If you read this blog please know that it is really my "journal" of my journey so when I write things it is not for either sympathy or praise it is simply for e to remember and to share with family and friends.
WOW 5:30 came early..and I wasn't at all "organized as far as my stuff in my backpack" to go to the hospital - so I was late to breakfast and missed the team meeting - oops! Maybe that is where Sarah gets her morning tardiness haha. Once at the hospital I went to the Pre-Post area to help since we wouldn't have patients in Recovery for an hour and I got to take some fun pics of the patients we cared for yesterday. They actually LOVE having their photo taken especially when you then show it to them on the camera screen - some even ask you to take a picture.
My 1st patient was Brak a 7 month old boy that I remember getting pre op pics of when he was on his moms back in a Mahthel - a traditional leather and shell baby carrier that is made and used in smaller villages. They believe that carrying a baby that way makes them stronger - especially their back as they rear up to try to get out?? I am sure it makes the moms backs strong too as I have seen moms with 2 year olds in those. He had a cleft lip repair and did great- such an immediate difference. Once the babies wake up we let them breast feed and with some of the moms in native wear breastfeeding I felt like I was having flashbacks to all those photos I saw in National Geographic magazines growing up - never did I imagine I would be here!!! I got some great pics after...Kevin was the surgeon - he too is LDS and from Alberta Canada. We told the mom the baby was PERFECT and she was so teary and grateful - thru our translator Samson (love him) she told us "God Bless you for coming to my country to help me and my baby, I will not forget you"
My 2nd patient was a 4 year old cleft palate repair who did not have an effective block and was in pain and screaming for nearly 2 hours despite about 10 doses of our precious pain meds - finally we got him comfortable. Mom cried as he cried & I felt so bad :( I told everyone he counted as 5 patients!!! After him I slipped out to eat...tuna from home never tasted so good!
It seems like we have mostly boy patients - I a not sure if Clefts are more common in boys??? I will have to look that up. I did get to give my 1st dress away though. I hadn't brought them yesterday as I knew the 1st day of surgery would be a bit chaotic. I brought about 20 dresses with me from 2 friends this first dress was from Heidi and Young Women in her congregation and I gave it to a 7 year old from this local area of Tigray - the mom was so grateful!!! The 2nd dress I gave away later in the day & it was a much larger than normal denim one my friend Carole made - sh gave it to me before I left and said "I don't know if there is a u for one this size but I felt like I should make it" Carole is ALWAYS inspired and follows those promptings - that dress was meant for Zariya a 15 year old who literally was in a ragged long smelly dress - the mom was so thankful - I told her my friend made it & she said as she touched her chest then mine "from my heart to your heart to hers tell her I love her" I gave away few other dresses after that but in the afternoon things just sort of went crazy...we did 24 patients today but at 5 pm we still had 10 to go on the tables and only 2 of us in Recovery - Barb had come in the morning but wasn't feeling 100% so we sent her home about noon. Kristen from pre post came to hep us but poor girl she ended up with a migraine & was on one of our beds until it needed to be filled by a patient. I am SOOOO GRATEFUL and feel SOOOO BLESSED that I am staying healthy.
One of Carols patients was an older teen who had a palate repair and stayed with us in recovery for 4 hours cause she was having alot of vomiting and some bleeding. Finally at 8 pm they decided to take her back - she had a tough day of it!!! Julie our Pediatric Intensivist Physician is so incredible helpful (actually EVERY PI I have ever worked with has been hands on & FABULOUS). She knows we are working short handed and has changed sheets on beds given eds & done all that we are doing - she said today she was "channeling her inner nurse :)" We are strong and united team of 3!!!
It was simply a LONG DAY!!! we finally left the hospital about 9:40 and as I got into the van with the others who stay til the end like me (the PC, CC, PI, Carol, Kathy & me) I just was teary and looked out the window....it was nothing specific just a combination of jet lag, being sleep deprived, working long 17 hour days, feeling disconnected and missing my family as I can only text them, etc etc. BUT I reminded myself that I can do BRAVE HARD THINGS - I tell my kids often that they can do hard things and this is my turn.
When we got back to the hotel the other team members who had returned hours before were in the restaurant visiting after dinner - Carol & I couldn't even go there - we were on the same page and had had the same day in recovery. We talked to Lisa the CC and asked if we could go in at 8 the next morning on Tues instead of 6:30 with the rest of the team & she was so kind & said yes. We both just needed an extra hour of sleep and wanted to come to the internet cafe for 30 min to connect with the outside world!!!
At my room Jae as already in bed bu woke when I came in & we talked a bit - it is great to be in a mission with a friend even if you have different schedules - it is just nice to know you have someone in this with you who you know!!! Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming - I definitely feel that I am loved and supported in this journey. Tomorrow is a new day!!!
WOW 5:30 came early..and I wasn't at all "organized as far as my stuff in my backpack" to go to the hospital - so I was late to breakfast and missed the team meeting - oops! Maybe that is where Sarah gets her morning tardiness haha. Once at the hospital I went to the Pre-Post area to help since we wouldn't have patients in Recovery for an hour and I got to take some fun pics of the patients we cared for yesterday. They actually LOVE having their photo taken especially when you then show it to them on the camera screen - some even ask you to take a picture.
My 1st patient was Brak a 7 month old boy that I remember getting pre op pics of when he was on his moms back in a Mahthel - a traditional leather and shell baby carrier that is made and used in smaller villages. They believe that carrying a baby that way makes them stronger - especially their back as they rear up to try to get out?? I am sure it makes the moms backs strong too as I have seen moms with 2 year olds in those. He had a cleft lip repair and did great- such an immediate difference. Once the babies wake up we let them breast feed and with some of the moms in native wear breastfeeding I felt like I was having flashbacks to all those photos I saw in National Geographic magazines growing up - never did I imagine I would be here!!! I got some great pics after...Kevin was the surgeon - he too is LDS and from Alberta Canada. We told the mom the baby was PERFECT and she was so teary and grateful - thru our translator Samson (love him) she told us "God Bless you for coming to my country to help me and my baby, I will not forget you"
My 2nd patient was a 4 year old cleft palate repair who did not have an effective block and was in pain and screaming for nearly 2 hours despite about 10 doses of our precious pain meds - finally we got him comfortable. Mom cried as he cried & I felt so bad :( I told everyone he counted as 5 patients!!! After him I slipped out to eat...tuna from home never tasted so good!
It seems like we have mostly boy patients - I a not sure if Clefts are more common in boys??? I will have to look that up. I did get to give my 1st dress away though. I hadn't brought them yesterday as I knew the 1st day of surgery would be a bit chaotic. I brought about 20 dresses with me from 2 friends this first dress was from Heidi and Young Women in her congregation and I gave it to a 7 year old from this local area of Tigray - the mom was so grateful!!! The 2nd dress I gave away later in the day & it was a much larger than normal denim one my friend Carole made - sh gave it to me before I left and said "I don't know if there is a u for one this size but I felt like I should make it" Carole is ALWAYS inspired and follows those promptings - that dress was meant for Zariya a 15 year old who literally was in a ragged long smelly dress - the mom was so thankful - I told her my friend made it & she said as she touched her chest then mine "from my heart to your heart to hers tell her I love her" I gave away few other dresses after that but in the afternoon things just sort of went crazy...we did 24 patients today but at 5 pm we still had 10 to go on the tables and only 2 of us in Recovery - Barb had come in the morning but wasn't feeling 100% so we sent her home about noon. Kristen from pre post came to hep us but poor girl she ended up with a migraine & was on one of our beds until it needed to be filled by a patient. I am SOOOO GRATEFUL and feel SOOOO BLESSED that I am staying healthy.
One of Carols patients was an older teen who had a palate repair and stayed with us in recovery for 4 hours cause she was having alot of vomiting and some bleeding. Finally at 8 pm they decided to take her back - she had a tough day of it!!! Julie our Pediatric Intensivist Physician is so incredible helpful (actually EVERY PI I have ever worked with has been hands on & FABULOUS). She knows we are working short handed and has changed sheets on beds given eds & done all that we are doing - she said today she was "channeling her inner nurse :)" We are strong and united team of 3!!!
It was simply a LONG DAY!!! we finally left the hospital about 9:40 and as I got into the van with the others who stay til the end like me (the PC, CC, PI, Carol, Kathy & me) I just was teary and looked out the window....it was nothing specific just a combination of jet lag, being sleep deprived, working long 17 hour days, feeling disconnected and missing my family as I can only text them, etc etc. BUT I reminded myself that I can do BRAVE HARD THINGS - I tell my kids often that they can do hard things and this is my turn.
When we got back to the hotel the other team members who had returned hours before were in the restaurant visiting after dinner - Carol & I couldn't even go there - we were on the same page and had had the same day in recovery. We talked to Lisa the CC and asked if we could go in at 8 the next morning on Tues instead of 6:30 with the rest of the team & she was so kind & said yes. We both just needed an extra hour of sleep and wanted to come to the internet cafe for 30 min to connect with the outside world!!!
At my room Jae as already in bed bu woke when I came in & we talked a bit - it is great to be in a mission with a friend even if you have different schedules - it is just nice to know you have someone in this with you who you know!!! Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming - I definitely feel that I am loved and supported in this journey. Tomorrow is a new day!!!
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