On the ward

Tuesday was just 'another day' on the ward, I use that term carefully because I am so conscious that nothing I do here is just another day...I began my day with 5 patients. As the patients woke from their deep slumbers, I tiptoed round checking charts and getting my brain in gear for the day ahead. We are assigned patients according to level of care rather than a certain area of the ward so it is a habit of mine to introduce myself to each patient so they know who to ask for! When I first arrived, I wasn't quite so clued up on this and how important it is to them to know your name. On the odd occasion I forget they will remind me. I find that quite a challenge because sometimes I am the world's worst at remembering translators names, and even the patients sometimes.
2 of my patients for the day were men who had had hernia repairs, and they were to be discharged. One of the big things we have to do is teach wound care to each patient. It may seem like an easy thing to do, but I have had to learn the right words to use; water from the pump, put pan in fire for 10 minutes etc etc, and then teach it in very short sentences. We English know how to make things complicated just by using lots of words! I am slowly developing my Liberian English, 'wait small' 'it hurting you?' 'you whan pan?' but often have to rely on the translators to help when I teach. It is so important that they are taught everything from how to wash hands (and with soap and 'clean' water) to not touching wounds with fingers, and making clean salt water ever day.
The two men I spent time explaining this to picked it up pretty quickly. I recently spent some time designing a 'how to make water for wound care' leaflet in words and also in pictures. It was a challenge to come up with pump pictures instead of taps and a fire showing how they usually boil water. It has taught me to think a lot about the lifestyle here.
Having discharged the 2 men I thought I might have a quiet day, not so! I had one lady going for thyroid surgery (oh how I love those...??!!) She was quite nervous so I spent some time talking to her about things. When I finally took her to surgery, we walked slowly down the long corridor, so alien to her, carrying her fluid bag in the air, heading towards 'the bench' outside the anaesthetic room. As we sat down, she let out a quivering breath. I forget this moment is even more strange to people here than a 'first surgery timer' at home. Many having not stepped into a medical environment before, let alone a ship or anything air conditioned! As the theatre nurse arrived we asked, as we do all patients, if we could pray for her. She agreed, and we prayed for peace, rest and guidance for the surgeons. No where else have I ever seen prayer so readily received than 'the bench'.
Returning to the ward I spent sometime with Kossi my little boy who has had bilateral osteotomys. He was sporting a woolly jumper, donated from somewhere, a bit of an 'off the shoulder number' as it was a little too big, but he loves it. He previously had to have one of his eyes removed and a false one is now in it's place. Somehow that false eye gives him an even more deeply beautiful look about his cheeky smile. Every now and again, I feel a little dig in the back of my legs. He is behind me in his wheelchair, with crutches and pillows rigged up for leg supports. It's his cheeky way of just letting you know he's still there! Kossi loves playing 'pee po' despite him being 10!
In the afternoon there was an influx of patients for the next days surgery. Laura our assistant ward supervisor had found stacks of bubbles so because of the influx of kids, we had a big bubble blowing session. The shiny bubbles were flying in all directions and even the smallest of kids were following them carefully and reaching out to pop them.
One little girl that arrived was quite shy, but such a sweet spirit. She
sadly had had an infection in one of her eyes. It bulged out in quite an ugly manner, she was to have the eye removed the next day. Completely used to just using her one eye, she will bounce back after her surgery, and she joined in the games no problem.
Ali (of team awesome!!) was a gem and talked to one of my little ones about his surgery the next day. Each person gets a teddy in their admission pack, so Ali dressed up his bear with dressings to show him how his tummy would look after his surgery. He was a little nervous, but was put ease seeing what he would look like.
My patient who had thyroid surgery returned a little later, and so ensued the pointing sign language that I am developing quite admirably! She was so relieved if a little shell shocked. Some time after she returned I got a mirror to show her her neck. The lump she had removed was the size if a melon. As she looked in the mirror her eyes glazed over but she said nothing, gently touching her neck, I could read it all in her eyes. A small time later her family came to see her, and is often the case, thanked and thanked us profusely. At times like that, I find it so hard to 'accept' the thanks. It's a struggle to feel like we have done anything more than these wonderful people deserve.