The cardiologist

We went to Maputo a day before our flight so that I could see a cardiologist. Once a year, I visit a cardiologist to monitor my corrected congenital heart condition. I haven't seen a cardiologist since August 2006. We had heard that there was a heart clinic in Maputo, so our MCC office made an appointment there for me. My appointment was for 9 AM, Monday morning. Joel and I woke up in time to eat breakfast and double check our directions to the clinic with the hostess at the guesthouse where we stayed. We opted to walk (always good to get exercise) and arrived 15 minutes before my appointment. The previous week, our office had tried to confirm the appointment, but no one answered the phone. We set off in good faith that I still had my appointment.

We arrived at the clinic and when I told the receptionist, "Eu tenho uma consulta as 9 horas com Doutor Dinesh" (I have a 9 o'clock appointment with Dr. Dinesh) she looked at me quizzically, as if not understanding my Portuguese. So I repeated it. She then told me to follow her and we went back to another receptionist's desk where she pulled out the cardiologist appointment book. There it was: Monday, Feb. 11, 9:00 Jenny Kempf. But here was the problem: "O doutor viagou esta semana" (The doctor is traveling this week). They offered me an appointment on Thursday to see the other cardiologist or come back another time. After consultation with my MCC Rep who had valiantly tried to confirm the previous week so something like this wouldn't happen, I opted to come back another time without making an appointment. Our plan was to try to see a cardiologist in Beira which we had just found out about one that opened up since making the appointment.

Turns out our own MCC administrator happens to see a cardiologist annually. So now his 6th-year medical student daughter can get me appointment for Monday here in Beira. So we shall see how it goes.