Our morning begins by visiting our patients at the Hospital. Some of them have been discharged, after spending their week as an inpatient. We visited today and one of the mother's was coming her hair as we walked in to the room. She got her camera out and wanted her son to get a photo of her with Jim and myself. Such a sweet gesture. They are always so happy to see us when we visit them in the morning. I also had some leftover stuffed animals, so I went into their "pre-op" area to give them to any babies that I could find; which I did find.
As we were leaving, one of the anesthesiologists that we worked with, also stopped to talk with us and to have a photo taken. Next, Dr. Nguyen asked us if we could come to meet her parents tonight at her house. She offered to pick us up and very much wanted us to meet her family.
Dr. Nguyen picked us up and we arrived at their house. We met her parents. Her father is a nephrologist and her mother is a gastroenterologist. Her father also was a General for the North Vietnamese Army during the war. Dr. Nguyen's husband ( also a physician), her 2 sons, ages 11 and 8, her brother, sister-in-law and their 2 year old daughter were also there to meet us. We had Jasmine tea, kiwi, pear and apple. It was Dr. Nguyen's sister-in-law's birthday, so there was cKe with candles and we sang "Happy Birthday"!
We visited for about 2 hours, talked about our families and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were so welcomed and they kept thanking us for coming such a long way, to help them. They also want us to return next year and kept asking us if would could return.
We were driven home and given some Jasmine tea as gifts. I just am overwhelmed by the love and generosity that the staff, patients and families have given us.
Tomorrow is one last dinner, and this time at Dr. Vy's house, where we will meet her family. Oh, and another thing. The hotel manger of the hotel we are staying in, Lucky 3 Hotel, cooked dinner for us tonight in the rooftop restaurant, where we eat our morning breakfast. The team has been staying at her hotel for the past 10 years and have definitely developed a friendship with her. She wanted us to being her some vitamins for her children from America, so Jim and I bought some items from Costco to give to her. In return she made us dinner tonight of cooked fish, pork, mushrooms, salad and a bean curd dessert. She also gave us some Vietnamese coffee as gifts to bring home. Again, such appreciation and friendship from the people I have met.
The last of the patients should be going home tomorrow and we leave for home on Friday. I am ready for home, but I have once afain, loved every moment of my stay here.
Goodnight and I will be home soon!
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