The Doctor Is In
*Record Scratch* Yep… that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got into this situation…
The Blue Nile Clinic
Life often has a way of surprising us, sometimes with challenges we never saw coming, and life in Ethiopia is no different as it has already brought its fair share of surprises. Over the past few weeks, we’ve found ourselves navigating a series of unexpected medical events that, while difficult, have reminded us of the reasons we’re here in Ethiopia.
The first incident happened during an ordinary day when a dear friend of ours took a sudden tumble, hitting her head on the way down. The result was a deep gash that left no question—it needed stitches. Rachel didn’t hesitate. Out came her suture kit, and within moments, the shared lounge of our guesthouse compound was transformed into a makeshift clinic thanks to the supplies and help from some of our neighbors. She methodically cleaned the wound, carefully placed the sutures, and reassured our friend the entire time. It wasn’t just about her skill; it was the calm confidence she brought to the situation, even in the absence of a sterile hospital setting.
The Doctor hard at work
Not long after, a friendly pickup soccer game on our compound basketball court turned into another medical moment. As Rachel was talking on the phone, she was interrupted by one of the guys who works at the guesthouse to see if she could come look at one of his friends who had been injured. During the game, an Ethiopian man fell hard and landed on his wrist. Sure enough, it was broken. As she cared for the injured man, she sent another one to our bungalow to get me and to bring some first aid supplies. Not entirely sure what the injury was, I brought what I thought could help from the limited supplies we have here in Addis. Luckily I had brought some emergency compression bandages to Ethiopia. As I got to the scene, Rachel was holding this man’s wrist as still as she could while he was writhing around in pain. We needed a splint, but of course, we didn’t have all of our first aid supplies as most of what we brought went down to Soddo. Remembering that one of our neighbors had a stash of firewood behind his house, I ran back there to find something that could be used as a splint. Luckily, we found a great piece of wood that was admittedly a little long but, more importantly, flat on one side so that he could rest his arm on it. As I took it back to Rachel, she carefully placed his arm on top of the piece of wood and diligently wrapped it with the bandage so that his friends could take him to the hospital. Watching her help him, I was reminded how even the simplest acts of care can carry immense weight, especially in situations where resources are limited.
And then, it was my turn. I slipped in the shower one morning—a classic, embarrassing household injury. At first, it seemed minor: just some swelling in my elbow and a small cut. We waited a couple of days, but as the pain got worse and my arm a little more swollen, Rachel insisted that we head over to the nearby Suisse clinic to get it checked out and to double-check that I didn’t break anything. As the doctor looked at my arm and confirmed that it was just bursitis, Rachel felt a little more relieved. But the situation escalated over the next few days as the bursa sac in my elbow swelled up more and the small cut became infected, but thankfully we were planning to head to Soddo for Christmas. By the time we made it to Soddo, I was in bad shape— in pain, and with an elbow that looked like it belonged in a medical textbook. Rachel once again rose to the occasion on the couch in our future house. Using sterile tools that she procured from the hospital, she was able to give me a little local anesthetic and surgically drained the infection. Let me tell you, there’s a humbling vulnerability that comes with lying on your own couch, trusting your spouse to cut into your elbow while you grit your teeth. But I never doubted her for a second.
These moments, though unplanned, have been unexpected blessings. They’ve reminded us of the importance of being present and available—to each other, to our neighbors, and to the people around us. They’ve also highlighted how much we rely on teamwork, not just in the day-to-day challenges of living overseas but in our calling as a family.
Christmas and New Year’s
We decided to spend Christmas week in Soddo, settling into our future home for the holidays. Rachel took a few call shifts to support her partners during the season, and they gave her a warm—albeit chaotic—welcome back to the operating room. The "trauma carpet" was rolled out in full force with motorcycle accidents, pedestrians struck by cars, people falling, and even a gunshot wound (unusual for this part of Ethiopia). It was as if everybody got the memo that the trauma surgeon was in town and decided to keep her busy! All jokes aside, these moments have deeply reassured us of why we are here. They’ve also reminded us of the importance of our ongoing language learning, which will allow us to communicate more effectively with both patients and colleagues in the future.
As we reflect on these experiences, we’re reminded that this is our first Christmas in Ethiopia—a season that feels both familiar and entirely new. There’s no snow here, no bustling shopping malls, or whirlwind Amazon deliveries. Yet, the heart of the holiday remains unchanged, and we’re doing our best to recreate some of the traditions our kids cherished back in America. From building gingerbread houses and stringing up the few Christmas lights we managed to find, to filling our house with the sounds of Christmas music and family favorites like The Grinch on repeat, we’re embracing a mix of nostalgia and creativity to make the season special. We were thrilled to keep our Christmas tradition alive by baking and sharing Christmas cookies. Despite limited supplies, most of this year’s batch went to the 30+ Ethiopian residents, physicians, and their families—a small way to spread some holiday cheer. We also got to embrace some new traditions that added a unique twist to our celebration. From Christmas caroling to a memorable donkey cart ride for the kids (because, apparently, reindeer aren’t fans of the altitude), it was a joyful blend of the familiar and the wonderfully unexpected.
After a week and a half in Soddo, we rang in the New Year with a getaway to Hawassa alongside a couple of other families and some teammates. The two-hour drive took us through winding mountain roads and breathtaking scenery, setting the tone for a much-needed break. It was the perfect chance to step away from the hustle and bustle of Addis Ababa and the responsibilities of the hospital, giving us space to recharge. The kids had a blast spotting wildlife—from colorful birds and mischievous monkeys to hyenas and even hippos! They braved the icy-cold swimming pool, ran wild on the hotel playground, and soaked up the freedom of the open space. Meanwhile, the adults shared heartfelt conversations, reflecting on both the joys and challenges of life in Ethiopia. As we laughed, rested, and dreamed, it was a special time to look back on our first four months in-country and to look ahead with anticipation for what this next year might hold.
Praises
We received our authenticated paperwork and have officially started the process of getting our resident IDs for the family
A good first week working in the hospital in Soddo for Rachel.
Friendships for our kiddos and ourselves. We’ve had great opportunities to meet new friends and network with like-minded people that we hope to partner with in the future.
Things to Pray for:
Rachel’s parents' visa: They are currently gathering their authenticated documents together. It’s a long process that could use some prayer to expedite it.
The next five months as we start preparing to move once again. We will need to get some furniture for our future house, and get some things ready so we can move in June.
We would appreciate some prayers as we begin to mentally prepare for homeschooling next year. We’re just trying to figure out the dynamics and balance of both of us working and trying to give our kids the best education that we can.
We hope that everybody had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! If you have any prayer requests, we would love to hear from you. If you would like to set up a video chat, send us a message! You can contact us on WhatsApp or email us at LCRC@cobosethiopia.org.
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