For our last day, we had a few "simple" patients that we feel comfortable leaving after their surgery. Two were cleft lips, one was a finger release, and as one of our surgeons got sick, she is taking down time and we canceled a couple of cases. Two patients needed dressing changes, and then we began to close down.
Pam will stay for another week and do dressing changes. She is our hand therapy specialist and has had several patients of her own that were not surgical, as well as forming the splints and care plans for some of the hand surgery patients. This young patient is a few days post-op and is having her dressing changed and wounds checked.
Pam and Moussah at work. Moussah became essential to our work, helping with instruments, getting oxygen, cleaning up, and running errands. I like that this photo has a glow around him; he does have an aura about him!
The young patient who was having her dressing changed was there with her mother, who was covered in a black burka with only a slit for the eyes. I did not notice her for quite awhile; she was both quiet and nearly invisible with her total covering. It really seemed like the burka put her in stealth mode. I felt bad to have not spoken to her while talking to her child. I was truly astonished at how unnoticeable it made her.
There have been alerts regarding increased terrorist concerns in Europe, and supposedly it has been in part caused by the ban on burkas in France. If a woman wears a burka in public, covering her face, she will be fined 150 Euros. If a man is found to have forced a woman to cover her face, he will be fined 30,000 and a jail term. There seems to be much support for this across Europe; we'll see where it all goes. Supposedly in an attempt to protect women, but what about religious freedom? Very complicated.
This is a photo of the child's leg that had an abscess down to bone and needed a gastrocnemius (calf muscle) graft. It is healing very nicely.
Adios, Bamako!
Our great circulators Sarah and Marion kept the autoclaves humming, and organized most of the pack-up, among other feats of nursing amazement.
The ORs have been broken down, the patients have been safely tucked away, and now to our thank-you banquet. This is a photo of our pediatrician, Scott, and our hand therapist, Pam.
Recovery nurses Vickie and Lorry.
Roommates nurse Sara and coordinator Manon.
Wisconsin anesthesiologist Deb and surgery fellow Richard.
Richard and other surgeon Kristin (Barbara still recovering).
Coordinator extraordinaire Jacques!
Certificate awards for our helpers.
Anesthesia team: Deb, Diede' (local resident), Bonnie, and Steve.
Oumar and Bonnie, after his recognition.
The friendly guard at the gate, seeing us out.
Several of us went to La Terrasse afterwards and continued to visit. Lightning all around, but no rain. The air felt wonderful and cool.
The guys - Scott, Steve, and Jacques (missing Richard).
Anesthesia team again: Bonnie, Steve, Deb.
