Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India with Resurge - January 11-26, 2013

Thursday, January 10 - day before departure. I am in the OR at my usual day job, and the heating system won't wake up. At 51 degrees, and we are all wrapped in various layers to retain heat. I didn't really notice until I sat down, but it is cold. Luckily patient is under the warmer, so he is fine.  Surgeon is under the lights like an order of French fries, so he is fine. The rest of us will cope while the repairs are made; these things happen everywhere.  You can see on the clock it says 56 degrees, on the upswing!

In India, temperatures will be from 5 degrees C at night to about 21 during the day (41 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit). Warmer than home, but as it is the foothills of the Himalayas, the nights can be cold. No matter, the spicy food will make up for it.

Packing is always an ordeal. Try to keep the amount and weight down as our many boxes of equipment impact the charges and our ability to move about our many transfers and transits. Yet we each individually bring our own equipment, clothing for daily work, clothing for after work and for any excursions or outings. Some food items, a couple of gifts.   I give myself my 2 bags (one to check, one carry on), and start packing each with essentials and then wad in any personal clothing. I carry with me a change of clothes and any personal items I would wish I had if they lose my bag.

Each trip is an adventure - new team, new dynamics, differing demands and challenges. We first "meet" each other with a team conference call a few days before we leave.  I was late to the call because of unexpected delay while dumping garbage at the landfill (you don't want to know!).  It is hard to keep working and get all the pre-travel errands tended to, but somehow it all falls into place.

The anesthesia team includes me and 2 seasoned providers from the University of Wisconsin. They are great people and both well-versed in pediatric anesthesia, so I get a great review, new tips, and learn a lot from all the other co-workers. Unlike in the U.S., we work with 2 beds and 2 patient teams in a room. This allows us to assist each other, and to observe each and every case. I really enjoy the collegiality and comradery this brings to the team.  Resurge does a great job of sending the cream of the crop and I feel honored to be included.

And away we go...