Victory

Where to even begin...

This week has marked many a monumental moment, not the least of which includes, as promised, the extraordinary end to the African Cup. That is Zambia's astonishing victory over Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The Sunday evening game, fought in pouring rain for over 130 tireless minutes, made definitive history. How very serendipitous that I arrived in time to witness it. In order to relate the true gravity of this win, I need first to correct my former statement regarding the emotions of Zambia's president in 1993 (the single prior time Zambia qualified for the finals at the African cup). It remains true the former Head of State did cry before the Zambian nation following the team's acceptance into the finals. However, the tears fell for the very terrible death of nearly the entire Zambian futbol (i.e. soccer) team in a fluke plane accident en route to the 1993 finals. (A slew of conspiracy theories surrounds the abrupt accident, but little conclusive evidence could ever explain the team's untimely demise.) This clearly crushed the nation, who, to this day, boasts of the fallen team as their very best...until now.

Therefore, it was with unparalleled anticipation and a great spirit of redemption that Zambia's team entered the African Cup Finals 19 years later, only to play perhaps the most thrilling and historic game of their careers. And I observed, into the wee hours of Monday morning, every last minute of the four additions of over/extra time, as well as each of eight nerve-racking penalty kicks. Without a single score until these penalty kicks, it was on the third Ivory Coast kick that Zambia thought they had finally won. Their superhuman goalie, Mweene, made a perfect save. With bated breath the entire country waited for the score board to note the missed goal until we all nearly collapsed to learn the save was disqualified. If you ask a Zambian for the next ten years Mweene and the entire team was unequivocally robbed. The save was disqualified because the keeper theoretically moved before the opposing player made contact with the ball. Thus it was Mweene's second penalty save and a subsequent Zambian goal that ultimately ended the game and achieved this country's awe-inspiring glory.

After such an epic game, reflection on other notable moments from the week feel rather less significant. Nonetheless...

With victory this week also came difficulty and even tragedy. First, this past Thursday marked the unfortunate departure of my supervisor from both the study and the country. I truly congratulate her next exciting venture, but will certainly miss her. Work has also grown very heavy in the wake of her absence. The days are absorbed by so much to do that I could hardly believe it was already Friday when it arrived. This week, particularly, held three maternal mortalities here in Kitwe. Beyond the burden of additional and expedited data collection, it was just so sad to learn of this loss of life. Two of the women died of complications of obstetric hemorrhage (OH), and the third stopped breathing in transit (on the ambulance ride). She was formally diagnosed with CVA, cardiovascular accident. The two OH cases related directly to our study, so I quickly became very intimate with the circumstances. I was even invited to the maternal death review meeting this past Friday morning, where I listened to a conference room of physicians discuss the details of the last minutes of their patient's life. Ultimately I am reminded that our days are numbered. It was a great blessing to wake up this morning!

Clearly it has been a whirlwind week, characterized by sadness and also elated joy. To be completely honest I haven't yet processed all the emotions I've recently experienced. The most pressing need by Friday evening was rest, and I remained in bed until past 10:00am this morning. So I will leave you with some yet undrawn conclusions, but also with the assurance I am well and still abundantly grateful for this journey. Again and always, I truly appreciate the support you continue to show me along the way. It is really wonderful to share this with you all...the good and the challenges.

Sending so much love and many well wishes for the happenings in your own lives,

Jess