Cheryl’s big adventure

If you have been to the Brantford General Hospital over the past 30- years Cheryl Fyfe, RN may have been involved in your care.

“I am an adrenaline junkie so working on the front line of the very busy emergency department at Brantford General is right up my alley,” she said. “The ER is the only place to work.”

Cheryl thought she had seen it all- until she volunteered to go to Uganda.

The first time Cheryl accompanied Brantford General internist Dr. Kagoma on his annual pilgrimage to his homeland in Uganda, she witnessed events that changed her life. She recalled walking into a hospital and right there on the floor was a donated bed and an incubator with the BGH logo on them. She ventured on her own up to northern Uganda to Gulu, the war zone, where rebels abduct school children and train them to kill their parents with machetes- as many as 50 each week. 

Each January for six years now Cheryl has returned to Africa to care for as many as 200 kids that arrive at a hospital paediatric unit each day. The facility is crude with no resuscitation unit and only 16 stretchers and she describes the infections as ‘horrendous.’ Medical equipment is scarce.

Earlier this month Cheryl returned once again to Uganda. Also on the trek this year with Cheryl and Dr. Kagoma, are two other Brantford General physicians- Dr. Malik and Dr. Galinski. They arrived at Entebbe a week ago after 14- hours of flying and through until February 3rd they will bring their skills and expertise to the poor and under-privileged. Cheryl will then travel on her own to the Sudan.

Before she left, Cheryl made arrangements with the Public Affairs & Development staff to allow the public to follow her travels by reading a blog that she is posting on the Brant Community Healthcare System website.

Her first entry talks about packing. “Everyone dreads packing for a trip but I have some unique problems. How do I fit everything in two suitcases?” She continues, “I hope to travel up to an orphanage in Sudan where there are children who have never seen a toy let along own one. Supplies have been given to me by Brant Paramedics.” She goes on to say, “I also need to pack hundreds of pens, paper, colouring books, skipping ropes and the list goes on. Needless to say my clothing items will be scarce as I need room for these important items.”

The most recent entry Cheryl writes that it is like returning home on this her 6th visit to Uganda. “As we left the airport I remembered this is probably the most dangerous part of the trip- driving in Uganda. As we head for Kampala the spirit of Africa starts to envelope us. The vibrancy of life here is exhilarating seeing women in their brightly coloured dresses and matching head gear with large bundles balanced on their head strolling down the unlit roads.” She concludes, “The life of the city is noisy and brimming with life but the most beautiful spot I have seen tonight is the sight of my bed.”

Follow Cheryl’s humanitarian efforts here.

When Cheryl returns home and back to work at the Brantford General she will have many stories to tell, and a waiting audience- all ears.

Gary Chalk is senior executive director- public affairs & development for the Brant Community Healthcare System. Brantford General is a regional health centre providing primary, emergency and specialized services. The Willett, Paris is a multi- service health centre providing urgent care, primary and community outreach programs.