Saturday, January 21, 2017

ANGIASHOUTIQ AND EeHUNGA

      The Micro manager knew more what she wanted than I did as far as northern experience. She was excited to go north.


      Jean is a nurse and wanted to nurse in an isolated settlement with very little equipment. She wanted to work with the people on their terms. She wanted to be in a minority. She got what she wanted and more.

     First, there was no position for a nurse. Health had been looked after by the local priest but he didn't have any medical training at all. After requests and negotiations Jean finally got an allowance of $50.00 per month. 

     So off she went with her $50.00 a month. There was a nursing cabin with some medication and equipment. First, she planned to open the cabin every week day for one hour and anybody who wanted anything could come at that time. This didn't work at all. The cabin was too cold and people didn't get sick from 1:00PM to 2:00PM. People were coming to the house at all hours of the day night or week. It's not as bad as you might think. There were less than 200 people so there were days and weeks when she didn't see anybody. Then there were times when all hell broke loose.

    Jean liked the job and the people and looks back at it as one of the best times of her life. The people loved her and she loved them. The called her Angiashoutiq which means little nurse. 

    Nobody died on her watch except for the murder victim. However, there were close calls. One little boy had spinal meningitis. With guidance from the doctor 3 hundred miles way she gave the best antibiotics but finally said to the parents that the only thing left was prayer and the priest was called . Jean came home for a few hours and then went back to see the kid. The kid was up and playing and laughing. They continued and the kid survived. You can bet these parents were happy. 

    Another time a young woman was having a baby and things didn't go right. Jean was terribly worried. After more than 24 hours the baby was born. Next problem, a retained placenta. Try as hard as she could Jean could not get the retained placenta. Now in the traditional birth the woman knelt on a seal skin. Somebody held her from the back supported and squeezed.  Now it was normal for quite a few people to come and go during the event. So one of the old fellows who was the local midwife said, "I think I know how to get it." So Jean scrubbed his dirty hands and applied alcohol. He went in and got the placenta and everybody survived. Jean never forgot that one and will remember this old fellow forever.



    During the 30 hours Jean did not get home. I would get a message from some kid that Angiashoutiq wanted  a sandwich and some tea so I made a lunch and took it down. I would stay and visit. Jean was glad to get home and bath and change clothes and sleep. 

   That was the last delivery in the settlement.

    Jean did not have an interpreter so over the two years became quite good with the language. 

    If Jean was writing this it would probably make a good book.

    Jean was sad to leave and the people were very sad to see her go as it was the best medical care they had ever had.

    Now the people had names for all the white guys. My name was Eehunga. I asked the kids what it meant. They made a motion on their face and said crooked mouth. Wow! Where did that come from? However, one side of my mouth was lower than the other. I had never noticed it but I went home and looked and sure enough my mouth was slightly slanted. I was always called Eehunga. When the kids spoke Eskimo I would know when they were talking about me. It was not something that was hidden.

    Those were the days. So you see we both worked hard.

     Oh yeah! One time Jean was starting a batch of bread when somebody came to the house and asked for her. She told me what to do with the bread and said , "I'LL be right back. " So I was to put in a little flour and stir. So I followed the directions. The problem was Jean didn't return when she thought so there I was stirring and stirring and afraid to quit if it would spoil the bread. We still laugh about that one. She said it was the best bread she ever made.

    The photo of us as a couple was a couple of months after we left Kangisujuaq. If you enlarge this one, take a good look at my mouth!


 
      Yes, she really was a nurse. No Uniforms in the north.

31 comments:

  1. You both have such an exciting history! There is so much for you to be proud of here! You really should write a book about your experiences. Besides being a great book it could also inspire others to do things outside their comfort zone. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. A book is not in the cards. My story was 1967-69. I think young people have many opportunities today that are just as challenging.

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  2. I would be afraid of putting an ungloved hand into a uterus but given the options I guess I could be convinced. I'm pleased it turned out well!

    You certainly had some adventures, what an interesting life

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    1. Gloves hadn't been invented in 1968. Yes, it's the only option they had. the learning curve was steep.

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  3. I can't imagine how hair-raising it must have been to be the only trained nurse in that community -- especially during a difficult birth. Scary! It's funny that the kids picked up on your "crooked" mouth. It seems like a pretty subtle characteristic!

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    1. They had a keen observation and yes picked up small things.

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  4. Your wife looks lovely and she sounds wonderful too. The two of you make a handsome couple and it sounds like you had a life full of adventure the far north.

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    1. The photo was 1969 so do the math. we were young then!

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  5. What a nice story, I think your face does look very normal, not different than others!

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    1. Well, I look back at older photos and the various expressions showed a slant. My jaw was slanted to one side.

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  6. The stipend they paid your wife was probably barely a drop in the bucket for her time.

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    1. It was a drop in the bucket. The government took advantage of her. they knew she wasn't going to go away so she was trapped.

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  7. Wow. Such tales. Which nation were they?

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  8. You both had heavy responsibilities there. A very interesting series, Red!

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    1. They got their money's worth out of us. It was a great learning experience.

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  9. What a great story! Those people were so lucky to have such great care from her. You're right, though: she should be writing a book about those times! :-)

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    1. Jan was a very good caregiver. she spent many hours with some of the very sick people.

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  10. Quite a lot of memories for you to have!

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    1. That's what happens when you get old!!!

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  11. Does The Micro Manager know about Jean? You were very cunning to keep your mistress and your wife apart in such a small community. I guess that guys with crooked mouths tend to be cunning.

    By the way, I am also in a teacher-nurse combo!

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    1. You really get to the point. I think I may have been hallucinating
      Or is it you? There are many teacher nurse combinations as thee were so many teachers and nurses compared to other occupations.

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  12. This is a great story ! I think i need to scroll back a few posts and get to the beginning. :)

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  13. What a wonderful post! Your wife sounds like she's got a big heart and lots of compassion. It's no wonder the people loved her!

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    1. They were desperate as medical services were almost nonexistent.

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  14. Jean certainly had her hands full. What a remarkable person she must be.

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  15. Jean is just as beautiful now as she was then!

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  16. A good read. A great story that should be a book. Maybe not in the making yet or your wife but all things are possible. Young people are more adventures. If not making there beds or taking out garbage or cutting lawn. What more Adventured Red are they more than you and wife were. You lived rough live. Trials and tribulations. They most of them. Live at home. Take pot and chores what is that.

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  17. Well done...quite the adventures.:)

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  18. I so enjoyed this story, your Jean is a hero! What wonderful work she did and I didn't know you were a baker too:)

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