th. A few weeks ago, I found out that Dolen Cymru are once again paying for my flights and supporting my 6 weeks stay in Lesotho. There is a slight problem in that the main drive of getting the equipment out to Lesotho has been to equip a new purpose-built physio hut at Phelisanong, which hasn't materialised. Last year a builder gave me a quote for building this hut, but it has been decided that this is too expensive. I quite agree that it is, but it has been frustrating to not in a position to get a better quote.

Phelisanong has very little space, so maybe I will try and store the larger items at Saint Angela's and take things like the walkers to Phelisanong for immediate use. I will continue to work in the small space I have been using the last two years and train the staff and help the children. For the longer-term sustainability of physiotherapy at Phelisanong and the best quality of treatment for the disabled children there, I feel it is vital a purpose-built physiotherapy house is built. Hopefully I can instigate things once I am back in Lesotho. 

Meanwhile I want to say a big thank you to everyone that made donations, came to my talks, and gave money when I was busking. Thank you to the staff at Machynlleth hospital for an epic sponsored walk up Cadair Idris, Tywyn Rotary for donations and lending me their projector, Elaine and the Mir Sufi Centre, Quest and its customers for the donation of 2 frames, sticks and boots, Alison for the physio shirts, Dovey Yacht club, Katie, Serena, Des, Will, Maciek, Diane and the Aberdyfi English Chapel, Tilde and the Newtown All Saints church, for support with talks. NRS stores, Powys paediatric and 14 + service, for giving me a new job and extended leave to return to Lesotho, Action Ireland, Michael and Niall for all their help with the transporting the equipment, Martin for getting the stuff to Ireland, and the Dolen Cymru link for flights and logistical help on the ground in Lesotho.  

There have been times over the last year when I have thought "Never again", however now I can't wait to see the kids, the staff and all the friends I have made out in Lesotho over the last two years. I fly on the first of February, and first stop Saint Angela's where I will be catching up with all the kids, the physio assistant, Christine, and meeting the new CEO. I 'll be waiting with baited breath for the arrival of the physio equipment and keeping my fingers crossed that it all turns up safely.

See you in Lesotho :)