Dinner in Lome

Saturday night Dr. James invited the OR staff to his home for a dinner party. He is the only maxillo-facial surgeon in Togo, returning to practice here after training for 9 years in Russia. He and Gary Parker have become friends over the past 15 years. He has been aboard ship these past weeks working together with the Mercy Ships surgeons - perhaps learning a few new skills; sometimes teaching us what works well in West Africa; often just helping care for the wards full of patients awaiting surgery.

I was impressed this visit with the reception and welcome extended to our African colleagues. They are certainly regarded as capable colleagues and they seem to feel that they can be a part of this unique service provided to the patients of their country. We are not competitors but co-laborers.

We enjoyed a spectacular evening. There were a few issues involved in actually finding his house: running between vehicles; parked on the side of some remote streets; lost in a back alley.... but we arrived safely though about half an hour late. There was a multi-course African feast with live entertainment; a little African dancing (several of the OR staff included) then some country and western music as we enjoyed the hospitality of our medical colleagues in Togo. We were truly honored to be invited to his home.

Gary