Another week at the hospital!

I've been back in the pre- and post operation ward this week. There are so many destinies and so many stories it's hard to pick just one.

A lady was admitted on the 2nd of November, because she needed a c-section because of complications at home. The babies hand came out first, and they had tried to deliver it - and it didn't work. So she came and they had to do surgery on her, and unfortunately the baby was stillborn. Because of the long delivery, her uterus had tore - so they had to do a hysterectomy. This lady had complications in her belly after the surgery and hadn't eaten solid food since before the surgery. She was very week, but needed a bath. I lifted her onto a wheelchair, and then we took her to take a bath. After the bath she slept for some time, cuz she was totally exhausted. We got some soup and bread for her, so that she could gain some strength - but she hardly touched it - too week.

I talked with a doctor, and asked him to have a look at her. They had stopped her meds, because she couldn't pay. It was obvious that she had an infection, and I asked the doc to give her some - and that her bill would be taken care of. She was given antibiotics on the spot. This was right before the weekend, so I'm not sure how she is doing now. But will go have a look on Monday.

Another lady came in with a very low blood value (Hb; 2,1) technically she should have been dead. Normal value for a fertile lady is 11,7 - 15,3. Yes very pale and very sick. She received blood, which has to be given by either a family member or someone that are willing to give. Sometimes there are ppl that make money out of it, and charge a lot - and then ppl can't pay and the sick ones dies. But there are solutions also, they can take get a paper from the hospital and go to the military and find someone with the same blood type and then they give them a meal as payment.

Anyway - this lady was given 2 l of blood before they dared do anything. And then they realized that she was full of cancer and that there was nothing they could do. She was told that when she had finished the SAG (bag of blood) she would get some meds and then go home. The family was told that no surgery would help nor any meds, but that they should go home and get a priest to prepare her. It took some time for them to understand what was going on, but when they did - they didn't look at us anymore. She left a Saturday!

A little fellow!

This little guy had a twin brother, born 3 hours apart in a different hospital. They birth weight was 1800 gram each. That was about 3 weeks ago. He came to us, because he hadn't eaten since his birth and was dehydrated and sick. He got an iv, and NaCl for some days - before they started to give him his mothers milk. He was very small, but is now gaining weight and is 1480 g. Still small but he's a fighter.

What is happening with Alih Johnathan, well it's a long story - but I'll make is short. He haven't had his surgery yet. I'm not sure why, and there seems to be a lot of surgeries that are more serious than his. SO I believe that he'll be fine. When I get an update, on how things are it will be written =)

What about the boy that broke his back? He went home, and had more and more reflexes in his legs. But he still couldn't move them by himself. They were told to go home and come back end of the month. I hope to c him then, and I hope that he'll come walking. And yet again, I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

One day we save life, the next ......... !

This week I'm still at the surgery ward (the block), but can go into the maternity if I want to. And I do!  =)

Last couple of days has been pretty intense. There will be no live pictures this time - because I think the ppl deserve their privacy in these stories.

Yesterday started well, with things "well" planned. Lots of ppl were scheduled for surgery, knowing that there usually are a few emergencies the surgeons knew it would be a busy day. The day usually goes from 8-12 with a 2 hour break, before going back to the block at 14-18. We were in surgery until 13, and I had the opportunity to assist in 2 surgeries. Coming back in the afternoon it was pretty quiet in the beginning, before a lady came asking for the head surgeon (also the head doctor) needing assistance NOW. He went with her, and came back in no time; said we have an emergency. A lady had a external uterus pregnancy that had erupted = DANGER!

We had just finished an appendix surgery, when the anesthetics guys hurried into the other room to prep the lady, whom was a fellow worker. She went under very quickly and they did the surgery with few words. They usually talk a lot during surgery. The lady lost a lot of blood, but had 2 SAG (2 bags) that got transfused - she made it!! If the doctor hadn't reacted as quickly as he did, she probably wouldn't be alive today. She is doing well!!

Then today, we had a pregnant lady that came in a 4 am and was told that the baby didn't have a heartbeat and that she would get looked at later when the doc came along. A misunderstanding happened, and the doc didn't look at her. Another midwife came and checked the lady, and said she heard heartbeat - she asked if I could listen - and I heard it too. It was irregular, but a heartbeat. The doctor was contacted, and they did a c-section but it was too late.

Dealing with the emotions, I was called upon to come assist on an appendix surgery. And you do what you got to do, assist!

This week it was the surgery ward that was my placement. It's been amazing, and it sounded like I'll be there next week also. =)

The surgeries that has been done this week are: c-sections, appendixes, hemorrhoids, a goiter and hernia.

The first day went by, doing observations Then the next day they wanted me to scrub in!!

Yikes, a bit hesitant in the beginning - that's for sure. But what to do, but to scrub inn =). I watch closely and handed the instruments to the surgeons. Then I asked if I could film a c-section and they said sure you can, but then the head surgeon said; oh but you can't because I need an assistant. I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. He ran out to get something, and they told me to scrub in. They helped me to prep the lady, get the instruments on the table, and then the lights went out - and they don't have a generator. So when the Dr. surgeon came back he said; are the lights out, this is our problem. But the lady was prepped, and we had to get it done. It went very well, and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. =)

My phone was used as a flashlight for a while during the surgery, before the electricity came back.

An exciting day at the surgery ward!!