It is hard to believe that the "mission" part of the mission is over - it went sooooo much faster than Kenya - partially because it was a 4 hour flight instead of a 24 hour flight, only a 2 hour time change from Calif., and 2 less days of surgery...I enjoyed this mission alot - it was very different from Kenya in some ways & much the same in others.
Differences: the hospital, supplies & equipment here were alot nicer & more plentiful, I didn't have as many "traumatic type patients or experiences" in Mexico as I did in Kenya...
Similar: The days were just as long & we worked just as hard, the patients & families were still very poor & in desperate need of the medical care & just as humble & grateful for our care, the teams most of whom only met on arrival worked so well together all in behalf of the kids, AND...once again I had experiences that confirmed to me I was supposed to be here this week - for my own learning & growth & hopefully to also touch lives.
Today was a little bittersweet....in the morning we took our team picture in front of the hospital & then went up to the post op ward to check on the kids from yesterday. Again I got to see some sweet patients & take some pictures. We also checked on Rosa...I was happy to hear that her mom Juana had gotten some sleep on the hospital floor on a blanket while the grandma (her mother in law) was there with the baby. The nasal trumpet we put in was fine but we needed to see how she would do if we took it out & she didn't do well at all. The nasal tube was replaced & a decision made to bring her back to surgery today & see if the plastic surgeon could do anything to improve her ability to breathe well on her own. Before that thought we had a full schedule of patients & the first round on all 5 OR tables were all babies so I was able to give away almost all the baby clothes I brought & the ones I had left over I gave to the nurses who had babies or grand babies :)
We took lots of pictures today of the team, patients , with the Mexican local team, with our translators & that was fun. Rosa came down about 2 pm & we got her settled on the table & all was well & I went out for a break - I was only gone about 15 min when I was found in the break area & told to come back things weren't going well with Rosa - the surgeons tried all maneuvers to help her to breathe but her nose passages were just too tight & for the last 2 days she had been working to breathe & hadn't had many calories in IV or by mouth so she was weaker & that caused some problems too...in the end they ended up placing & sewing in nasal trumpets (airways) into both nostrils & then also Intubating her (putting a breathing tube in) & I came back as we needed to take her to the floor under the care of a Local NICU Nurse. Juana - Rosa's mom was in a heap on the floor, it was a chaotic transfer, their "NICU ventilator & equipment" was soooo old (like 25 years old stuff I remember from when I graduated from Nursing school - but at least they had it), & their practice is just much more simplistic. Christoph (the Intensivist & I ) tried to get as much in order to our liking as we could but ultimately at this point we had to turn the care over to the local team. The plan is just to keep her sedated & on the ventilator overnight then take the breathing tube out in the morning & she will go home with the nasal airways in & be followed by Dr. Blas the local Plastic Surgeon here who runs a Cleft Lip/Palate Clinic at this hospital. So not every Op Smile mission patient gets the fairytale ending to their story & I was really sad that this was happening to Rosa & more upset that her sweet young mom had to go thru this. I was able to spend about an hour with her after everything got settled but still my heart was broken for her - I just wanted to bring them both home with me & get them more advanced care & some emotional support - it was a tearful good bye.
Luckily after that I went back down to the Recovery room & we still had about 10 patients to go & our very last patient was absolutley darling - 5 year old Jesus. He had a pretty big surgery & rough go of it post op in the recovery room so he was with us for about 2 hours (most are only there 30 -60 min). He needed alot of oxygen & we needed to get that down so he could go to the floor - I stood by his bed & told him "respire profundo con mi" (Deep breathe w/ me) & he tried so so hard - even if I moved to get something he would keep breathing so well. Finally we got him to a good level & were ready to go & as we were wheeling him out he noticed the white Operating room hat her wore into surgery & he must've thought he needed to wear it out so he put it on himself...it was so darn cute. Katrine & I got a picture of the 2 of us with him in the hallways before they took him upstairs. That end to the day was perfecto! & it was coupled with a baby being born in the one Operating room we left open for deliveries - hearing that cry of a healthy newborn was magical :)
Hard to believe it is over...I still need to process some things. I miss being away from my family but one week was lots easier than 2 & I definitely was to go again...I just have no idea when or where - I guess wherever I am needed & where I am sent. Clearly my blog is inadequate in expressing the miracles that occur as surgeries happen & children's lives are changed....how blessed I am to witness this & be a part of it! I also know that God loves his children all over the world & answers their prayers as I have myself seen it happen at home, in Kenya & now In Mexico & I know it happens everywhere everyday
Tomorrow is our "team day" it should be fun & mostly I am just excited that I wont be getting a 5 :30 am wake up call!
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