Ships log # 3 - ANZAC day
What a week it has been !! Every surgical operation that I have been part of has been nothing like I have seen before and all have had unusual circumstances surrounding their need for surgery – for most it is many years past the age and stage that they would routinely have been operated on and for many the condition is not usually found in western countries. Quite fascinating and such stimulating work to be involved in – for these people of Guinea it is literally a life saver as many are suffering major eating difficulties due to their facial disease, cleft palate, or enlarged goiter. Many have some airway obstruction and or have huge disfigurement. One can only feel tremendous relief for them that the services of Mercy Ships have been made available to them as their home country is unable to do this.
Now I guess it was going to happen at some stage but I have officially become an OR nurse ……
- as opposed to an operating theatre nurse – and am rapidly getting an American twang to my words and having to remember different words for the same thing, eg artery clip is a “haemostat” !!
But an operating theatre is an operating theatre……
…and for those doubters - I am not still on holiday but am actually working !!
Best practice here also has a slightly different meaning in some aspects of practice but only to do with the limited room, supplies and disposal and processing procedures. Fundamentally I am accepting of common practice here but you know me….. J
Spent last night with most of the 25 NZers and Auzzis on board celebrating ANZAC day – correctly done so with pavlova - we didn’t argue over who invented it - and ANZA biscuits which they (the Auzzis) didn’t lay claim to.
(note the mango on the pav at the back of the table which is a common fruit for most meals – yum, yum)
We managed to relocate the appropriate flags from the common room ….
….and magnate them to the ship (I must say I have never heard of so many good uses for magnates) when EVERYTHING is metal !! eg hooks on ceilings in the OR – with no blutack or sticky tape in site J
...and for once I wasn’t the shorty in the front row.
I am away up country to a place called Kindia tomorrow overnight which is in the highlands and has some beautiful waterfalls apparently - lots of people head that way or similar just to have a break from the heat in Conakry but I am finding it mainly OK in the ship with air con. A sun hat is essential when going ashore and you can also burn really easily, which is probably a combination of the malaria pills and the intense African sun.
Well think that’s about it for today – need to head off to bed before 6am start tomorrow – bonsoir mon ami J
