It is 9pm and everyone is back at the terrific Firestone Guesthouse. I can't say enough about how wonderfully the Liberian people treat us. Lillian, the exceptional house manager, goes out of her way to meet our every need. I complimented her last night on the best dessert that may have ever graced my palate- a tradional Liberian rice bread- and voila! An entire additional batch appeared at dinner tonight, along with fresh cut sugar cane. Our team truly appreciates these special touches as everyone is very tired, but inspired.
A few special moments from today. One patient, a young 4 year old gentleman by the name of Luckyboy, was brought in by his grandfather. Told on Friday that they should return to the hospital late Saturday afternoon for Sunday surgery, they opted to walk 45 minutes down the road, find a safe clearing, and sleep there rather than make the 4 hour trek back from home. When they arrived on Saturday, luck granted them one of the premium lodging options at the brand new Firestone Friendship House. Truly a blessing for this grandfather and his lucky boy! He was successfully treated for a hernia.
Another child had a huge gall stone removed by Dr. Vandersteen. The stone would have eventually killed him. We have seen more than one urological procedure that had been poorly performed here in Liberia and needed to be redone. Palates were fixed by Dr. Tim Lander, and Dr. Steve Muehlstedt is fixing hernias and connected the bowel of a 3 year old gifl who was born without a functioning bowel system. A patient, 16 year old Henry, who is having a neck issue repaired, transfixed us all with numerous a capella gospel songs, which he kept singing as he walked down the hall and up on the operating table until the anesthesia put him to sleep. A highlight for all of us.
We saw that is is 10 degrees today in Minneapolis, and all smiled....
A few special moments from today. One patient, a young 4 year old gentleman by the name of Luckyboy, was brought in by his grandfather. Told on Friday that they should return to the hospital late Saturday afternoon for Sunday surgery, they opted to walk 45 minutes down the road, find a safe clearing, and sleep there rather than make the 4 hour trek back from home. When they arrived on Saturday, luck granted them one of the premium lodging options at the brand new Firestone Friendship House. Truly a blessing for this grandfather and his lucky boy! He was successfully treated for a hernia.
Another child had a huge gall stone removed by Dr. Vandersteen. The stone would have eventually killed him. We have seen more than one urological procedure that had been poorly performed here in Liberia and needed to be redone. Palates were fixed by Dr. Tim Lander, and Dr. Steve Muehlstedt is fixing hernias and connected the bowel of a 3 year old gifl who was born without a functioning bowel system. A patient, 16 year old Henry, who is having a neck issue repaired, transfixed us all with numerous a capella gospel songs, which he kept singing as he walked down the hall and up on the operating table until the anesthesia put him to sleep. A highlight for all of us.
We saw that is is 10 degrees today in Minneapolis, and all smiled....
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