March 21

March 21

Today was a full and varied day, primarily at Cure.  We had three different rooms in the clinic where we saw pediatric and adult patients.  Some will need surgery, others are follow-up patients.  Some will have surgery later this week, and for some we will keep their information on file to schedule for our next visit in approximately six months.  The audiology team was also busy seeing patients and fitting hearing aids.  One profoundly deaf patient was fitted with a hearing aid and was able to hear sounds for the first time.  She had quite a smile on her face afterwards!

The OR was busy at Cure also.  Our team had two cases, one patient for ear surgery for a perforated ear drum, and one patient who had a large growth above the eye.  Originally it was thought to be a cancerous tumor; a biopsy was obtained in the past, but they were not able to obtain a diagnosis for treatment.  Today our surgeons were able to determine that it was a large fluid filled mass in the sinuses and were able to remove it with some work and specialized sinus equipment that we brought.  There were also six orthopaedic cases for which we helped with the anesthesia care.  There were two children who needed cast changes, and four other major surgical procedures , all in children.  There is nowhere else in Ethiopia that children can get this specialized orthopaedic care.  One anesthesiologist also spent the morning at Black Lion and helped to prepare for a neurosurgical case for a brain tumor.  The equipment and monitoring capabilities are not the same as is the standard in the US, so it is a very different situation.

Tomorrow we have OR cases at Cure and will again see children at the School for the Deaf.  Tonight most of the team is going to an Ethiopian restaurant that has traditional food and dancing.  It is quite an entertaining evening!  The weather is gorgeous and we have had a little time in the late afternoons and early evenings to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather.