Monday began our time at Tawfiq Hospital, here in Malindi. We have three surgeons, two anesthesiologists, several nurses, two other nursing students (although, I am a GN... Whoop.) and several other "non medical help." The surgeons each have a pretty full day of cases, generally consisting of hernias and hydroceles for the two general surgeons and the gyn oncology surgeon usually has hysterectomies. (Of course, there are several other things like removing lumps and bumps.) The nursing staff is split between pre/post-op, intraop, and the ward. The nursing students, along with our "instructors" (Not like in school, mind you. Thank goodness.) are the ones usually staying over in the ward with the patients as they recover and before they are discharged. We also, along with the non medical help, are used everywhere else as an extra set of hands to help with surgeries or with pre/post-op care. It's a lot of fun and I enjoy every minute of it. I have gotten a good range of experiences already and continue to see and do new things every day.
The ward is very interesting - a lot like any hospital in the States... But completely different. They do as much as they can with the resources they have. It has made me pull out all sorts of critical thinking/resourceful skills as we try and figure out how to give the safest and best care possible with very little. These nurses here are incredible - they work so hard and use very interesting means to get the jobs done. Although how they practice wouldn't cut it in the States as far as "safety" and HIPPA are concerned, they are very skilled nurses and I have been humbled to see how excellent they practice with hardly anything to work with.
Monday and Tuesday I spent the majority of the day on the ward working with the Kenyan nurses. I became just the best of friends with some of their staff and am really going to miss them when we say goodbye next week.... But we need not mention that now.
Tuesday, though, I got to experience one of the most wonderful moments of my life. The nurses had been telling us that if a baby was ever to be delivered, we would get to go help. Sooo sure enough, Tuesday as we were leaving, Saida (my favorite Kenyan nursing friend.. Don't tell the others.) yelled at me "Ammmy!! The baby is going to be delivered now!" So, Kristen, Sarah and I ran (literally) to the maternity ward and walked in just in time to help prep this mother for a natural delivery. Kristen and I had the pleasure of helping hold her legs and stand next to this soon-to-be new mom. I've seen deliveries before, but none of them compare to this moment. It was beautiful... I may have been a bit choked up. It hit me how precious life is and what a miracle a birth is! After the baby was delivered and he cried for the first time, his mother (who we thought only spoke Swahili) grasped mine and Kristen's hands and said from the depth of her soul with so much beauty and grace "Ohhhh, thank you! Thank you, God! Thank you, Jesus - my Reeeedeeeemer!" ... This is the point that I got chills and cried. Ah! I wish everyone has the opportunity to experience a moment like that in their lifetime. Truly a blessing from God. My stomach still flips as I think about it.
Wednesday, I was able to scrub in and help Dr. Massey (our gyn surgeon). We did a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and I was so grateful for the chance to be an extra set of hands to help him and learn.
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