Thursday at the hospital

Surgery on Thursday

The day started early for Doug and Adam, who were invited to join the staff doctors and nurses for morning report and called a taxi for the ride to Mazimbu. Four patients are currently in the hospital and both medical teams conferred on the best treatment plans. All of the medical staff learned from each other. Adam had some suggestions that surprised the Tanzanian doctors, who then made some changes to their plan of care. Doug mentioned he has learned how to improvise and do without, how to make the best of the situation. It was a very open exchange of knowledge and ideas and the collegial atmosphere was a welcome side effect of the meeting. We are excited at the foundation that is forming between the surgical team and the hospital staff. Tanzanians value relationships above everything. Americans tend to value justice. If we can bridge the cultural gulf and build a relationship with the staff here, it will open the door to future teams and allow this vital mission to continue.

Mazimbu hospital has resources we have not had available to us in the past. The lab is able to do many tests, including a complete blood count as prep for surgery, and there is an Xray machine and a radiologist on site. The ultrasound machine is not currently working, though, but Barbara has helped solve that problem. Two men and one woman from yesterday needed an ultrasound before Doug and Adam could decide how we can best help them. They were waiting for us when we arrived this morning and switched places with us in Barbara’s car. The radiologist joined them and off they went to Sua, where there is a functional ultrasound machine. This is an interesting process—the radiologist goes with the patient to read the ultrasound on site and returns with the patients to the hospital.

Our turnout for medical, non-surgical patients was lower today than we hoped. Adam was kept busy through lunch, but the team spent the afternoon chatting, getting to know our translators better and comparing the differences between our two countries. And Shelby and Jordan spent the afternoon learning Swahili from Geofrey, the translator who worked with them, and teaching each other games from their countries. Geofrey, who has just graduated from University and plans to be a teacher, is now proficient at hangman and rock/paper/scissors.

Doug has been very busy today, though, and was pulled in for an emergency procedure. A patient presented today with a severe bowel obstruction requiring immediate surgery, and the Tanzanian doctor asked Doug to scrub in and assist. The patient was in obvious pain as he was wheeled into the “major theatre” and two hours later the doctors were relieved to know that the procedure, which likely saved his life, was successful.

One humorous incident happened—the emergency procedure bumped two scheduled patients who were already prepped for their surgery and were patiently waiting, draped in a bed sheet for modesty. Once we realized both of them would have to be rescheduled for another day, Cindy and Pati went to discuss timing with them. When they walked into the room, only one man was waiting. When they searched the hospital for Yohana, he was nowhere to be found. The Matron of the hospital and her staff were recruited for the search and, after some rapid Swahili, reported to us that he had escaped. Hopefully, we will recapture him tomorrow!