Support Letter

Why Afghanistan?

As I debated my decision to spend two years in Afghanistan, these statistics pulled on the strings of my heart. Afghanistan is the least developed country in the world. 70% of the population lives in extreme poverty. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the probability of dying between birth and 1 year’s old in Afghanistan is 165 per 1,000 births. While in the United States its 6 per 1,000. In Afghanistan 1 out of 5 women die from pregnancy related complications. Things shouldn’t be like that.

I want to help and feel called to go. I have traveled with Cure before and what I find appealing about this organization is that Cure International transforms the lives of children and their families through medical and spiritual healing. I believe they work at treating the whole person, not just the physical ailments. They have established specialty teaching hospitals in ten different countries. With ten hospitals, why did I choose this one? This hospital is unique because the emphasis is on treating both the women and children of Afghanistan.

Cure Afghanistan is a 100-bed teaching hospital, which includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a bustling Family Health Center. Cure has worked hard to establish a General Practice Residency Program, an OB/GYN Fellowship training program and OB/GYN training for nurses and midwives. Cure Kabul has treated more than 120,000 patients since opening in early 2005.

What will I be doing at the hospital?

During my two-year stay in Kabul, I am going to be the Director of Nursing at the hospital. I will be responsible for planning, directing and evaluating the activities for the nursing and midwifery departments. There are currently over 90 employees in these two departments. I will be one of many new leaders starting this summer.

I would be grateful if you keep me in your thoughts as I prepare to go and while I am in Afghanistan. As this new team of leaders arrives at the hospital I'm asking that we will encourage and build up one another. May our ministry to the staff and our patients be meaningful and have transformative results.

Another way you can help is to make a financial contribution. I have a fundraising goal to raise $24,000. All donations are tax deductible. Any gift amount would be greatly appreciated.

Donation Instructions;

Visit www.helpcurenow.org

1. Get involved

2. Give

3. Support Cure Staff – scroll down to my name and picture

4. Select “give now” or “give monthly”

5. Under “donor designations” please select my name.

Thank You!!

Homeless, well sort of.

It's official, I sold my house!! The closing was today, although I signed the papers last night because I didn't want to be at the closing. Now it's off to Banana Republic to spend the money. LOL, just kidding. I'm now living back at home with my parents. It's only for two weeks and it will be nice to spend time with the family before I leave for Colorado Springs on Aug 3.

I have been blessed with a great family and amazing friends. A huge "Thank you" to all who have helped me pack up and move!! I am learning this whole process is more emotional then I expected. I have so appreciated all the words of encouragement from so many of my friends. I am feeling a little needy right now and having you all to listen, encourage and/or distract me has been wonderful.

I'm not having second thoughts but this is hard. I'm so caught up in the details, I have forgotten how excited I was about this opportunity. There is still a lot to do in the next 2 weeks and little by little it will get done. The first thing I need to finish is my presentation for the fund raising event. If you are interested in supporting me, please see the post titled "support letter" it also explains a little more about why I decided to do this.

I went for a run today and despite the humidity it felt awesome. Its been a few days (well 4), since I've been able to run. Between the move and thunderstorms getting outside has been tough. I typically run with headphones and will listen to an array of music. My music taste is a little schizophrenic but today this song took my mind off of the run. It's from the musical "Rent" and it asks "how do you measure a year". I couldn't help but wonder next year, when I'm back for a visit; how will I measure a year? How different will I be, how much will have changed here and a little less philosophical will I still be running?

I was told to bring modest work out clothes, which I thought shorts and t-shirts. Thankfully I asked and was told capri work-out pants are better. I can only wear shorts if no Afghan men are present. And no I won't be running through the streets any more. The apartment I'll be in has some exercise equipment and there are always the stairs. I'm sure I'll find more spots once I'm there.
Keep Smiling,
Jen

Last week at Connecticut Children's Medical Center

This is my last week at Children's. It's an odd feeling. On one hand I am ready to be done working, I have so many odds and ends to finish up in the next few weeks that work is just getting in the way. On the other hand, I have worked there an awfully long time and its familiar and comfortable. I know the players, the culture and what's expected. I think about starting over in a new place with a truly different culture, housing situation, job, and essentially nothing familiar. I'm excited and nervous. 

I can't believe I've worked at Children's almost 13 years (12 years, 10 mons). I started there with one year experience as a staff nurse. I know this may sound cheesy but I feel like I grew up there. The circumstances at the hospital weren't to different from what they are now. I had just completed orientation, when it was announced we were having financial difficulties. They were closing a med-surg unit and there would be house-wide reorganization. The staff from the unit they closed was going to be divided up between the other two med/surg floors. I had almost learned the names of staff I was working with and now a whole new group of people were coming. Thankfully things aren't that precarious but times are still tough.

It was a hard time for everyone, lots of change in leadership and structure. It was good to experience those situations as a staff nurse and now as a Director. The ironic part, when I arrive at Cure I'll be the new leadership. I'm the last "change" to arrive. The entire leadership team, expect for one (chief of surgery) will be new. Change happens more frequently in Afghanistan, but it's still hard. 

I'm reading a book on building teams. Jamie S. gave it to me a while ago. The title, "Becoming a Healthy Team, 5 traits of vital leadership" by Stephen A. Macchia. The 5 essential traits are trust, empower, assimilate, manage and serve. An interesting point was the discussion how many of our analogies about teams have to do with sporting events which is about competition. And being on a team should be about encouraging one another to do their best not compete with each other. If everyone isn't working towards the same mission and is more concerned about individual success then the team won't succeed long term. Hopefully I'll pick up some tips that I can implement into my future adventures.

For now, I need to get back to packing. How does one person acquire so much stuff? I challenge you to walk around your house and think about what you would take with you for two years and all's you have is 2 suitcases and a carry-on. Ok, it helps to know that your new housing situation will be furnished. How do you decide what gets to come?

Keep Smiling,

Jen

Hurry up and wait

I accepted an offer on my house!! It was on the market about 3 weeks and the offer was what I was hoping for. This is such answered prayer and a big piece in the puzzle that needed to come together before I leave. The home inspection was Wednesday. Now the waiting begins, they have 14 days to get back to me about any concerns. 

Honestly the whole buying/selling experience is unnerving. I'm glad to only be selling, but the home inspection was strange. The buyer didn't come; it was his agent and the inspector. I don't understand why the buyer didn't come. I'd want to be there when they were inspecting the house I was buying. The troubling thing for me was when I got home that night, it was clear someone had been through my house. All the blinds were wide open, my shower curtain was pushed to one side and the clothes in my closet were pushed aside as well (the shut-off valve for the water for the upstairs bathroom is in the closet). I felt violated, it's strange to know someone was "inspecting" my house. For now, I wait and see if my house passed inspection.

 

Key dates of interest:

July 3 - last day of work

July 17 - closing

Aug 3  - leave for training in Colorado Springs

Aug 21  - back home 

Aug 30 -fly out to London, Dubai and then Kabul

Keep Smiling,

Jen

The first of many new experiences

Friday night was my mom's retirement party. It was fun and I'm proud of my mom. This might be the first time we (her kids) were able to share in celebrating an accomplishment for our mom. She's been there to witness our graduations, award ceremonies and other events like this. It was special to be there to support her. 

I'm glad however that she was not around to witness my weekend, LOL.

Early Saturday morning I was off to Chicago. Jeff picked me up at the airport and then it was off to Indiana for my first bachelor party. Please note, I booked the flight before the party was scheduled. The bachelor party was a demolition derby.

 Andrew's father let us take over a field on his farm to race the cars. We had 3 cars about $150 each. One race consisted of 10 laps around the mini race course (corn field) and after 10 laps, first one done or last one standing won. Everyone was careful, honest! There were about 11 guys and me. In between races the guys would make various repairs to the cars so the next bracket could race. I laughed so hard on Saturday, probably a mix of excitement and screaming.

The guys asked if my friends would believe that I participated in an event like this. I think after announcing my career move I doubt I can shock them. I raced twice and did much better the second time. It was so much fun! I did chicken out on driving the cars over the jump, being passenger was enough. All the guys were great and who knows maybe these new driving skills will come in handy. This was by far the best bachelor party I have ever attended and maybe the next bachelorette party I plan, I'll see if Gramp's will let us use his yard again. 

Sunday after church we headed back to Chicago. Spent Monday sightseeing, shopping and walking along Navy Pier. I had a wonderful weekend. Saying good-bye was hard, I was reminded of that Peter, Paul and Mary song, "leaving on a jet plane." Unfortunately this probably won't be the last time I'll shed a few tears at the airport. 

The Transition Begins

Graduation was a few weeks ago, I gave my notice at my job and the house is on the market. It has been a busy couple of weeks. This weekend marks the beginning of the good-byes, I'm off to Chicago to see a friend one more time before I head out. This is the hardest part of my decision, saying good-bye. I've never been a big fan of saying good-bye. 

The reality of leaving is really setting in. It started when I was getting the house ready to show and has been an increasing reality dose ever since. Every day has become about transitioning. Packing items, selling furniture, mapping out a transition plan for work, updates and paperwork from the new job, and so the "to-do" list grows. 

I have been trying to keep in mind that I don't need to worry because tomorrow will work itself out. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Keep Smiling,

Jen