Liz's adventures

Honduras January 27 photos from my friends

2012-01-29T20:53:00.000-05:00

photos Jan 27 Honduras

2012-01-29T20:50:00.000-05:00

Honduras January 28

2012-01-29T20:46:00.002-05:00

Jan 28

Everyone was up early and we got our bags ready. We had breakfast of tortillas with scrambled eggs, refried beans and fruit. We left at 6 am for the airport which was less than an hour away. Even at that early hour on a Saturday morning there were people out, mostly walking or bicycling along the roads. Traffic wasn’t too bad, but it reminded us that most of the other days we saw lots of trucks, school buses and small trucks loaded with people and things. Drivers are aggressive and many times we saw near accidents. We saw people riding bicycles with machetes, kids jumping into the back door of a moving school bus, and people driving vehicles where they couldn’t see in front of them. It is understandable why trauma is such a big part of the disease burden in developing countries. We all realized how bad it would be to have to be a patient in Honduras.

During the week, we did surgery on 52 patients and evaluated approximately 2400 patients! The hospital staff members were all asking when we would return!

Airport check-in was smooth and uneventful. We left most of our extra medical supplies at the hospital, so we didn’t have our many boxes, but we had our big containers which we did bring back to use on future trips. Then we had to pay a tax to leave the country, US $37.80.

Our flight left on time and we were on our way to Miami! We had a smooth time through customs and had time to get lunch before our flight to Philly. We landed a little early in Philly, and all of our bags made it! We were happy to be home, but it was hard to say good bye!

Honduras January 27

2012-01-29T20:45:00.002-05:00

Jan 27

It is hard to believe that our week is almost done. Six members of our team left early this morning for the airport. The surgical team went to the hospital, and the medical team did physicals on the students at the school. We had two gall bladder surgeries, two gyn and two orthopedic. Our orthopedic surgeon was constantly bombarded by people with pain, injuries and xrays.

After our OR day was done, we stopped at a souvenir shop and then went to the mall where we walked around and went to Applebee’s for appetizers and beverages. We had traditional Korean Bibimbab for dinner.

We will be leaving at 6 am for the airport tomorrow. We have laughed a lot today and no one really wants to go to bed! Can’t seem to get on line to post pictures, but will do soon.

2012-01-28T19:24:00.001-05:00

Home Sweet Home! More later!

2012-01-28T12:48:00.001-05:00

In Miami! Flight was fine, happy to be in the US, but it was a great trip! More photos to follow!

2012-01-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

At the airport, waiting to board to Miami. An amazing trip - we saw lots of patients for many different things. Some had never been on a trip like this!

2012-01-27T22:41:00.001-05:00

Day is ending. We had 6 OR cases today, medical team did exams on 300+ school kids. Totals for week: 52 OR cases, 2400 medical evals. A great week! Ready 4 bed.

2012-01-27T17:04:00.001-05:00

We are done with our work! Had 6 OR cases + lots of patients to evaluate. We stopped at the souvenir shop because it was closed yesterday. Gonna relax and pack!

Honduras January 26 photos from my friends

2012-01-26T23:31:00.000-05:00

photos Jan 26 Honduras

2012-01-26T23:29:00.000-05:00

Honduras January 26

2012-01-26T23:27:00.000-05:00

Jan 26

Today was a full day. We had eggs and pancakes and fruit for breakfast. A small surgical team went to the hospital today. They had a full day and did eight surgical cases including two cases from the ER. They worked late and didn’t get back to the guest house until almost 8 pm.

The rest of us went to a village an hour or two away. We set up our clinic in a church building. We saw over 800 patients! Many were families with several kids. Most had simple complaints like headache, backache, cold symptoms and parasites. We gave out lots and lots of medications and were done by 3 or 4. The building was hot – 96 and 106 at the ceiling!

We tried to stop at a souvenir shop on the way back to our guest house, but they had just closed. We did stop at a local restaurant and had cold beverages and a few appetizers. We had chicken, beans and rice, potato salad, cole slaw and fruit for dinner with ice cream for dessert. We sat and talked and laughed for quite a while. Some of our group is leaving early tomorrow morning; it was a little hard to say good bye to some old and new friends.

2012-01-26T16:39:00.001-05:00

Finished our medical clinic, saw 800+ patients! It was 96 degrees in the bldg we were in - 106 at the ceiling! Going to buy souvenirs and have a cold beverage!

2012-01-26T13:34:00.001-05:00

Breaking for lunch at our medical clinic. Saw at least 400 patients so far. Mostly cold symptoms, back pain, belly pain. Some very cute kids! Hot and sunny!

January 25 Honduras

2012-01-25T23:43:00.002-05:00

Jan 25

Today was another busy day. Breakfast included scrambled eggs, oatmeal, fruit and fresh smoothies! The OR team got busy right away. We had 13 surgical cases today including varicose veins, gall bladder, arm fracture, orthopedics and gyn. Lunch was pizza from Pizza Hut! We worked late and then stopped at Applebee’s for an appetizer and cold beverage. There was a lot of laughing!

The medical team saw about 250 patients and then had some free time in the afternoon which included souvenir shopping.

Dinner was fish, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, salad and cake.

Tomorrow most of the surgical team is going out to a village with the medical team. A few will stay behind to do surgery.

We are all having a fabulous time but are all a bit tired!

Honduras January 24

2012-01-24T23:37:00.000-05:00

Jan 24

Breakfast today was eggs, ham, cereal, toast and muffins and lots of fresh fruit. The surgical team left by 7 am for the hospital where we had many patients waiting for us. We did 9 surgical patients today for gall bladder and orthopedic surgeries. The OB team did three surgical cases as well. The medical team went to a rural village and saw almost 600 patients. They said the entire village came to be seen. The OR team had grilled tilapia for lunch which was awesome!

We stopped at a local Applebee’s on the way home for a quick refreshment and then came back to our guest house for dinner which was rice, chicken curry, veggies, salad and ice cream for dessert.

We have enjoyed talking and laughing and telling stories and getting to know each other better.

Another full day tomorrow!

Pictures January 24 Honduras

2012-01-24T23:36:00.000-05:00

2012-01-24T15:21:00.001-05:00

Just had an awesome lunch of grilled talapia! We are keeping busy in the OR today. Lots of general surgery and ortho cases. All is well!

Monday January 23

2012-01-23T23:16:00.002-05:00

Jan 23

Dinner on Sunday was a chicken curry soup with rice, veggies, fruit and flan. We were all tired but had a chance to talk, play some games and relax. Our guest house is wonderful – we have terrific accommodations with a large common area where we have our meals and a large living area. Our host and hostess are from Florida but are here many weeks of the year. They are going out of their way to make us feel at home, in fact they are spoiling us! The husband is a family practice doctor and the wife is a dentist.

Our team had a busy day today. We had breakfast around 6:20 which included scrambled eggs, refried beans, muffins and toast, and several types of fruit, juice and coffee. Some of us went to the hospital and the rest of the team ran a clinic outside of the hospital. The OR team was busy: we did 9 surgical cases today: gall bladder removals, hernias, an appendectomy and a few others. Our OB docs and neonatologist were in the delivery room and newborn ICU caring for patients. The primary care team saw 375 patients.

For dinner we had spaghetti and meatballs with salad and fruit and chocolate cake for dessert to celebrate one of our team member’s birthday!

It was a long tiring day, but I think we felt like it was quite worthwhile. We already know of about nine OR cases tomorrow, so we are ready for a good night’s sleep!

Pictures from Jan 22

2012-01-22T19:31:00.001-05:00

Honduras 2012

2012-01-22T19:30:00.002-05:00

Jan 22, 2012

Our flight left Philadelphia around 6 am to Miami where we had a four hour layover before our flight to Honduras. There are 22 of us on our team, so we had quite a collection of boxes, crates and luggage at both airports! Check in and the flights were uneventful. We had ice and snow yesterday at home, so we were a little concerned how travel would be to the airport, but it seemed ok. The early hour certainly helped.

Once in Honduras it took a little while for immigration and collecting our luggage, but everything arrived. Our hosts met us and had arranged a school bus for all of the luggage and passenger vans for us. The drive to the clinic and compound where we are staying was less than an hour. The roads were well paved and traffic was light though still not as orderly as we are used to in the US.

The Luke World Mission has been here in El Castano for eight years or so. Dr. David Yoon and his wife (Family Medicine and Dentistry respectively) are the main organizers. There is a dentist who lives here and many volunteer groups that come in and out. A large dental group was just here last week. Some of our team will be seeing patients in the clinic and going out to surrounding villages, and the surgical team will be going to the hospital in El Progresso. We were also joined by a plastic surgeon and general surgeon from New Jersey who have been here several times before and helped us make our connections here and a medical student.

From the air, Honduras looked lush and green and mostly agricultural. We didn’t spend any time in San Pedro Sula but went right to the Luke World Mission compound. The facilities here are quite nice and we will be spoiled and well fed! They had a snack ready for us and then we had time to unpack some supplies and relax. Soon we will have dinner and then get ready for tomorrow. We already know of several Gyn and General surgery cases which are scheduled.

2012-01-22T12:06:00.001-05:00

On the plane in Miami, leaving in a few minutes. 82 and sunny in Honduras - no snow!

2012-01-22T05:28:00.001-05:00

At PHL waiting to board our flight.

Honduras

2012-01-21T18:30:00.000-05:00

I am leaving in the morning for Honduras to work at a hospital run by Luke World Mission. I am going with a team from one of the hospitals where I work. It should be a good trip - we have been planning and organizing for months! It is cold and snowy here at home but will be in the 80s there!

2011-11-07T08:52:00.001-05:00

Listened to Ethiopian music on a CD in my car this morning!

2011-11-05T20:32:00.001-04:00

Home sweet home; there's no place like it!

2011-11-05T04:06:00.001-04:00

Long layover in Frankfurt. We took the train to Wiesbaden, walked through an amazing Farmer's market, bought fruit and cheese, now having breakfast!

2011-11-04T14:13:00.001-04:00

At airport checking in. A good busy trip. 31 surgeries, hundreds of patients seen in clinic and school for the deaf. More pictures later. 2 long flights ahead

The week is winding down

2011-11-03T15:06:00.008-04:00

Mother and Child Before Surgery

Father and Child before Surgery

Our team continues to keep quite busy! We had OR cases in two different hospitals both Wednesday and Thursday. We saw patients in the clinic and also at Makanissa School for the deaf.

Students at Makanissa School for the Deaf

Makanissa is a large day school for deaf children and their siblings. All of the children were screened and had their ears examined. Some needed hearing tests and some had molds made so make hearing aids. Some will be seen on our next trip to see if they are surgical candidates.

Dr. Patrick Examines an Ear

Dr. Glenn Operating

Ethiopian Nurse Anesthetists

Wednesday we had dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with some volunteers from Health Volunteers Overseas who are teaching students in the Nurse Anesthetist Master’s degree program. Thursday, some went to another Ethiopian restaurant with a local ENT surgeon, and some had dinner with volunteers from Seattle Anesthesia Overseas who are working at Black Lion Hospital.

Friday includes three ear surgeries at Cure, more hearing tests and ear molds and Makanissa and then packing for a late night flight.

Photos November 2 and 3

2011-11-03T15:05:00.002-04:00

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2011-11-02T15:29:00.002-04:00


Dr. Mary Watches as a Spinal is Placed

Dr. Winnie and Ethiopian ENT Resident

Another full day of operating and seeing patients. We are meeting lots of people with the same goals.

Dr. Mary and me at Cure Hospital

Had dinner at Ethiopian restaurant. Too late to post more.

November 1, 2011

2011-11-01T15:21:00.007-04:00

Today our team was scattered. Four team members went to Cure hospital and did five ear surgeries. Four of us went to Black Lion to do a tonsillectomy and an ear surgery, three went to the School for the Deaf to examine the children and do audiograms and fit molds for hearing aids.

Street Scene Outside of a Church

While at Black Lion, we met up with a team from Seattle that included anesthesiologists, OR and PACU nurses, surgical techs and an ENT and general surgeon. We had corresponded with them but had not met them before. We jointly shipped some equipment in the past. They have been coming about the same number of times we have but often for longer trips. We also met with three volunteer anesthesia providers from Health Volunteers Overseas.

Neonatal Unit, Black Lion Hospital

Dr. Glenn and Ethiopian ENT residents operating

The groups are really working hard to improve the level and quality of anesthesia and surgery care at Black Lion, the major University teaching hospital. There are now five anesthesia residents in the country instead of only two! Most of the more than 100 programs in the US have more than five residents.

The Seattle group has also worked very hard to provide and upgrade some of the anesthesia equipment including setting up a recovery room. The improvements in equipment and teaching are quite noticeable since our first visit.

Baby after surgery

While waiting to visit the Hamlin Fistula hospital, we stopped at Kaldi’s coffee which looks like a Starbucks coffee shop.

Some of us went to visit the Hamlin Fistula hospital which is a hospital dedicated to caring for women who have complications of childbirth. Obstructed labor with no access to emergency obstetric care leaves thousands of women throughout the developing world with fistulae and horrific injuries. They can only be cured by surgery. The incidence of this in the US is almost none though it was prevalent in the mid 1800s before modern OB care. The Hamlin Fistula hospital has treated more than 35,000 women. If you have read Cutting for Stone, it contains a similar story.

Our team went to a Korean restaurant for dinner

Photos November 1, 2011

2011-11-01T15:20:00.002-04:00

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October 31 pictures

2011-10-31T14:55:00.000-04:00

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Monday, October 31

2011-10-31T14:44:00.006-04:00

Today our whole team was at Cure Hospital. We did three major ear surgeries with ENT residents from Black Lion Hospital. The patients all had chronic ear disease, and for at least two of them, we operated on their other ear on one of our previous trips. I also helped care for multiple patients having orthopedic surgery. The rest of our team saw patients in the clinic, probably at least 50 patients. Many got audiograms and a few got hearing aids as well. We are scheduling surgeries for later in the week.

Tomorrow three of us will go to Black Lion Hospital to care for ENT patients there, some will go to a school for the deaf where we have seen patients before, and some will be at Cure operating. We may meet up with a visiting team from Seattle tomorrow and also some other anesthesia volunteers later in the week.

Our team met for dinner in an Indian restaurant and now we are ready to rest for tomorrow! It is still warm and sunny here!

Photos October 29, 2011

2011-10-30T10:22:00.000-04:00

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Photos October 30, 2011

2011-10-30T10:20:00.003-04:00

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Sunday October 30, 2011

2011-10-30T10:19:00.001-04:00

While most of the East Coast of the US had a major snowstorm, we have enjoyed warm and sunny weather here in Addis. Some members of our team did lectures this morning for the ENT residents and then did some oral exams with the senior residents. We dropped off some surgical supplies at Cure. I went to church at the International Evangelical Church with a surgeon from Cure and his wife and then had a lovely lunch with them. I had Nile perch kabobs! Then some of us took a tour of Black Lion hospital.

Black Lion Hospital, Pediatric Unit

Mural on Wall at Black Lion Hospital

We will see our patients for surgery tomorrow and then have dinner with other medical colleagues in Addis that we have met during our trips. Tomorrow we start operating and seeing patients in the clinic.

Many of the shanty type houses and smaller buildings in Addis are being torn down to make new taller buildings. Many of the people are being relocated to the outskirts of town which will certainly make their life more difficult for transportation and other needs. It is a busy bustling city but a little quieter on Sunday. I can hear singing and speaking outside, I don't know if it is from a church or mosque or something else and lots of cars honking their horns. It is very dusty and dry but strangely comforting too because it is very familiar now that this is my fifth visit here.

October 28 & 29: Safe Arrival and First Day

2011-10-30T07:23:00.001-04:00

Our flights to Ethiopia were very uneventful. Eight of us arrived last night and three this morning from all over the US: PA, CT, Las Vegas, NJ. I left Philadelphia at 5 pm EDT and arrived in Ethiopia 9 pm the next evening. It took another two hours for passport control, customs and transport to our hotel. One piece of equipment got stuck in customs and it took all morning and some paperwork and money to retrieve it.

A few team members went to the Ethiopian National Museum which is a very nice cultural and historical museum. Three of us went to Mother Theresa's Children's home on the outskirts of Addis. It was originally started 15 years ago or so when there were hundreds of children dying with HIV infections. Over the past 10 years, therapy for HIV has dramatically improved and is relatively available here so many of the children are thriving. They are either orphans or abandoned by their families but seem to have a good place to live now. It is run by a Catholic charity. There is a school and the kids seemed happy and healthy. They have just started a transition program for those who turn 18 and are ready to leave the village.

We also visited the medical clinic and hospital. There were a dozen or more patients who mostly had TB. They can also be treated, but so many of them are arriving so late in the course of their disease that it is difficult. The physician who works there and gave us the tour is from Italy and has been working there for six years. We were very impressed by their work and we will be seeing some of their patients this week and training one of their medical assistants. We couldn't take any pictures, but it was quite clean and appeared well run.

We did a little souvenir shopping this afternoon and visited a local coffee shop. The coffee is amazing!

We had dinner with an ENT team from Syracuse that is leaving today. We met their team leader on a previous trip and have been trying to coordinate some efforts. We are staying in a very nice hotel which is a bit incongruous since the country and area are so poor. One of our partners has contacts with the managers and they have generously donated the cost of our stay. It is always quite amazing how many people we meet at the hotel who are here for medical related work. The need is immense, but it is hard to know where to start and what things are really making a difference.

Tomorrow - unpacking and checking OR equipment and lectures and dinner with other colleagues.

2011-10-28T16:09:00.001-04:00

In Addis Ababa on our way to our hotel. Flights were long but uneventful. 8 of 11 of our team are here, others in am. Customs a little slow.

2011-10-28T06:36:00.001-04:00

In Frankfurt, half way on our way to Addis Ababa! Smooth travels so far, two long flights but all is well!

2011-10-27T19:27:00.001-04:00

Headed to Ethiopia with Healing the Children. This is our fifth trip. Stay tuned!

2011-08-15T14:26:00.001-04:00

In Miami about to board to come home. I am tired but feel good about our work. I had about 16 patients myself, almost all young children. They make me smile!

2011-08-15T14:23:00.001-04:00

Some team members went to the hospital to check our patients this am. All doing well, especially the one with respiratory distress that they asked us to see.

2011-08-15T08:43:00.001-04:00

In Pap airport, ready to board. We took care of 32 surgical patients and stabilized a kid with breathing problems. Saw some other patients too. Tired but happy!

2011-08-14T10:01:00.001-04:00

Underway with our first patient having cleft palate repair. We did her lip in April. 10 mo old, 12 pounds. No electricity or water in house, OR is nice!

2011-08-12T06:51:00.001-04:00

Roosters crowing. Cooled off last night. Getting ready for surgery today.

Haiti 2011

2011-08-11T23:01:00.000-04:00

I am in Haiti with LEAP. I had a very early flight to Miami and then on to Port-au-Prince. We got here early afternoon and then went to the hospital. We saw about 15 patients or so and will do surgery tomorrow. We will be doing urology cases tomorrow in two ORs. Most of the team is from Dallas, but a few others are from elsewhere. The roads are very full of rubble and debris and big gaping holes. We saw pigs and goats eating whatever they could find. It is no wonder there is cholera everywhere. Lots of mind boggling sites but couldn't easily take pictures.

2011-08-11T12:08:00.001-04:00

About to leave Miami for Port au Prince with LEAP to care for pediatric surgery patients.

Oregon 2011

2011-08-06T15:11:00.011-04:00

Evergreen Air Museum, McMinnville, Oregon


Marc and "Spruce Goose" aircraft

Marc and RL-10 Centaur upper stage rocket engine

Liz, Marc and Tom at base of Titan II launch vehicle

On the beach at Road's End State Park

Kayaking on beautiful Waldo Lake

Having a wonderful time in Oregon with Martha and Allen and Tom. We visited the Evergreen Air and Space Museum, walked at Road's End State Park in Lincoln City along the coast, traveled to Central Oregon where we kayaked on Waldo Lake, visited waterfalls and went hiking through snow fields 6.5 miles to 7500 to look over Waldo lake. Lots of berries and yummy food too!

2011-08-02T20:21:00.000-04:00

2011-08-02T20:11:00.001-04:00

2011-07-22T18:39:00.003-04:00

Today was a water day, we went kayaking this am, rested in the shade and the pool today. Some crazy people went biking!

2011-07-22T18:39:00.001-04:00

Thursday was very very hot, 90 in the shade at noon. A long (54 mile) ride with hills and rough trails! The pool was awesome as well as some cold drinks!

2011-07-20T19:41:00.001-04:00

After a long hot day of riding: Ice cream, a cold beverage, a shower, dinner in a gym with AC, an Irish band. Doesn't get much better than this!

2011-07-20T19:40:00.001-04:00

Today we "only" rode 37 miles. Very hot in the sun but a lot was in the shade. The morning had some very rough parts on a trail being developed.

2011-07-20T14:16:00.001-04:00

A well deserved rest break.

2011-07-20T14:14:00.002-04:00

Eliza furnace

2011-07-20T14:14:00.001-04:00

Cambria and Indiana railroad

2011-07-19T18:59:00.001-04:00

After dinner after 54 miles. Before chocolate cake and a shower!

2011-07-19T12:26:00.000-04:00

The Johnstown Inclined Plane.

2011-07-19T12:25:00.003-04:00

Our campsite and a new tent!

2011-07-19T12:25:00.001-04:00

2011-07-19T12:22:00.001-04:00

Rode from Ebensburg to Johnstown, stopping for lunch at the top of the inclined plan.

2011-05-15T16:04:00.003-04:00

We've been home from Haiti for just under two weeks. In some ways, it seems like we were just there yesterday. Looking at pictures brings it all back so quickly. In other ways, it seems so far away. It is easy to forget what life is like there. We take our good roads and cool temperatures for granted. We are already planning another trip, probably in August.

Pictures from LEAP trip

2011-05-03T15:55:00.002-04:00

We need to go through our pictures and pick some to post, but in the meantime, you can see the LEAP photos at: http://www.leap-foundation.org/media/leap-blog/

2011-05-02T19:08:00.001-04:00

We are on our way home from the Phila airport. Our flights were uneventful. It was a busy, tiring weekend but amazing and gratifying! Will rest well tonight!

2011-05-02T09:02:00.001-04:00

We will definitely come back, already talking about possibilities. Have lots of pictures, will post once at home. Saw my friend Dr. John McFadden too!

2011-05-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Road to the airport bumpy, dusty, lots of people, dust, traffic, noise. Saw many tent cities and rubble. An amazing trip. We are tired but accomplished much.

2011-05-02T08:58:00.001-04:00

Had a late dinner Sunday: chicken, pasta, fries. Our team enjoyed talking and relaxing until midnight, then to bed. We r now at airport, checking in.

2011-05-02T01:14:00.001-04:00

We had a full day. 7 urology cases, 2 clefts. The youngest was 5 weeks old. I took care of one 4 year old yesterday, all of the rest less than 1. All went well.

2011-05-01T00:51:00.001-04:00

Midnight: going to bed. A long busy day but well worthwhile. No Internet access where we are, but hopefully some pictures will get posted on LEAP site tomorrow.

2011-04-30T23:47:00.001-04:00

Just finished our OR cases. We did 4 cleft lip/palate surgeries and 8 urology. The youngest was 6 months and was 6.5 pounds. We are exhausted! All did well.

2011-04-30T15:02:00.001-04:00

Slept ok. Heard the roosters by 3 am, dogs too. Breakfast: eggs, mangos, bread, PB. Dinner last nite was spaghetti. Slow start this am but several cases done.

2011-04-29T23:13:00.001-04:00

Getting ready for bed, we saw probably 40 or more patients and have 20 scheduled for surgery. Ages range from 5 wks to 12 years. Haiti is much as I remember it.

2011-04-29T14:29:00.001-04:00

We are in Pap, got our luggage, through customs, waiting for the rest of our group and our drivers. All is well! Hot and sunny here!

2011-04-28T18:58:00.001-04:00

The website for LEAP is: www.leap-foundation.org
I am still blogger challenged and can't figure out how to add the link!

Returning to Haiti

2011-04-28T18:47:00.004-04:00

Marc and I are getting ready to leave for a medical mission trip to Port-au-prince, Haiti. We are going with the LEAP foundation. This is primarily a plastic surgery foundation that goes to many places around the world. They were in Haiti for months after the earthquake. They mostly take care of children with cleft lip and palates. This trip is primarily an exploratory trip to see if there are ongoing needs of the kind that LEAP usually takes care of. We will be doing some pediatric cleft and urology surgeries. I've been wanting to return to Haiti since I came home last year, but things kept preventing me from doing so. I am exciting and a bit anxious at the same time. I don't expect that things are much better than I last saw them. In fact, they may be worse because I wasn't in Port-au-Prince before.

I will post here as long as I can get internet access. At a minimum, I should be able to send text messages.

Thanks to so many for your love, support and prayers.

Life back in the US

2011-04-05T20:32:00.002-04:00

I've been home for nine days and am mostly adjusted to life back in the US. Last week was mostly working, and taking a nap after work to allow me to stay awake until 8 or 9 pm. Transition back to life here is a multi-faceted thing. There is the time zone transition which takes many days. I read somewhere once that it takes our bodies one day for every hour of time change. So the seven hours difference between East Coast and Ethiopia takes at least a week. Going from east to west is easier, at least for a morning person like me. I wake up early and am energetic in the morning; it is the late afternoons and evenings that are tough. Naps are wonderful things! I am still waking up early, but I can usually manage to stay in bed until my normal wake up time.

The transition to "normal" US things happens at a different pace. Some things are like riding a bike: My house, my work, friends all seem normal because they have been part of my life for a long long time. It is usually several days before I start thinking of how different things are here. Maybe the first few days of time zone change overshadows some of the many other jarring transitions.

In Ethiopia, as in many developing countries, one needs to be careful of everything you eat and drink. We only drink bottled water. We try to be very careful about only eating cooked food served in reliable places. E coli is lurking everywhere, and you can't see it or smell it. Almost all of us were sick at least one day, some for several. Even with the precautions, you just can't always tell where you went wrong. Was the food not cooked well enough? Was it mixed with uncooked food? Were the dishes and utensils washed in unclean water? Westerners I know who live in Ethiopia have large water filters and soak all vegetables in a dilute bleach solution before eating them. They still get sick sometimes.

Since I have been home, I have had lots of salads, fruits and veggies, and have been out to eat several times. I don't think twice about the water I drink from any source. It is a true luxury to be able to do this. I will most likely forget how much of a luxury this is in a week or two. We take all of these things so much for granted, but most of the world does not enjoy this luxury.

I noticed on our OR schedules in Ethiopia that more than half of the children had a birthday listed as January 1st. The first few that I saw I thought it was unusual. I then began to see more of them and assume that since so many babies are born at home and birth records are unusual, that many people don't know their actual birthday. They know about how old there are, so for the hospital paperwork, they just list January 1st as the birthday with what they think is the appropriate year. How strange that seems to me. We make such a big deal of birthdays. Hospitals often use it as an "additional identifier" to make sure that the right patient is being treated.

I have given anesthesia to many patients since I have been home. Most have been children, and most have been elective procedures. Because I work several days a week at a pediatric dental surgicenter, many of my patients are children who need extensive dental work. They can't or won't sit still to have it done in a dental chair, so they receive general anesthesia for dental work. Most have behavioral issues or family situations in which teeth-brushing is a battle that the parents just can't or won't fight or win. I was struck one day with what a tribute this is to modern anesthesia. No longer is there such fear of surgery and anesthesia that people go to great lengths to avoid surgery. It is in stark contrast to developing countries in which everyone knows someone who has gone into an OR for a procedure and didn't come back out. No wonder they are frightened. No wonder parents are so overjoyed after a successful surgery. What a privilege to be working in an environment where for the vast majority of patients, this is just not an issue. I can understand why the parents of the patients I care for here are fine with general anesthesia for dental work: it is safe, and the children are unaware of what is happening. But let me tell you, this is not routine in Ethiopia.

We are starting to try to plan our next trip for the fall. The needs are great, the obstacles ever present. I only have to remind myself of the amazing wealth we have here to be motivated to return. It is hard to know for sure how much difference we are making, but smiles on the patients and parents face really put things into perspective.

2011-03-27T03:33:00.001-04:00

We landed in Frankfurt and had an easy flight. Many of us are going to Philly and have a long layover. Five of us took the train to Weisbaden, having coffee.

2011-03-26T23:20:00.001-04:00

At the airport in Addis. Made it through customs, check in, immigration and security without issues. Home tomorrow night! It was a terrific trip.

2011-03-26T23:04:00.010-04:00

Dr. Glenn and Dr. Allan and I had a busy two days at Butajira about 120 km south of Addis. The town has 35,000 people but the local area is more like 250,000. Went to Grarbara hospital where they see 50,000 outpatients a year, mostly ophthalmology. They also do rehab, epilepsy and ENT. We saw about 150 patients.

Lots of animals on the grounds, some in a small zoo!

2011-03-26T22:54:00.008-04:00

Many in our group enjoyed the sunshine and some shopping!

School children...

Road block!

2011-03-26T15:54:00.002-04:00

2011-03-26T07:44:00.007-04:00

Back in Addis...here are some photos of some of the work we have been doing....

Mother with child

Baby in recovery

During Surgery

Waiting to be seen....

No privacy!

2011-03-25T15:02:00.001-04:00

Had a great day in Butajira. Saw lots of patients, visited 2 hospitals, saw many interesting local sights, have many great pictures. Will send when in Addis.

2011-03-24T15:20:00.003-04:00

No Internet access at the guest house where we are staying so no pictures today. There is a small zoo with a hyena, porcupine, and baboon, monkeys here too!

2011-03-24T15:20:00.001-04:00

Our combined ENT, neurosurgery and ophthalmology case went very well today. Three of us are visiting a hospital 3 hrs south of Addis. Lovely drive and grounds.

2011-03-23T11:57:00.004-04:00

We did 11 surgical cases at Cure today and some at Black Lion. I took care of two adult orthopedic patients today who would not have had surgery if I wasn't here. One was a hip replacement and one a hip fracture. I am on my way to have dinner with my friend Laura and her family.

2011-03-22T15:54:00.029-04:00

It is Tuesday and our team has been in full swing in four locations. ENT surgery at Cure hospital, Urology and ENT surgery at Black Lion hospital. Patients are being evaluated in clinics at Cure, Black Lion and the School for the Deaf.

With patients before ear surgery

Setting up a microscope

Child before surgery

Monitor we sent from the U.S.

Dr. George doing ear surgery

Dr. Aida watches surgery

Dr. George, Dr. Kavi and ENT resident
doing ear surgery

Patient before tonsillectomy

Dr. Allen at work

In the recovery room

It was a full and busy day. Going to have dinner, plan for tomorrow and then sleep!

2011-03-22T08:40:00.010-04:00

Monday night our whole team of 18 had dinner together in an Italian restaurant where we are staying. Many of us have never met before as we are from around the U.S.: Philadelphia, Wilmington, Washington DC, North Carolina, St. Louis, Arizona, New Jersey and Pittsburgh. As we went around the table and introduced ourselves, you could really get a sense of how excited everyone was to be working together to help many people. We have ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) surgeons, Urologists, an Ophthalmologist/Plastic surgeon, nurses, audiologists, anesthesiologists, students a biomedical technician, and support staff. We have already met many people from around the world and other places in the U.S. who are here trying to improve medical care and technology.

Dr. Glenn and I went back to the Korean hospital yesterday (where we had visited on Saturday) to evaluate a patient with an unusual tumor of the face. In order to successfully treat her with surgery we need a neurosurgeon in addition to our ENT and Ophthalmologist. There is a neurosurgeon from Sweden at the Korean hospital and we evaluated the patient together. We are tentatively planning to perform the surgery at the Korean hospital on Thursday.

On Tuesday our team is in full swing in at least four locations. ENT surgery is going on at Cure hospital, Urology and ENT surgery is going on at Black Lion hospital. Patients are being evaluated in clinics at Cure, Black Lion and the School for the Deaf. It will be a full and busy day, but hopefully successful.

2011-03-21T12:06:00.001-04:00

Our ENT team is at Cure hospital today seeing patients and scheduling them for surgery later in the week. Dr. Aida (another anesthesiologist) and I were in the OR today taking care of orthopedic patients. They were children who had leg deformities, mostly from cerebral palsy. The urology team is at Black Lion hospital evaluating patients. We are slowly all getting adjusted to the seven hour time change and the 8000 feet altitude.

2011-03-20T14:45:00.002-04:00

Just had dinner: Swedish neurosurgeon, five Americans in a German Beer garden in Ethiopia!

2011-03-20T11:09:00.008-04:00

We saw 12 or 15 patients this morning in our ENT clinic. The space we have used before was being completely ripped up and there was a lot of dust and noise, but we found two rooms to use. Patients waited very patiently in the middle of the construction zone.

We have about 8 patients scheduled for surgery so far. Tomorrow we will see more ENT patients at CURE hospital, do OR cases at CURE and maybe Black Lion.

Tonight we are having dinner with Laura, a US anesthesiologist here and Lars, a Swedish neurosurgeon at a German restaurant!

2011-03-20T11:09:00.001-04:00

We are on our way to Black Lion to see ENT patients. We will examine them and decide which ones are surgical candidates. Most will get audiograms too.

2011-03-20T01:01:00.001-04:00

We are on our way to Black Lion to see ENT patients. We will examine them and decide which ones are surgical candidates. Most will get audiograms too.

2011-03-20T00:57:00.001-04:00

Saturday was a low key day. We visited Korean hospital. Some went to the National museum. We went to a coffee shop and had dinner. Others arrived last night.

2011-03-19T22:10:00.004-04:00

We are fine, had a relaxing day. Visited a hospital, went to a coffee shop. Some people went to a museum, we drove through the market and had dinner with a local US trained surgeon and his wife. The rest of our crew arrives any minute now. We have clinic tomorrow morning.

Wall Carving

2011-03-18T15:10:00.001-04:00

We are safely in Ethiopia. Our flights were uneventful and all of our luggage made it here and through customs. We are on our way to the hotel.

2011-03-18T05:22:00.001-04:00

We are in Frankfurt, half way to Ethiopia. Our trip has been uneventful so far. There are 8 of us on this flight. The rest arrive over the next 2 days.