Ana's Adventures: November 2013

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Brazzaville Screening

I was going to write about the screening trip to Brazzaville, but I can't seem to get the words out. Sometimes I want to share everything with you, to let you in to some of my thoughts but today I am just going to put photos up, I hope you get a bit of an idea of how the day went.

The screening site was at a church

This little girl was seen and given an appointment to come to the ship to be seen by a surgeon and hopefully will have surgery on her burn scars (contractures). Hopefully I will see her when I change her dressings!

People waiting in lines

The team

Friday, 1 November 2013

Change

The incredible team

Change is upon us now, as the Plastic Surgeon left a week ago and an Orthopaedic surgeon has arrived. This means our dressing changes are slowing down as patients heal and are sent home. In a few weeks I will be joining the ward and nursing orthopaedic patients as their will not be any more plastics patients.
It has been an incrediable 8 weeks, very busy at time with highs and lows, but the amazing thing is the team I am part of. The photo here is the plastics team, from surgeon to rehab team (physio's and OT) plastics team leader, physician and the dressing team. All from different countries and a few whose English is not the first language but we all have the same goal, to see the patients life change.

a social outing with some of the team

Morning rounds

It is so great to see the patients leaving to go home after being on the ward for so long having dressing changes. I find it a blessing that I am able to get to know the patients as I do the dressing on a regular basis. To see their wounds looking fantastic and their smiles at being able to use their fingers for the first time in years or be able to walk, as their leg contracture is released and can put their leg down straight!
I feel it is such a blessing to see what God is doing in this place and in their lives of not just the patients but the crew as well.

See what I can do now that I have straight arms!

Father's love

Change can sometimes be hard, but it is made easier when trusting God fully. At the moment I am in a Bible study group and we are going through Psalms, Songs of ascents.
Psalm 121

1. I lift up my eyes to the hills-

where does my help come from?

2. My help comes from the Lord,

the maker of heaven and earth.

3. He will not let your foot slip-

he who watches over you will not slumber;

5. The Lord watches over you-

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6. the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7. The Lord will keep you from all harm-

he will watch over you life;