Tag: Africa

Blood Donor From a Sickle Cell Survivor

To You, the Blood Donor: From a Sickle Cell Survivor

Written by an Anonymous Author | Contributed by Madueke Paschal 


Being born in any of the underdeveloped countries of the world is so much of a burden to carry, but much worse is if you were unfortunate enough to be born with a congenital disease. As far back as I can remember, I was always being carried from health center to health center looking for a blood type that matched mine. What charge was I guilty of? I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Even more unfortunate, my blood type is A-negative; one of the rarer blood types there are (as I have been told). 

Continue reading “To You, the Blood Donor: From a Sickle Cell Survivor”

Simple Moments.

Meet little Mialy, Mia, and their father…known simply as Baba. They—along with 15 other siblings—made up my host family during a time spent in the arid region of southern Madagascar, where I was doing research on the Antandroy communities. 

I often think back to this family with bittersweet fondness. When I was there, I was profoundly inspired by their love for life and their appreciation of the simple joys it brings…while endlessly cheered by their wide grins and generous laughter.

But now, when I glance at this photo, their visage seems to reveal a truth much deeper…and my heart aches a little. 

Nevertheless, the sound of their laughter will remain with me forever, and I am thankful to have met them…and grateful for the lessons they taught me in treasuring the simple moments in life. 

Continue reading “Simple Moments.”

Holiday Across the Globe.

• Mahantantely, Madagascar •

Through my time spent abroad during the holiday seasons, I noticed something:
That despite our dissimilar lives, cultures, appearances, beliefs…
one thing never changes:

our love and compassion for one another. 

Ghana_phoebe_chi.JPG

• Takoradi, Ghana •

Wishing everyone much love this December. 

💛

Very inspiring blogger award

The Story of PuppyDoc.

Once upon a time in a land far away (ie., Taiwan), there existed a smallish girl named Phoebe…

 phoebe chi

…who, in the 1980’s, was born into a family…complete with a mom, a dad, and a pet gibbon.

gibbon.jpg

From an early age, Phoebe adored animals, therefore, when she grew up and went to university, she decided to become a purple kangaroo for the patients at the children’s hospital.

 kangaroo

Phoebe soon realized something: she loved to help people. Eventually, this realization led her to start traveling the world, for long periods of time, to do volunteer work.

Of all the places, Phoebe worked in Africa the longest…namely, in the lands of West Africa and Madagascar.

On the island of Madagascar, Phoebe was known for befriending a lonely stray lemur named Buddy…

 lemur

…with whom she would share her cactus fruit every morning.

There, she lived in a small village with a sweet family of 20 vibrant sisters…all of whom liked to dance.

Phoebe Chi Madagascar

On the other side of the continent, in the land of Ghana, she also lived with a lovely family, but in lieu of a lemur, she had a goat friend (who, tragically, eventually got eaten…).

goat

After all that, Phoebe returned to the U.S. and became a doctor, because more than anything…she still wanted to help people.

thankyou.jpg

Now, during her journey through medical school, her peers started to call her ‘Puppy,’ primarily, they claimed, because of her “loyal, affectionate, and loving nature.”

Gradually, the name ‘Puppy’ evolved until, finally, one day…

Phoebe Chi

…a ‘PuppyDoc‘ was born.

The End.