On the road again - headed to Haiti with the LEAP foundation to do cleft lip and palate, Peds urology and ENT. Remember us!

Driving to work this morning I was listening to a CD of Ethiopian music while thinking about my trip to Haiti tomorrow.

Home Sweet Home!!

In Frankfurt, an uneventful 7 hr flight from Addis and a 7 hr layover. Went into the city to walk around. About to board for our flight home! Nap time!

At airport in Addis, waiting to board. We had a busy day: 50 hearing aids, 5 OR cases at Cure, 3 at Black Lion, 25 clinic patients. We are tired but happy!

Ethiopia March 22

March 22

Our team kept busy today at Cure and Makanissa School for the Deaf.

We had three ENT cases at Cure and helped with several orthopaedic cases as well.  We were also going to do a biopsy on a facial tumor on a baby but discovered that the biopsy had already been done.  It was a very bad tumor, which was quite sad.  We also had a clinic where 23 patients were seen, most of whom we had operated on previously.  In the afternoon three ENT doctors and the audiologists went to the school for the deaf to do medical evaluations on the students.

Tomorrow we have five OR cases at Cure and two at Black Lion and another full day of evaluations at the School for the Deaf.  We also have to pack up and say our goodbyes as we leave very late on Friday night.

Tonight we are going to a reception with our partner, Dr. Ebba from Gemini Health Care Group.  The reception is at a bowling alley which is quite modern and fun.  We have been there before.

It has been a busy but productive week.  It is hard to believe that tomorrow we will be finished.  We are getting to know some people here quite well, and that makes it even more meaningful.  It has been terrific working with the Black Lion ENT residents and the Master’s Nurse Anesthetist students.  They are willing and eager learners and are very appreciative of our efforts.  We also know that the patients have benefitted from our work.

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.