So having left everyone in the lurch wondering what was happening now seems a good time to catch up. There have been moment s of joy, sadness, long nights and early mornings so situation normal really.
The workload has not been arduous but simply long days with VVF surgery running late several times simply because the nature of the surgery is complicated. The surgeons often struggle to find anything that looks like normal anatomy. But the work is rewarding. One lady who had such surgery did become quite ill one night and required a special intravenous line called a central venous line to be inserted. (CVP) Although called at 10.20pm on the Saturday evening to help with this procedure the decision was then made not to go ahead. However she deteriorated later that night and so I was called at 2.30am to help insert this line. I stayed up the rest of the night as by the time we had succeeded, having had to give the patient a general anaesthetic, and cleared up there really wasn't much point in going to bed. I did sleep well that night and had snoozed during the day.
We are very fortunate to have some excellent consultants who give of their time and one such came from Canada for a month. He specialized in paediatric anaesthesia and having several sick kids was put to the test. This included putting a CVP line in when no easy access could be found for a regular cannula. A week later I was helping him in the intensive care unit (ICU) to place another CVP. The baby was 14 months old but weighed just 5kg. She had a particular bowel problem that in the US or the UK we would deal with at birth. That she had survived this long was a miracle. Heinz and I worked with others for over 2 hours before we succeeded. Sadly later that night she died. It took both of us quite sometime to recover emotionally from that experience. It's difficult when one is holding a child and as she did, see them looking straight through as if to say" I've had enough" and not be affected.
The following day we were talking to each other and supporting each other as we tried to put our own thoughts in to some sort of order. One fights so hard to give these children the best opportunity of life but God decides in the end we accept that for her, it was the time for her to be with Father. She's probably gurgling now very contentedly!
The photo below is a much happier one. One contented 3 hour baby who was brought in from one of the local hospitals as an emergency. Normally we do not accept emergencies but this an exceptional situation. The baby had been born with her eyes the wrong way round. I deliberately haven't included the "before" photo but the "after" one is kind of cute and what we strive to achieve. Again we saw God's timing here as we had the appropriate surgeon onboard to carry out what is actually a simple procedure - if you know what your doing!
There have been yet more departures of longer term staff and a couple of these have been from the OR. Pam and Margreet left during the same weekend, leaving a huge hole in the department. With facebook, keeping in contact is so much easier these days. We knew almost immediately that they had arrived home safely and are now busy re-adjusting to life at home. Others will come and fill the space but they had been a part of the orthopaedic team and then had taken up roles within the VVF and paediatric general surgery rooms which were new areas for both of them. It can be difficult having spent 4 or 5 months working with a team that all sings from the same song sheet to suddenly be thrust back into a world where minor details seem so important to others. Keeping the mouth shut can be very hard!
In the last 3 weeks it seems that we are hot news, at least in Gloucestershire. I have had a story put up on the local BBC news website about my blood donation. Paul and Rebekah have spoken on the local BBC Gloucestershire radio Sunday morning religious program about their visit and article also appeared in the international version of Christian Today about their trip. I have also been invited by the Association for Perioperative Practitioners to speak at a conference in Harrogate during October.
This last week has seen the visit of the President of the American Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN). Mercyships has partnered with AORN and this visit was in connection with this process. We had a great time together sharing information and learning how the association could help us to improve what we are doing. Along with him there was a group that came from Instruments of Mercy and Integrated Medical Systems. They refurbish old instruments so we are hoping that they will be able to help us prolong the life of the instruments we use. thankfully they also repair endoscopes so our 2 endoscopes that we use for difficult airway intubation can also receive some TLC! Having the opportunity to chat with this group made me feel very much like home, talking about repairs and loan instruments..
As part of the eye team although not a constant member depending on the needs of the department, I am able to attend a small group that we have, led by the main surgeon, Dr Glenn Strauss. This group meets weekly for bible study for an hour and then an eye team meeting when we can discuss any problems that are arising. having the chance to share in a small group like this is all part of community living but adds to the team spirit and the sense very much of working together as a team. Opportunities occasionally arise for us to visit other parts of the team and its always good to see what is happening. It would be easy to become blinkered in our view.
The other group that has established itself to a routine now is the 6.00am running team. As people come and go the team members change but this morning has to be the most memorable. Only 2 of us met as the others were away - it being the long weekend - and being Saturday it was the long run day. Having not run for about 15 months I have been gradually building up my running again and this morning we went about 14.5k (just over 9 miles) in the wettest conditions ever. The two us were soaked before we reached the end of the dock, 500 metres from the gangway. The rain is warm so not a problem other than running with wet feet, with the best will in the world it's impossible to remain dry. The great advantage is the rain although warm keeps us cool so the long distance is easier. For the pair of us it was the longest run we have done. Sadly for me this mornings partner returns to South Africa on Thursday so next week the pace will be a little faster so I'll have to work harder. We do take small water bottles with us, the idea of which probably ought to be patented. They are empty 250ml bottles which held saline to which are then attached pieces of velcro. One piece of velcro is then wrapped around the hand so that they are easy to carry. We were dripping as we came up the gangway and stayed in the dining room just long enough to collect water and cups of tea but not long enough to create puddles of water. We really were that wet! Since then the sun has shone and dried up the puddles. Now the last Lions match to look forward to this afternoon. On call has its advantages - it gives a valid excuse for staying onboard and having to pass the time by watching such games on the screen!
Amazing to realise that I have only 6 weeks left onboard.
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