So much has happened that I think I will just write about what is happening right now.
I am working in B ward which some call the "boisterous" ward, why??? because it is full of children (20 patients) and then add their caregivers who stay with them, who sleep under the patients bed and then add little babies who are siblings and need to stay with their mothers who are still breastfeeding this all adds to over 40 people on the ward. But that is not all you have the day workers who are a great help on the ward, they translate but also help us move the patients, make the beds, help with the food, the list goes on.... So you have +40 (patients+caregivers) + day workers + nurses + doctors + physio = a wonderful at sometimes chaotic ward, but I love it!
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| Salone Kids!!! |
B ward is hosting the orthopaedic patients at present, we have patients who where in Sierra Leone last year and came to have their pins removed, unfortunately some did not work out as good as was hoped so a further operation was needed, therefore a longer stay with us. Then we have patients who have club feet, bow legs and a few other problems with their legs, and we even had one patient which the doctors have never seen, her knees were knocking together making her feet spread out, eventually she would have had to walk on her knees, fortunately she had the operation and hopefully will be able to walk straight. This is only one of the stories that everyday make my work so good, the transformation they get is so great, and when they start walking (even with the cast on) everyone cheers!
I was fortunate enough to look after a post op patient this week, I was not looking forward to care for her as the day before the doctors had told the patient and the mother that they will not be doing the surgery as it had too many risks. After a lengthy discussion they gave the choice to the family, through interpreters and hospital chaplaincy the patient and the mother decided to go for the surgery even though the was a very high risk she would loose the lower leg. This problem in our countries would not be that bad as prosthetics are so widely available, but here there are not and are expensive and this family would find it hard to get one if the operation did not go as well. But they went for the surgery. I to be truthful I thought they should not go for it, I was thinking do they know all the details, are they really sure? I was very doubtful. So when I was allocated her for my shift, I thought oh no I am not the right nurse to look after her. I am glad to say that so far she has done very well, she is still in the crucial time that it could change, but my attitude has changed. I was negative but now I am so positive and this is all due to God, he has worked a miracle on her and in me. My prayer is that she will make a full recovery and be able to walk straighter and be able to join in with her friends and family.
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"
There is so much I could go on forever, my heart is full with stories of where Jesus has done a miracle through the doctors and the nurses working in the hospital. I am so thankful to be part of this amazing team and this in someways is going to be the hardest thing for me when I leave, in only 2 weeks I am heading home, it's going to be hard but I know that God is with me and he has more plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and that is what will keep me going and hopefully will give me peace as I leave this wonderful and great work.
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| Our little patient with traction! |
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| Enjoying time with the patients! |
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| Enjoying time at the Hope Centre, the patients go here after surgery as they live too far away to come back for outpatients appointments |
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| Our Ortho Dr with one of our patients |
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| I love this boy, his cheeky face says it all |
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| Beautiful patients from Salone |
