Uganda 2016 – Perspectives from Day 4
There is a saying in the Talmud: “He who saves one life saves the whole world.”
I have been writing all week about our missions and trying to paint a portrait of what I see during the course of my day. I tell you all about the people who make this mission run smoothly. The real story is about what is feel while I watch.
We went to Gulu Regional Hospital this morning to drop off supplies. Dr. Mark Hechler, one of our plastic surgeons was preparing to help a burn patient with a scar reduction. He started his own IV (something he would not typically do in his practice back home in Missouri) and helped the patient get onto the table. As he did this, Tandi Toone, his nurse for the week, took the hand of the patient and smiled as she looked into his scared eyes. It was a tender moment and the patient was calmed because of this simple act. I am asked often why I come back on these missions year after year. I have been doing missions since 2003 and have spent birthdays and a few wedding anniversaries away from my wife on mission trips. She understands how passionate I am about this cause and supports me when I am on these missions. Witnessing an act of kindness almost makes up for all the travel time, all the comforts of home and some of the time away from our loved ones.
Medical Missions Foundation is blessed by our volunteers. I know many nurses from my time at Medical Missions and these women on this trip are extraordinary. I don’t use that term very often… mostly in describing the volunteers that I work with from Medical Missions. Their day starts at 7:15 and ends when the last patient goes home. I was there this morning when they started and by 10:00, two of them had fallen ill and were patients themselves with IVs in their arm. The others simply stepped up and took on the challenge of being short-staffed. There is no on-call person to fill that position when you are on a mission. You do what is necessary. When I came back from other locations I visited, everyone was back at work. The women who were ill took the time to get well and stepped back in to do what is necessary. Last night, the last group came back to the hotel after midnight. They were back at work this morning at 7:30. 4 hours of sleep out to be enough for anyone, right??
Isabella
Lauren Cooper
Our volunteers don’t like to be singled out. They prefer to work as part their team. One of them, Cassie Yano, is fulfilling roles on two teams. Cassie has been on several missions to Uganda, always working in the Preop/PACU. This year, she is working in the clinic triaging and assessing patients. The clinics usually wrap for the day when the sun is setting so they arrive back at the hotel around 6:30 or 7 in the evening. After arriving, the group spreads through the hotel. Some touch base with their family via phone and social media. Others sit down and have a beer. Everyone processes the day together. What did you see? What touched you? What was the hardest thing you did today? Cassie disappeared to her room. A short while later, she shows up with her scrubs and takes a van to the hospital to provide relief and support for her friends who will be in for a long evening. The surgeons work late to help as many people as possible. There are always challenges on a mission. Power and equipment failures, difficult cases, and miscellaneous issues slow the process even further. Cassie returned a few hours later to catch a little sleep before heading back to the clinic. She is back there in the PACU again tonight… Pizza tonight for everyone!
Cassie Yano
As I write this, I am watching Amy Paulson, an Occupational Therapist, Carla Northington, a nurse, and Katherine Hauge, a physical therapist scurry around me. I am in the burn unit because it is a lively place. Lots of noise and activity. It is all Carla, Amy and Kat. Amy has been making splints today and she, Kat and Carla have been debriding burns. It can be an agonizing process for the patients as they clean the burn, remove dead skin and tissue, dry the wound, apply Silver Sulfadiazine to promote healing and then bandage the wound again. Most patients sleep for hours following debriding. Carla and Amy are working on a process to to have the patients sedated in their beds before their burns are debrided. It is a challenge to change how things are done currently.
Today was the dance party in the burn unit. It is a loud, raucous affair. Lots of music, people and great costumes. Amy Paulson and Carla Northington have planned the party and everyone working at St. Mary’s, Lacor joins for a few minutes. The patients are the true beneficiaries of the party. Music and movement promote healing and laughter. It is a very emotional event. A young woman, who recently attempted suicide by setting herself on fire, was bedridden the past 7 months. After a week with Amy, Carla, and Katherine, she was up and dancing.
These days are long and the environment is less than hospitable, but spirits continue to run high. We are near the finish in Uganda and everyone is a winner here.