Day 7, Last Day

We started with rounds. The patients were doing well, progressing with minimal complaints.  One swollen knee due to the anticoagulation.
We delivered new mother gifts in OB and toys in Pediatrics.  The team has adopted the new moms, their babies and the sick kids in peds. They have spent the last 6 months gathering toys, diapers and baby clothes. Over the last 10 days they have all made the trips to OB and Peds to deliver the gifts. I work with an amazing group of folks.
We went over to clinic to see 17 one year followup patients and review their X-rays. One of our major goals for this project is measuring the long term outcomes of total joint replacement in a mission trip environment. The great news is that they are all doing very well.  No complications and function  seems comparable to our patients in Nashville. We will keep following for the entire 10 years.
We were done by 1pm. Some spent the afternoon shopping in Veracruz.  Paul and I drank a couple of beers on the main square downtown,
We leave for home at 5am tomorrow.

 

                                 

                                  

       
                                 

Day 6, April 10,2013

Today was a very busy day. Surgery, ceremony, lectures, rounds, clean up and put away equipment.

We started with the surgery. We elected to do 3 cases today due to the busy schedule. That brought the total for the week to 17.  Dr Wind started the surgery day, doing the first 2 cases while I was over at the  celebration ceremony and lectures. Today there was much more participation by the hospital staff in the OR.  They performed much more of the circulating nursing role. The residents were scrubbed in surgery and  more involved. It was great to experience.  The OR staff are starting to come along like the  nursing staff on the 4th floor.

While the first 2 cases were being done, I was over at the main auditorium at the medical school. There was a gathering of about 200 people, press, hospital administration, medical and nursing students, and residents and faculty. First there was a formal recognition of the 4th surgical trip and the delivery of the semi truck of equipment (including the new sterilizer, thank you Mr Wittine) The were news paper and tv interviews, as well as speeches. Mine was delivered in poor spanish.  Once the ceremony was finished, we gave a series of lectures. Dr Embry spoke on the preoperative evaluation of the orthopedic patient, Dr Norton spoke on the difficulties of delivering anesthesia in the obese, and I spoke on hip replacement in the obese patient. The best received lectures were given by Sheila Gaffney and Kori Holmes. They spoke on therapy and nursing of knee replacement patients and therapy for amputation patients.  Sheila spoke in flawless spanish. It couldn't have gone better.
Oh, and since it was Dr Norton's birthday, the entire room sang the spanish version of happy birthday to him.

While the final talks were given, I returned to do the final case of the trip and then team began the clean up. Everything was put away and inventoried by 4pm! Time to return to the hotel, have a cerveza or two and get ready for the hospital sponsored final dinner.
At 7 pm we got on the bus, went to an Argentinian restaurant and stuffed ourselves. Lots of laughter. Those still standing went out to the karaoke bar to regale the locals with horrible singing.

As I looked around at this incredible group of people, I am reminded of where we started less than 2 years ago and how far we have come. It would have been impossible without their hard work, their experience and their passion for the care of the disadvantaged.
I am proud of their accomplishments and privileged to work with them.

Day 5, April 9, 2013

4 cases today. everyone did well. The post op patients are progressing well in physical therapy and are happy. I keep waiting for the crisis which never appears.
A few of the OR team suffered some GI distress, but all made it to the OR and the cases were completed without any delays. Cipro is a magical antibiotic!
Once again, the Veracruz nurses on the 4th floor had the patients ready for surgery. They have been an amazing group. They have enthusiastically absorbed the information our team has provided.  Their response has made me believe that our long term goal of a self-sustaining program might actually be achievable.
 Everyone is  a bit tired, so it is early to bed.  Tomorrow is a big day.  The last day in the OR. We plan 3 cases.  There is a ceremony to celebrate the delivery of the truck load of supplies and a day of lectures in the big medical school lecture hall. Esme has translated a statement for me to give, so I have to practice a bit.
Everyday I look around at this team and am reminded what incredible people they are.
How fortunate I am to be here!