Surgical Day #3

Another morning of surgeries means another morning of breakfast on the roof top terrace.  Our day again, only consistsnof 2 surgeries.  The surgeries are long and my teachings continue with the previous days patients. I make rounds on them frequently during the day just to make sure they are getting enough fluids, nutrition, ice to their faces to decrease swelling and good oral hygiene.  There is lots of contruction going on in the hospital so the incessant noise of jackhammers are heard throughout  the day; from the patients rooms to the surgical suite. I needed to buy more advil as I have been going through it more than I thought I would.

Last time I was here, we would see lots of babies. There is a lot of cleft lip/ palate repairs so we would see lots of babies. Today, though, was the first day we saw the little ones. We brought some stuffed animals and handed them out and grabbed some photo ops, as well.. I fell in love with one that had a hemangioma on it's nasal bridge. Such a happy little one. All smiles and I have the photo to prove that.  

Our patients today were still in the recovery room as we left today. We met with the families and they were so appreciative of all we do for them. I do look around for a staff or family member that speaks English so we can make sure they understand the care routine. We always manage to find a helpful someone to also help us.

We then left the hospital early, did some more souvenir shopping and are back in the hotel awaiting dinner. Tonight, the owner of the Lucky 3 Hotel, is ccoking us dinner in the rooftop restaurant. This group comes and stays at her hotel every year, so she is always happy to have everyone return.

Last nights dinner at Dr. Thuy's house was wonderful. We also ate on the 9th floor terrace of her home. They had beef skewers, spring rolls, tomato and cucumber salad, french fries, pasionfruit juice, watermelon and wine, of course.  The terrace has containers of their own homegrown vegetables, and thes HUGE barrel tanks of water. The water truck fills them and the water is used for bathing and irrigation. The water really isn't drinkable, so bottled water is used for cooking, etc. i will show pictures of our dinner and the tanks.

We have one more surgery day left as Dr. Allender, Dr. Niles and Judy, RN leave on Friday to return home. Jim and I will stay one more week, so we will check on the patients next week. This Friday, Jim and I will take the train to Sapa, which is in northern Vietnam, close to the China border. I will blog and show pictures after our trek as I may not have time or the acces to blog from Sapa. The train is an overnight 9 hour train ride, then a 1 hour bus ride into Sapa. There are terraced rice fields, waterfalls, the Hmong villagers farm and weave beautiful brocades that the tourists buy up. Saturday and Sunday is the big market day where they sell their wares and fruits and vegetables too.  Once Jim and I return on Monday morning, we will be in Hanoi until the following Friday, when we leave for home. Again, such a great experience and I enjoy being able to learn so much more than I imagined.

Pictures will follow of my littles babies from today, hospital construction, patient pictures and dinner from last night. Enjoy!