The
days are getting longer on this side of the world!
I
just got back from a short “circ-out” on the roof (see earlier post to
understand what in the world it means to circ-out). After tiring myself out, I
lay on the roof and peered at the clear blue sky above me.
Not
one cloud.
I
realized, right then, that the sky exactly explained my mind. At that moment my
mind was completely unclouded. I had no worries. I only thought about how there
were no clouds. I couldn’t think about anything. I was completely at peace;
flat on my back, on the dirty roof, in my workout clothes that hadn’t been
washed in a week. And when I finally snapped back to reality… I realized the
sun had set and the roof light was dimly lit.
A
trip like this will make you feel a lot of things. So many emotions run through
my mind each day. If I tried to explain I’m sure my post would end as one gooey
mess.
Today
was a fantastic day… filled with the BEST snack, followed by the BEST, BEST
snack. I promise to get back to these items later. Apart from the food today,
the hospital also shared some cool moments with us. Those of you who follow me
on Snapchat know that I have been volunteering in surgical ward or “theater” as
Mt. Meru Regional Hospital calls it.
Monday:
fracture clinic
This
is where patients come when they have suffered broken bones (DUH). But, at Mt.
Meru this doesn’t normally consist of hairline fractures. For example, the
first patient we saw suffered a spiral fracture of the fibula, and displaced
tibial fracture with butterfly segment (floating bone).
He couldn’t afford to
pay for the surgery to undergo open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). But,
the motto at Mt. Meru is: do what you can with what you have. The boy had to
make due with a simple plaster cast.
Tuesday:
theater
We
came to the hospital dressed in normal clothes, and changed into our sterile
scrubs upon arrival. We were required to wear a face mask, and hair protector.
This time we weren’t given a ripped piece of cloth, although we were told to
re-use the sterile hair cap. We then stood in on two surgeries.
O.R.
one 10:00a: Appendectomy, peritoneal lavage (Latin for wash-out)
O.R.
two 10:45a: relocation of dislocated hip including a drilled in metal rod
through the femoral head into the acetabulum.
Do you see the broken bone in the pelvis?
Wednesday:
theater
We
started the morning the same, but today the surgeries came from the OBS and GYN
ward.
O.R.
one 10:30a: Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
O.R.
two 11:30a: Hysterectomy “ “
After
the uterus was removed from the second woman Heather and I were allowed to hold
the scared uterus. We even noticed scar tissue from where the woman had a
cesarean section!
It
is also interesting to note that prior these procedures we were able to witness
the different anesthetics these patients underwent. We looked on as few went
completely under via propofol or ketamine, and others underwent spinal
injections. It was extremely interesting to watch as the anesthesiologist
monitored the vitals, making sure the values stayed within acceptable range.
After the hospital today, we
went to the pharmacy to place another donation order. I will have more
information about this later. I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL YOU GUYS ALL ABOUT WHAT WE
ORDERED… for now, I will keep you guys on your toes. XO
After
the pharmacy I attempted to take Heather and Ben to a fabulous, local store
where Masai blankets are bought dirt cheap. Along the way we stumbled into a
shop know as, “Arusha Fancy Store.” Here (hapa) we found Masai blankets for
cheap, at an even better quality. They also lead me to a place where I could
purchase Kangas, which I have been looking for. We found the shop and I
purchased a couple. After being overwhelmed by the mass amount of people
swarming the market where I found the Kangas, we left and headed for Muzugu
territory: Afrcicafe. We sipped on our routine coffees before heading home.
OH
MY GOD. I forgot to mention the snacks…
BEST
snack: Half cake
This
is a snack made from rice flour. It is a bit oily but just the right amount of
sweet. The best way I can describe it is as a flaky pastry on the outside and a
thick, full, yummy bun on the inside. I love bread, and I love plain… so
basically this treat came right from heaven and into my hands for the small fee
of 10 American cents.
BEST
BEST snack: Fruit Salad
This
isn’t your normal fruit salad. This is a salad made by a local juice shop.
The contents include bits of pineapple, watermelon, and banana. Heather and I
scooped up this winning treat on the way to the pharmacy today. We fell so deep
in love, that we nearly missed our destination. I did snap a photo… although
this was near the end of the cup… Can you blame us? It was nearly impossible
not to keep dipping into the cup for more.
To
say today was a good day would be more than an understatement. Miss you all,
XO!
What a great day!
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