Blog Archives - Foundation For Women

Letters for Liberia: Tracked by the CDC and US government

3/30/2015

La Jolla, CA - I have returned to my community in California, though my heart is still in Liberia. I am back in the US to produce a documentary film about the people and country of Liberia and ebola.

And I am being tracked by the CDC and US government. The morning of my first day here on Saturday, a nurse and an epidemiologist came to visit. I was asked to sign a letter acknowledging all the instructions which will govern my behavior until April 13, 2015, 21 days after leaving Liberia. I must take my temperature twice daily, morning and evening, and report the readings daily. I must check for signs and symptoms of illness every day and report any of ten symptoms. I must notify public health services prior to leaving San Diego County for any reason. If I develop any symptoms, I must contact public health services immediately, isolate myself and wait for additional instructions. After several days now, it has become routine and I am grateful that the screening is in place – and I still feel the prejudice of being one of “them.”

Letters for Liberia: I am one of “them” vs one of “us” in America and feeling it constantl

3/26/2015

Geneva, IL - I awoke early here and sent several emails to Liberia – missing so many people and the country so much after only a few days away… This partial reply from my now dear sister Dr. Angela Benson:

Letters for Liberia: Ebola hysteria in America

3/25/2015

Geneva, IL - My welcome home yesterday included a confused hour-long process by customs and immigration at Dulles Airport in Washington DC. I was the first off the airplane from Brussels, the first to be taken to the holding area for medical screening, the first to be interviewed, the first to be given my “ebola packet” – and the first to be released to continue my travel after the disappearance of my checked luggage claim check and no customs exit documentation; just “She’s OK.” An hour-long process with 71 others behind me waiting to be screened…

Letters for Liberia: Traveling between two worlds

3/24/2015

Geneva, IL USA - Oh the contrast! I left my home in Liberia yesterday late afternoon and traveled more than 30 hours via Europe to land in Washington DC and then Chicago. I have come to the place of my birth to spend a few days with my biological parents after leaving the place of my true family far behind now in Africa.

When I got off the plane at O’Hare International Airport I could not help but be struck by the contrast to the Roberts International Airport in Liberia – two entirely different worlds. Moving walkways, escalators, plentiful flushing toilets, temperature controlled environment, baggage ready to be claimed by the time I reached the appointed area, order despite thousands of people… Can my two worlds really be on the same planet?

Letters from Liberia: A New Confirmed Case

3/23/2015

Monrovia - The country is abuzz with the news of the new confirmed ebola case here last Friday, after so many days since the release of the last ebola victim from an ETU, ebola treatment unit, on March 5th. So much hope now dashed and so much wonder as to how this happened when there have been no cases in the country for so many days…

The cartoon in the Daily Observer newspaper today shows an awful character sweating and labeled EBOLA knocking loudly on a door with the Liberian flag. The caption reads, “I didn’t go anywhere! I was in the neighborhood, and you never knew that!!”

Letters from Liberia: Sunday by the Sea

3/22/2015

Kendeja Resort Monrovia - I just had a very special telephone conversation with my dear sister, Angela Benson. We met this week when I went to visit her and her hospital. We are sisters who just had not met; now we are connected sisters forever. She called to say thank you for last evening…
Something very special happened here at the hotel last evening. For the first time since August 6, 2014, I hosted a special dinner and celebration for about forty Liberian friends. Joy! We ate and toasted and enjoyed – and celebrated the many healthcare workers who were with us, many now ebola survivors. Then we were entertained by my favorite Liberian cultural dance group. Tremendous joy!!

Letters from Liberia: "Trying, small small”

3/20/2015

Monrovia - I awoke early this morning but stayed covered and quiet, reviewing and reflecting on my two weeks here now. I am blessed that God urged me to regularly write and document all that has happened here in Liberia since July. I was particularly reviewing my time at Benson Hospital yesterday, thinking of the hundreds of health care workers who continually tried to help those suffering so much… The images of the hospital yesterday haunt me; the faces of those waiting for help, the enthusiasm and pride of the workers despite the most challenging conditions. I can only imagine what it all must have been like in the height of the crisis.

So much hope and joy – now dashed

3/20/2015

Late evening here in Monrovia - I just heard from a member of the Vice President’s staff – April 13th will not be Ebola Eradication Day in Liberia unfortunately:
Liberia Reports First Ebola Case in Weeks
By SHERI FINK and RICK GLADSTONEMARCH 20, 2015
A patient in Liberia has tested positive for the Ebola virus, health officials said Friday, more than two weeks after the last known case in the country had been discharged from the hospital.

Letters from Liberia: Meeting Dr. Angela Benson

3/19/2015

Liberia - All of the spiritual teachings I have studied for decades stress this, even-mindedness. Notice the emotions that appear. Watch them like clouds passing in the sky. Let them pass vs being drawn into them. Just notice. I am acutely aware of this practice here and how challenging it is for me this time in Liberia. The extremes of great grief and great joy are present everywhere. Complete and utter disappointment and tremendous gratitude to God for surviving ebola. Such extremes. I am challenged to be in even-mindedness.

Letters from Liberia: A visit to long-time member and FFW Center Leader Gladys

3/18/2015

From all over Monrovia - I went to bed last night and stayed there for nearly 10 hours – the tremendous joy and the tremendous grief… seems the magnitude of this unprecedented ebola crisis took my energy… I surprised myself, but surrendered. This morning – prayer and meditation, review of US emails, a workout in the gym – and then off again for another amazing day in Liberia. I started at the ELWA Hospital, the epicenter of the ebola crisis.