I really am not a very good blogger....I blog when I am gone really as a way for me to remember my experiences but if i get busy or something changes then I forget to go back & finish up. Luckily I try to jot down notes during the days when I am on a mission & while they aren't totally "fresh in my mind" several months later the memories do come flooding back as I read my notes. So I will attempt to finish off my Mekele Ethiopia Mission #2 so that I can start on my next adventure!!!
Thursday morning at breakfast we were told that they were moving all the remaining cases to Thursday rather than having a half day on Friday....and Friday we would just pack up. so this was a busy day. We did 20 cases all lips & all on patients under 5 years old. That meant 20 new smiles which is why we are here...it is the basic focus of the mission.
The very first patient was one that we had to cancel on Monday due to a fever so that mom was so so happy - she kissed my hands when she came in the recovery room. Those are the moments & memories I treasure.
We actually had several tearful and grateful moms today...another mom told us thru the interpreters that she was "so thankful her daughter now is beautiful & she can uncover her face" I gave her the last little blanket I had...one that would no go over her pretty new smile & face.
Another mom I took pictures of (someday I will learn how to upload photos to my blog) she had a beautiful red scarf on & when I complimented her on it she wanted to give it to me - I refused & she put it on me - I told her instead we would take a picture of the 2 of us with the scarf & that worked. Mema was her daughters name & she was supposed to have surgery last mission but it was canceled as she developed an eye infection. I don't recall meeting her last time but she said she recognized me & thanked me for coming back. She kept giving me the hand language sign for gratitude...exactly from my Youth Conference talk.
Pt #134 I remembered from screening...Darge - a little boy - his mom was crying she was so happy & we too took pictures :) We also got patient #007 today so we were all calling him James Bond - not sure any of the Ethiopians understood that...
Also first thing this morning I saw my little friend from screening day #2 & from the shelter - the big sister to a little boy - she would come up to me & HUG me everytime she saw me - her little brother had surgery today so she was my very best friend in the Recovery Room today - I gave her flip flops & felt like I came full circle from screening day to the last day of surgery. Another little girl I had seen often was also in the hallway most of the day...she was recognizable because she was actually a little chubby & most of the kids are very thin & she had the brightest smile. She looked at my friend from screening day when I gave her the flip flops & I could tell she wanted some & I had one pair left so I gave them to her & we took pictures too. Her reaction to the $1 Flip Flops was as if I had given a teenager a brand new car - such simple things they need & appreciate.
We got back to the Hill Top Hotel...just calling it a hotel is rather amusing...and we all went out to Karibu for dinner it was really fun. Some of us weren't sure what we would do all day in Mekele tomorrow & since we were going to be there all day tomorrow we didnt want to be there all day Sat too. So Chris & all the Swedish girls & me & anyone else who wanted to - we all changed our flight from Mekele to Addis to the early morning one so we could spend a day in Addis at the Sheraton a 5 star hotel to unwind - yes 10 of us are checking into one room just to store our luggage & use the facilities. We are paying $350 US to basically have the room from noon til MN - Craig & I are the last to leave at MN.You can get a massage for $25 :) We talked Craig into going with us - the only man. He is going to visit museums while we relax at the pool and shop. I have to say for the $30 I have to pay for the room it is totally worth it - I am excited
In the middle of the night I heard people calling the names of others & assumed it was because some more people were sick. I had hoped to sleep in but woke up early & when I did I found out that they had to take a little boy back to surgery cause he opened up his lip repair. I was the Recovery Nurse on call so I told them I would go in to recover the patient. Now remember we had completely disassembled the OR's & packed everything away so basically we had to re set up one OR and I set up a modified Recovery Room and a mattress on the flor became Bryants post op area
Thursday morning at breakfast we were told that they were moving all the remaining cases to Thursday rather than having a half day on Friday....and Friday we would just pack up. so this was a busy day. We did 20 cases all lips & all on patients under 5 years old. That meant 20 new smiles which is why we are here...it is the basic focus of the mission.
The very first patient was one that we had to cancel on Monday due to a fever so that mom was so so happy - she kissed my hands when she came in the recovery room. Those are the moments & memories I treasure.
We actually had several tearful and grateful moms today...another mom told us thru the interpreters that she was "so thankful her daughter now is beautiful & she can uncover her face" I gave her the last little blanket I had...one that would no go over her pretty new smile & face.
Another mom I took pictures of (someday I will learn how to upload photos to my blog) she had a beautiful red scarf on & when I complimented her on it she wanted to give it to me - I refused & she put it on me - I told her instead we would take a picture of the 2 of us with the scarf & that worked. Mema was her daughters name & she was supposed to have surgery last mission but it was canceled as she developed an eye infection. I don't recall meeting her last time but she said she recognized me & thanked me for coming back. She kept giving me the hand language sign for gratitude...exactly from my Youth Conference talk.
Pt #134 I remembered from screening...Darge - a little boy - his mom was crying she was so happy & we too took pictures :) We also got patient #007 today so we were all calling him James Bond - not sure any of the Ethiopians understood that...
Also first thing this morning I saw my little friend from screening day #2 & from the shelter - the big sister to a little boy - she would come up to me & HUG me everytime she saw me - her little brother had surgery today so she was my very best friend in the Recovery Room today - I gave her flip flops & felt like I came full circle from screening day to the last day of surgery. Another little girl I had seen often was also in the hallway most of the day...she was recognizable because she was actually a little chubby & most of the kids are very thin & she had the brightest smile. She looked at my friend from screening day when I gave her the flip flops & I could tell she wanted some & I had one pair left so I gave them to her & we took pictures too. Her reaction to the $1 Flip Flops was as if I had given a teenager a brand new car - such simple things they need & appreciate.
We got back to the Hill Top Hotel...just calling it a hotel is rather amusing...and we all went out to Karibu for dinner it was really fun. Some of us weren't sure what we would do all day in Mekele tomorrow & since we were going to be there all day tomorrow we didnt want to be there all day Sat too. So Chris & all the Swedish girls & me & anyone else who wanted to - we all changed our flight from Mekele to Addis to the early morning one so we could spend a day in Addis at the Sheraton a 5 star hotel to unwind - yes 10 of us are checking into one room just to store our luggage & use the facilities. We are paying $350 US to basically have the room from noon til MN - Craig & I are the last to leave at MN.You can get a massage for $25 :) We talked Craig into going with us - the only man. He is going to visit museums while we relax at the pool and shop. I have to say for the $30 I have to pay for the room it is totally worth it - I am excited
In the middle of the night I heard people calling the names of others & assumed it was because some more people were sick. I had hoped to sleep in but woke up early & when I did I found out that they had to take a little boy back to surgery cause he opened up his lip repair. I was the Recovery Nurse on call so I told them I would go in to recover the patient. Now remember we had completely disassembled the OR's & packed everything away so basically we had to re set up one OR and I set up a modified Recovery Room and a mattress on the flor became Bryants post op area
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