Joyfully

Terry and I start our day with Mass at the convent with the nuns at 6 AM.  Many of the Sisters work in various parts of the hospital and we feel part of the Team providing care to the patients here.  

Like a song you can't get out of your head a reading from early this week has been on my mind.  My paraphrase:  God rewards those who joyfully serve him.  It reminds me that not only do I need to serve Gods' people here but to do it cheerfully.  Keep us in your prayers as we tackle the work here.

Comments...

Our Blog posts are done on our computer at home then we go to the Cyber-Café at the hospital.  We then get online with our laptop via a wireless router connection.  

Since the power goes off multiple times a day it limits the available transmission time.  The Café is open 8AM-8PM Mon-Sat.  Unfortunately Sunday, when we have the most time they are closed.  I have been checking the Blog for your comments, and we really appreciate them.  I am not able to answer the questions directly yet - so will try and respond with future posts for now.  

Answers to prior comments; 
      * We have no Vancomycin but MRSA does not appear to be a problem yet. 
      * Average daily income is $1 a day.
      * Fortunately, HIV meds are paid for by the government and so are the meds to cover HIV related illnesses.

Today I admitted a 14 year old boy who looked half his age and weighed only 44 pounds.  Initial impression is malnutrition but his labs are still pending.  I am hoping his HIV test is negative.

Monday

It was a very busy Monday as usual in the Out Patient Department.  After assisting on 4 C-sections last week I did my first C-section in 30 years today.  Everything went well and my ability to do C-sections should help when the Surgeons are tied up or gone.  

Assisting Bill in Surgery

It has been nice working with Bill Walsh this last week.  I also reduced a broken displaced wrist on Friday.  The power was out so we were unable to obtain an x-ray.  Taking someone to the OR without an x-ray in the US would not happen.  

I also helped Bill debride a burn today.  A 70 year lady had a seizure at home and fell into her cooking fire suffering a 25% body 3rd degree burn.  She has significant infection already and she will be in our prayers the next few days.

Dreamland

Saturday was our first excursion to Bamenda, a city of 250,000 about an hours drive from St. Martin de Porres Hospital.  We were able to shop at the two supermarkets, The Vatican and New Life.  We managed to pick up a few things that remind us of home, like Kellogg's Corn Flakes as well as a couple of luxury items.  I now have a mirror above the sink, and it's red frame is a bonus.

There is no doubt that the highlight of the trip however was eating at the Dreamland Bar and Restaurant.  We had our first truly American food in a month.  We had a hamburger and french fries.  The hamburger was chicken, as the restaurant was out of beef but it was delicious.  We gave the restaurant our five star seal of approval.  We also made a brief stop at the open air market before getting on the road in order to make it home before dark.  I am sure that we will dream of a return to Dreamland sometime in the future. 

Terry

A Little Miracle...

I surprised the nurses again today by rounding on patients on Sunday, not a standard practice here. 

Janette is the 10 year old who had bacterial meningitis and now has been in the hospital for 3 weeks. She has slowly been coming out of a coma and today she had a big smile when her name was called. The smile was even bigger on her mom's face! 

She still has a long way to go but everyone is thankful for the progress so far.

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday was a very busy day.  I assisted on 3 Cesarean Sections.  Unfortunately, the last one was a lady who delivered Twin A at a small rural clinic at 6PM.  She arrived here 3 hours later with the arm of Twin B delivered and no heart tones.  Twins are always a high risk delivery, especially at night in a developing country with no emergency care options.  Hopefully mom and Twin A will do well to ease some of the pain.
 
Today a lady was transferred from a small rural hospital 12 days after her auto accident.  She thankfully was alert and oriented despite her untreated depressed skull fracture, displaced arm and femur fractures.  Her Guardian Angel has been working overtime.  It has not been unusual to see cases like this appear in the OPD.  

You have to just move forward and do what you can for these patients.  It is gratifying to be here at St Martin de Porres Hospital where people are not turned away.

Work continues...

Monday is a busy day at the Out Patient Department  My first case was an 8 year boy who had surgery for an infected femur (osteomyelitis) 18 months ago.  He did not return for follow up but mother decided he should be checked now since his leg wounds have not healed in the 18 months.  Unfortunately he has a chronic Staph infection and the leg is 3/4 the size of his good one and has no movement of the hip or knee.  Dr. Bill Walsh (a veteran surgeon mission doctor) will get to consult on this case when he starts this week.
 
I also made my debut in the theater today.  Nothing exotic, removal of an ingrown toenail.  Not everything is Tropical Medicine here.