Is it really THURSDAY????

THURSDAY…at least that is what I am told. I really have lost track of the days!!! Because of all the computer issues I have been having I am trying to get this written on a 15 min break I am taking while we have a lul & then at some point when the http://www/...  figures out I am here in Nakuru & the internet Gods decide to let me connect I will hit "post" for all I know that may be when I get home!!!

It was a pretty “normal mission day” today & by Wednesday it seemed we were all in our “groove” other than the occasional “emotional case” or some of the day to day funny things that happen  Really I almost felt it was running like clockwork here in Nakuru despite the fact we are in a somewhat primitive environment (probably advanced compared to other 3^rd world countries).  Everyone was doing their job & doing it well & working so great together - seriously not one person with an attitude. The team is awesome - an amazing group of people from all over the world.

The biggest difference in both a good & challenging way is that for the Kenyans the “Hakuna Matata” attitude that is very real…there is no sense of urgency for anything & some of the people have a “minimalist” approach to their work & their breaks are VERY important to them…we start work at 7 & at between about 10:30 & 11:30 everyone gets out of the Recovery Room for tea…no matter what…then there is lunch about 3ish & again about 4-5 everyone goes for tea. And it was a BIG deal because all the Op Smile volunteers were “taking tea” in the Doctors Tea Room near the OR & ICU. As you can imagine it frustrated them greatly that I didn’t want to “go for tea“ aka take a break every 3 hours….instead if it was slow I was poking my head in the OR or asking if anyone needed help…I always went to lunch & some days did take an afternoon break for a diet coke & trail mix and for me that was great cause I enjoyed stating busy and being near the kids. I didnt travel 10,000 miles to "take tea" :) but I also regocnized the importance of "hanging out" with the locals in the tea room & getting to know them better so I did that & also looked for ways to spend time with them whenever I could. I have some great notes all about the people & nursing in Kenya that I will write about another time!

As far as the "Hakuna Matata" life ...when Andeas (our intensivist) wanted to move patients to post op cause we had some “incoming” in the next 20 min & we already full I would be the one to volunteer to take patients to the post op ward - my 100 yd walk just to be able to “take in” everything going on at the hospital & to see my friend Jannae in Post Op. The other nurses wanted the post op nurses to come pick the patients up from us but Post Op was always slammed (that by the way I think is the hardest job of the mission ) so I would go & convince one of them to go with me “for a walk“. So basically all my Kenyan co workers said I worked too hard…but for me it was perfect!!! They do however LOVE the fact that I brought an IPOD & speakers & we have had music in the recovery room for the whole time. In that small room when we have 5-6 patients 2 to a bed most of them crying & the surgeons & anesthesia in there giving us report the noise level does get a bit high though so I turn it off!!! They are also a VERY friendly people & we laugh & joke all the time when we have down time between patients & are setting up for the next ones.

Because of all the extra screening we had done Mon-Wed we ended up cancelling some of the Category 5 adult cases (about 30) and adding on more kids with lips & palates…which is great because that is our primary mission…and we did A LOT of surgeries related to burns..so sad . My friends from KSL left yesterday…I cant wait to watch their piece on our mission and today the 2 high students got to come in the OR & see cases - they were so excited & they have been a fun addition to the team. Karina from San Clemente (who I traveled with) & Century from Norfolk VA.

My FUN patient for today was a 12 year old named Ann…as she came out of anesthesia she kept asking “is my smile beautiful now” and told us she had a good sleep & no pain & kept saying “God Bless You, God Bless the Doctors, I Love You, God Bless You” she was SO SWEET..I gave her a cute dress & took her picture then showed it to her on my viewer on the back of my camera - she made my day!

Also today Florence an ICU nurse at this hospital & one of my co workers said to me yesterday & today that she brought her 3 year old son for screening because of 2 fused fingers after he burnt them (this is very common because I think with the burns they wrap the hand & burned fingers together & then they fuse as they heal). He was a Category 5 but she wondered why he wasn’t put on the schedule because other Cat 5 children like that were scheduled on the end of most days. It FINALLY struck me that I should advocate for her & her son as she would think it not appropriate to ask herself. I explained the situation to Donna our coordinator & she told me to get the chart so I asked Florence what her son’s # was (each child that comes thru is given a # that becomes their medical record #) it was #143 so I went & got the chart & took it to Donna & Dan the Medical Coordinator. I explained Florence was volunteering here all week (took work off without pay) & she has done other Kenyan missions. Even though she & her husband both work they cannot afford even this simple surgery. I told them that either way yes or no I thought she would appreciate knowing they looked again at his chart I let it go from there & about 10 min later Donna came into the Recovery Room & told Florence they were adding her son to the Friday schedule & could she get him here later today for labwork. Florence said of course & then came & gave me a HUGE HUG told me what a difference it would make in his life….such a SIMPLE thing to ask for something for someone who might not ask for themself.