I got a good nights sleep a solid 5 or 6 hours - slept in a bit & went without makeup (not unusual for me!) I was excited when I got the schedule at breakfast & saw that my new Guatemalan best little friend Sara was scheduled today for surgery. when we arrived at the hospital we went to pre/post and they have it so well organized one hallway is pre & the other post. As soon as I stepped on pre Sara came running out of her room & literally jumped into my arms & kissed me made me drop my backpack it was so unexpected. If she didnt have such a darling mom here I would certainly take her home with me! She was in a room with 2 other girls & a little boy - I gave them all sticker activity packs (thanks Joanne) & explained to mom I would take care of her after surgery.
as always the 1st 5 babies were all lined up an 8 mos old, 3 mos old & 4 all that were 4 mos old. The pre post nurse who is somewhat "in charge" is wonderful & she coordinated with the students to have a super hero day & have capes for the kids coming to surgery - it was fabulous. By 9:30 we already had recovered 4 of the 1st 5 lip patients & they were out of the PACU. Those tiny ones are so darn cute but they sure do wake up hungry after not nursing or having a bottle for 6 or so hours.
After Sara I got perfect patient #2 Nicole her roomate who is equally as cute. That mommy was very tearful & grateful. Another nice surprise was little Rebecca who was cancelled Monday with a cold or fever was able to have surgery today...she was a feisty one but darling.
I had a few long term patients one that needed narcotic reversal that we watched for a few hours but Rachel had the longest a 5 hour patient with all sorts of problems whose mom went to the floor praying for her son - he was doing fine just alot of care needed & even though we were explaining it all she was very worried.
Overall it was just a VERY BUSY DAY - Mary Laura & I explained to Rachel that the facilities we are in are pretty nice compared to some mission locations however the day today was very different than most missions - you dont typically send 3 patients back or have to manage bleeding, oxygen, suctioning & pain the entire day. There have been missions where I have never used the suction!!! so today was an outlier & in true form we ended it with a little girl that we could not make happy no matter what we did :( and another little one from early this morning who needed to go back at 8 pm for an extra stitch. So tonight was my latest this week but not as late as other missions for sure.
This really is a phenomenal team & I am so grateful to be a part of it - I have met some people who will become dear friends I am sure. Joe the coordinator is wonderful - EVERY COORDINATOR I have had has been amazing & he is too. Hard to believe we only have one more big day of surgeries tomorrow & then a half day on Friday - time flies when you are doing good :)
as always the 1st 5 babies were all lined up an 8 mos old, 3 mos old & 4 all that were 4 mos old. The pre post nurse who is somewhat "in charge" is wonderful & she coordinated with the students to have a super hero day & have capes for the kids coming to surgery - it was fabulous. By 9:30 we already had recovered 4 of the 1st 5 lip patients & they were out of the PACU. Those tiny ones are so darn cute but they sure do wake up hungry after not nursing or having a bottle for 6 or so hours.
The 1st round of palates caused crazy chaos for us with lots of pain management needed, some bleeding to control, low oxygen to treat & suctioning needed - basically for all of them. Our Intensivist was convinced it was related to a medication they were using but who knows suffice it to say it was loud & busy. I did manage to go out & was there for pre op holding - she literally squealed when she saw me - everyone asked how I knew her...I said we have been BFFS since friday! she did some medical play with me putting the mask to my face & I gave her & another little girl Jenely tiaras to be princess patients. I wasn't there when she went back to the OR cause I was in with the 2nd round of palates which was equally as crazy if not more....a patient had to go back for some bleeding, one needed another stitch and the pain management was full time....we definitely did not have good karma in our recovery room :)
Sara came out about 1:45 & truly was voted by all as the perfect patient - she woke up slowly, calmly & with a smile on her face. I gave her a few more toys that she held onto & she blew me kisses. Her mom told all the translators how much she "loved me at first sight". We came full circle & it will be hard to say good bye to her in the morning.After Sara I got perfect patient #2 Nicole her roomate who is equally as cute. That mommy was very tearful & grateful. Another nice surprise was little Rebecca who was cancelled Monday with a cold or fever was able to have surgery today...she was a feisty one but darling.
I had a few long term patients one that needed narcotic reversal that we watched for a few hours but Rachel had the longest a 5 hour patient with all sorts of problems whose mom went to the floor praying for her son - he was doing fine just alot of care needed & even though we were explaining it all she was very worried.
Overall it was just a VERY BUSY DAY - Mary Laura & I explained to Rachel that the facilities we are in are pretty nice compared to some mission locations however the day today was very different than most missions - you dont typically send 3 patients back or have to manage bleeding, oxygen, suctioning & pain the entire day. There have been missions where I have never used the suction!!! so today was an outlier & in true form we ended it with a little girl that we could not make happy no matter what we did :( and another little one from early this morning who needed to go back at 8 pm for an extra stitch. So tonight was my latest this week but not as late as other missions for sure.
This really is a phenomenal team & I am so grateful to be a part of it - I have met some people who will become dear friends I am sure. Joe the coordinator is wonderful - EVERY COORDINATOR I have had has been amazing & he is too. Hard to believe we only have one more big day of surgeries tomorrow & then a half day on Friday - time flies when you are doing good :)
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