Update on the clinic’s vacuum pump – Midwestern University (16 students and 9 faculty members) descended on the clinic Sunday after church, and emptied the contents of 16 suitcases of supplies in the reception area. As they were organizing things in discreet piles, I proudly turned on the “new” vacuum pump to show off how efficiently it worked. It sounded like the last wheezing gasps of a camel dying of thirst in the desert.
Mind you – this is Sunday, just after church. I walked over to the home of the wonderfully gracious bio-medical technician who had done the trouble-shooting and installation of our FIFTEEN YEAR OLD RECONDITIONED pump, that came with no warranty (and no oil – see my previous post). He left his Sunday dinner with his wife and six kids, and came to the clinic to analyze the problem. He was there for the next seven and a half hours, with his friend, who is an electrician. We tried everything – to no avail. So now, we are using his vacuum cleaner from his home, with a little duct tape, as a make-shift vacuum pump, and making do.
This morning (Nov. 13) I am making a quick run into Nuku ‘alofa to purchase a shop-vac. I think it will be okay – we will jut have to shout at each other to communicate, because a shop vac generates about a hundred decibels. But it does have suction – something I have not experienced in a couple of weeks, now.
Phil and Jan's Adventure in Tonga 