Kathmandu 10/02/2013

Day of talks again – pediatric hydration, hand therapy, fires in the OR, and positioning.  The last lecture had to be postponed because there was another program the nurses had to attend, so we will pick up  on that one tomorrow.

Cute families we are beginning to recognize and greet each day.

More work organizing machines and noting deficiencies.

Cute kids again; just chillin'.

Nancy with her board full of teaching pearls.  What a resource she is.

Back of an ambulance at the hospital.  Guerney, tank for O2, and sink with rags.

Drive to Model Hospital to take care of some charges with the travel agent, back to the hotel for about 45 minutes to change, and then off to dinner with the CEO of PHECT and a few other medical movers and shakers.

Great meal and good company.  Very thankful to them for their gratitude, but the gift has been to us.

Kathmandu 10/03/2013

On some days our driver goes out of his way because we are going to pick someone up or drop them off.  I don’t think we have gone the same way twice to get to the hospital or back, and each day brings new alleys, neighborhoods, and ever tighter sqeezes between walls, buildings, pedestrians, motorbikes, dogs, trucks – sometimes all at once.  Our driver is amazing and we owe him a lot for the excitement, driving adventures, and private glimpses of Kathmandu back ways and roads.

Today was our last day to lecture to the nurses, and Anne got a beautiful chocolate cake from the hotel.  We had a nice cake party, then lunch, and our final lecture that was about positioning in the OR and turning patients who are asleep.  We finished with a surprise mock code blue and cardiac arrest in the recovery room, so the students had to find the defibrillator, charge it up, and have a plan.  They have been such wonderful and gracious listeners.

Nurses' lounge on the ward.  Hospital still under construction.

This is the girl with the scalp defect who got a flap done, and the girl with the bent leg that is now straight.  They have struck up a friendship; brings tears to my eyes.

This young man is having a complex flap and reconstruction of his lower leg.  Right now he has an external fixator and the base of the same leg is attached to the calf of his good leg.  This flap of skin will be divided Friday and he can begin physical therapy.  He was in a car accident, but does not let it get him down.  There is a stack of chemistry books by his bed, and he continues to work at his studies.

Our little mascot - now his fingers open enough that he can give us not only high 5's, but "Namaste".

Good teaching on the ward, more patients, and more bamboo scaffolding.

Had a few minutes to walk up the street again to the temple, but the incense shop was closed.  Saw a couple of sisters on the road; kind enough to pose and introduce themselves.

Welding with goggles, no gloves, and an audience of unprotected friends.

On the way home we stopped at the Crematorium and viewed the many streets and shops.  Always colorful and full of hungry faces (monkeys included).

Gentle beast.

Loves a chin rub from our deft driver Sujan.

Dinner at the hotel, and early to bed.  Joe Lippi left today for India, and tomorrow we all head for home.