Volunteer Reflection: Dr. Joyce Cuff - Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Radiation Biology and Biophysics
Dr. Cuff on one of the training sessions for FAME staff.
Dr. Cuff training FAME staff: looking on is FAME’s Dr. Ken (middle) and Dr. Gabriel (right).
Few people get to have a post-retirement career, let alone one as rewarding and challenging as the one I was given when I signed up to volunteer at FAME for 13 months in 2010-2011. I have watched and sometimes participated in seismic shifts as FAME matured from a simple Clinic to an established Hospital. In 12 short years, FAME has opened a free-standing and well-equipped lab; an in-patient hospital; routine surgeries; a rapidly growing Reproductive and Child Health program; a free-standing maternity center; on-site housing for staff and volunteers; and even a cafe for residents and visitors.
The following is a true story and one that gets at who, what and where FAME is. It is the story of Lazarus (not his real name, but an obvious choice, as the story reveals). Lazarus came to us when we were at a clinic housed in a single building. Lazarus looked like any ordinary patient with his shuka (traditional Maasai Blanket) over his head.
One day a volunteer doctor/legend at FAME, Dr. Duane, brought Lazarus to see me in the lab. Dr. Duane wanted me to do a test on Lazarus. As I waited for a hint about what sort of test, Lazarus removed the shuka from his head and revealed a growth almost as large as his head, growing out of his neck. It was an anthrax tumor. We did some sampling and found that there did not appear to be active anthrax present. The doctor removed the tumor and, since we did not yet have an inpatient ward, sent the patient to a nearby guest house so he could come back daily for a while to make sure everything was ok and to have dressing changes.
Three days went by and no word from Lazarus. Concerned that something awful had happened, reception called the number on record for Lazarus. We were told the patient had died, but nobody seemed upset at FAME for the death. The doctor was quite beside himself. The next day as the doctor entered the clinic, there was Lazarus sitting on a chair, waiting to see him!
When shown the number that was called to see how he was progressing, Lazarus said he did not recognize the number. No excuse was ever given for the three-day disappearance. One wrong number; one successfully recovering patient; one doctor trying to roll with the punches - a snapshot of FAME: who, what and where FAME is.
“FAME is a community that cares deeply for its patients; it is a place where extraordinary things can and do happen with surprising regularity; it is located in a place where ongoing or even frequent contact with patients can be quite a challenge.”
PS. A few years later, reception tracked down Lazarus at the doctor's request. Lazarus responded by coming to the clinic and strolling in with their neck exposed, accompanied by his new wife for a delightful reunion.