Coming Back to Cambridge Bay

I was so excited to be coming back to the Arctic. Was trying to think of all the last minute things that were needed, and, of course, forgot a few, but not too much major. Most important was probably a vest, or fleece to wear at the office. Brita filter was another, but you can get almost anything here, if you want to badly enough.
Sent myself a box of food several weeks before leaving, packed a suitcase and a small cooler, and set off for the airport. My son, who drove me was a little concerned, as was I, about my ability to travel, since I had arthoscopic knee surgery six days previously.
I sailed through check in and security, carrying my pack sack and computer bag (heavy computer bag) on a set of wheels. Was met through security by a cart that took me through the airport to the Edmonton gate. It was late afternoon, and today we, another Midwife from Vancouver, and myself were headed as far as Edmonton.
Vancouver was interesting. The gate next to ours was going to Winnipeg and was supposed to depart at least thirty minutes before us. They started announcing delays awhile before they were supposed to load. Then they started announcing delays for our plane. For a long time they did not say what the delays were, but finally they were announced. Our plane was delayed because the staff had not all showed up to check up in. The Winnipeg plane was delayed because someone had been sick on it on the flight in, and they said "Believe me, you want it cleaned before you get on!) I was glad not to be going to Winnipeg!!
We landed safely in Edmonton and went to the hotel, had dinner, splitting an order of veggie fajitas and a salad, and off to bed. We had asked about getting to the airport for our eight o'clock flight and been told we only needed to be there an hour ahead.
So, up at six fifteen, after getting to bed about midnight, to catch the shuttle at six forty, and be there about seven. We basically went through security and onto the plane. A lot tighter than we had thought, but still good timing. No time for the last Starbucks though. There is not one in Yellowknife, although they do have the most lucrative Tim Hortons in the country, or in Cambridge Bay.
Flight to Yellowknife was unremarkable, except that it was full, and of course, it went mechanical. In this case that meant the front seat was loose, so mechanics had to come on board to tighten the seat, and readjust seat belts, etc. So, yes we were late, and we had only about a thirty minute lay over in Yellowknife, so were not going to make our next plane.
The flight was beautiful though, with the fields of the prairies and then the lakes and trees of the North West Territories.
On arrival there were four planes on the ground waiting for our flight. They were all Canadian North flights, and they just waited until ours came in, to take people to various communities. That is one of the great advantages of northern travel...along with the free meals.
A hot breakfast was served on the flight to Yellowknife, and again on the way from Yellowknife to Kuglugtuk, then a bread package from Kuglugtuk to Cambridge Bay.
We got in at 13:00, to our apartments to drop off the bags, and then to work. We were told we would not usually work on the first day, which is strange because I cannot remember a time not working on the first day.
We were given a very short orientation and started. Turned out the one midwife here was leaving in three days to go to Kuglugtuk, and we would be operating on our own. The next day was clinic.
We were introduced to everyone at the health centre, and had an amazing arrival and welcome. It was great to be north again and it looked like this trip would be full of adventure.

A Day at the Office

Last Monday was anything but a typical day at the office, but that being as it was, it makes it a typical day.
I am working in Langley, BC right now, and for the next eighteen months. When there seemed to be a lack of northern contracts, I contacted two practices near Vancouver and asked them if I could work with them. Both responded yes. This one was closer to my home in Maple Ridge, and with the new Golden Ears bridge, it was only fifteen minutes from my home to the office in Walnut Grove. It seemed ideal!
For the last six months I have been part of this four midwife team.
Last week two Midwives were on vacation. Two was okay for covering the work, as we had fewer clients in August, knowing there would be vacations. Only, the second Midwife I was working with suddenly became very ill. It meant that I was alone, taking care of the women booked for four of us.
This had happened to me previously, when I was a lot less experienced and we were working in a group of three. Interestingly, at that time a Midwife from Manitoba had visited me while on vacation, and said, oh well, that means you are only taking care of what, forty-five or so women. We counted them. There were about ninety clients. She was quite shocked.
In this practice there are many more. We had few deliveries for August, having booked fewer, and having some go in July, but we did have three women overdue.
I did not have a delivery on Sunday evening and was very thankful. Went to the office on Monday and immediately things started going awry.
Messages on the phone had to be answered, as usual, but this day there were more than usual.
The second client in said to our receptionist, "you must have a mouse in that cupboard because there is a lot of squeaking and scratching going on".
Receptionist was very daring. She said, "in this cupboard?" and then she opened the door, and closed it just as quickly. She said "I can see it there". She was asked how big it was, and she showed us about four to five inches in length, with her fingers.
I said "It sounds too big for a mouse, I think it might be a rat". The fear of God was now within all of us!
Then she asked me what we should do. My suggestion was to call the property manager. Man, did she do it quickly.
The next two clients were overdue, and due the next day. They were standing in the office commiserating with each other, while I was answering another page, when the "bug men" got there.
The most hilarious thing was looking at the door of the cupboard and seeing that a piece of cardboard had been taped over the door, just in case there was enough room for the "mouse" to crawl out.
While the two clients were talking, and the receptionist and I were talking the "pest control guys" looked in the cupboard. They said it was a rat, and it was in the trap and banging it from side to side trying to get out.
I quickly took the next client into the consult room. No point in having to watch what was going to happen.
However, it always happens that there are lots of people around when things are going a little off. Another client arrived, and everyone is talking and casually watching what the exterminators are doing. They took various things into the cupboard, and then casually left. They did mention that they had reset the traps, and also said that the rat had to have come in from the roof, in order to get where he was.
There was no more scratching or banging.
Within a few hours though, the question became, "who was going to check these traps?".
We have electronic charting in our office, and one of the perks of the program is a message system. The messages started flying. The property manager was contacted again. She has arranged for the traps to be checked once a month. I am waiting for the stench of a dead rodent that has been left in the heat for a month!! Realistically though, the office would know if one had been there more than a couple of days. Pregnant women notice smells.
The rest of the day flew by. Lots of interesting "low risk" women, with lots of "high risk" problems.
It was a fun day, with no births, but lots of appointments, and lots of fun, with this "rat" incident.