It's difficult around here to find time for dates. And if you did have time, there is really no where to go. So, John and Shea informed us on Sunday night that we were having a date! They made us dinner, set up a nice movie "theater", and John even acted as our own personal waiter!
Today was a relatively light day. After rounds and an early morning C section, we all went for a quick run before clinic began. Yes, even Abbi went with us. We picked up a BOB jog stroller a few months before we came. Even though it was sturdy, we just thought we'd never use it. Wrong. The thing is built like a tank and we use it daily- it takes the abuses of rocks and trail ruts in the African bush with flying colors- and allows Abbi to run with us. We enjoy running several miles every day that we can. It is a great family time together!
Following a fairly uneventful clinic time, I was walking by the pediatric ward. April, Abbi, and our friend Nicci happened to be there handing out stickers and candy to the kids. I had brought Eric Carle's "From Head to Toe " for such an occasion.
With our friend Miriam translating, I read the book to the kids. They didn't know what to think. I think they enjoyed it, though. I know if I had my leg in traction for three weeks (as four of these kids do) I'd enjoy any form of diversion.
Tomorrow is "Theater Day," which is Zim speak (AKA British) for "a big day in the operating room." Tomorrow we'll be doing
-exploratory laprotomy
-Hysterectomy
-Open Reduction Internal Fixation Radius
- Prostatectomy
-z plasty wound revision
hmmm...There's probably double that number of items, but you get the idea.
here are a couple of the kids we operated on today. The fist is the worst case of hydrocephalus I've ever seen. The head measured 72 cm around. This is maybe 20 cm bigger than any of the other kids I've seen. Unfortunately, this child will likely suffer profound disability because of the delay in surgical treatment. He's six months old and the hospital in the capital city has apparently put him off for about that long. Very sad. See the kiddo in the second picture to see how these kids usually present to us...pretty normal, except the crying and all. I guess white people are just a little scary for the little ones. The third is a strange neck mass on a 10 year old little girl. She's a cute kid and her neck looks good as new now. Forgive me for the blurry photos, I just like to try not to use a flash when I'm photographing patients. I figure I'm a little less intrusive that way.
No comments:
Post a Comment