USD Magazine, Spring 2003

HOW DO I. ..

d~DP ? ...,~ JU~ ll~~ Chamberlin, who had a background in She points our, however, that treasure archeology, boned up on the basics of identi- hunting in faraway lands is not for the faint ~ring and locating precious stones. She recom- of heart. On yearly expeditions to the coun- mends the Carlsbad, Calif., Gemological try, Chamberlin rypically snuck over the Institute of America as the ideal place for Pakistan border through treacherous moun- would-be gemologists to start, and says a geol- tain passes, living among shepherds, dodging ogy or engineering background wouldn't hurt. ~~ad

Bonita Chamberlin is a longtime friend of USD whofrequently lectures on the people and culture ofAfghanistan, where she has worked fo r more than 20 years.

~ a remote Asian kingdom of old, where ~ people still live much as they did 1,500 years ago, Bonita Chamberlin discovered a mother lode of preci ous gems. Twenry years ago, Chamberlin began exca– vating a multimillion-dollar bounry of sap– phires, rubies, emeralds and other gems in Afghanistan. When the Soviet Union invad– ed the country in 1979, bombing unearthed gigantic veins of gems, and Chamberlin saw a chance to help the mujahideen freedom fighters mine the gems and restore economic sovereignry to their people. "They worked in the mines amid battles for their independence," Chamberlin says. "My longeviry in the country earned me the trust of the people, which is why I've been able to work with them through five regime changes."

land mines and avoiding frequent armed skirmishes. With no sophisticated equip– ment, she dug alongside the Afghan villagers using picks, shovels and small explosives. Like a female Indiana Jones, she doesn't seek treasure for her own gain. Chamberlin brings the jewels to America and sells them, to help lift the Afghan people from poverry and starvation to self-sufficiency. She now is helping villagers build a jewelry-making industry. In the end, she says, the treasure is secondary. The real jewels Chamberlin found were the people. "They are true survivors," she says. "Their country has nearly been destroyed, but they're still a bold, loyal and freedom-loving people."

. Deliver a Baby

in an EMERGENCY? Nancy Coffin-Romig, an obstetrics professor in the School ofNursing, formerly was a /,abor and delivery nurse. She's helped deliver some 750 babies.

1) Stay calm and call for assistance. Babies have been born since the beginning of time, and always manage to make their way into the world. 2) If the mother feels cbe urge to push, have her blow through her mouth . T his will slow down the process, because she can't physically blow and push at the same time. 3) Lay the mother on a flat surface. Remove her undergarments and check for the baby's head. Lay a blanket, rowel or jacket where the baby will come our and reassure her in a calm but firm voice. 4)As the baby's head comes out, gently guide it. T he baby's body will follow. Jack Kelly '87, director of alumni relations, whose wife recently had a baby, demonstrates an expectant father's worst-case scenario.

S) Wrap the baby in something dry. Turn the mom on her side, and have her place the baby against her skin to keep him warm. 6) A crying baby is good. T he more the baby cries the better, because it means he's getting oxygen. If the baby isn't cry– ing, rub his back to stimulate him. If the baby still doesn't cry, look in the mouth to see if there's an obstruction and, using your pinky fi nger, gently sweep it out of the mouth. 7) Don't do anycl1ing with the umbilical cord. Leave it attached and wait for the placenta to deliver. Typically, cl1is cakes 20 to 30 minutes. T hen, wrap the placenta in somethi ng clean, have the mother breast feed the baby and wai t for medical assistance to arrive.

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US O MAG AZ I N E