The final leg of our trip is now complete! We arrived in Koutiala this afternoon and Brett took us out for a ride and to give Patrick a tour of the hospital.  Here are a few pictures to give you a sense of the day....  

The road leading from Brett's house to Koutiala Hospital.  The large tree on the left is a Baobab, which looks like it has been turned upside down with its roots sticking into the air.

 Koutiala Hospital is in the process of building a tennis court and the foundation is in place at this point.  Patrick will be helping with the process of laying the concrete towards the end of the week.  This will serve as a place for the children to play and also as an area of recreation for the missionaries.

 The children who are being treated at the hospital for a long period of time are always ready to play.  The little girl on the right has Hodgkin lymphoma of the neck and is receiving chemotherapy.  The boy wearing a bandage on his head had a scalding burn as a young child and then developed a rare skin cancer at the site of the burn.  He required complicated surgery and skin grafts and is recovering at the hospital.

Jara always ready with a smile!

 Future tennis court....

This little man (Chake) came to Koutiala with a severe infection which ultimately led to the loss of both of his legs and the majority of his fingers (likely severe DIC for those medical folks).  He responded to medical therapy and finally started walking with his prosthetic legs!  He was happy to walk over to get a piece of candy.  His mom is walking behind him with the baby brother strapped to her back.

 Getting some encouragement from the other kids at the hospital.

The MacLean kids playing in a sand pile with the patients from the hospital.

This boy came to the hospital with draining wounds from both of his legs.  He was diagnosed with bone infection at multiple locations.  His mother says that he has a history of bone pains as a younger child and Brett is suspecting sickle cell disease.  They will be able to test him for sickle cell in the comings months.  His wounds are slowly healing with the appropriate antibiotics.

This one is for all of the Strums or Flemings checking out this blog... didn't take long for Patrick to end up on the roof with the kids!

 Leg wounds from above.... getting better, but hard to believe that they ever heal with all of that dirt all over his legs.

 Various animals at Brett and Sheri MacLean's house.

View of the airport in Bamako from the start of our trip this morning.

 The MacLeans desert turtle.

 Quiet Sunday afternoon in Koutiala.

 Koutiala Hospital soccer outreach.  Thanks to "Give a Kick" for donating 25 new soccer balls for the program!

Guest house in Bamako where we stayed last night.