Medical Team Day 3

Today our general surgeon arrived and completed an AMAZING number of cases. Dr. Mercer is a machine! Additionally, Heidi and Dr. Flavia Horth did two very difficult gynecological cases. All of the surgeries have been amazing, life-changing surgeries that the people would never have been able to afford or even to get here in Guatemala (money or no money). We were able to remove two very large facial growths, one from a 14 year old girl who was teased so much that she was pulled out of school. In a few weeks, she'll have just a very thin scar that will probably be barely noticeable. It was really touching to see how appreciative the people were for their surgeries. To them, this medical team performed unimaginable miracles.

One of the most amazing things for Matt has been to learn about the incredible number of people necessary to make these events happen. There are nurses, scrub techs, surgical equipment sterilizers, runners, clinic doctors, surgeons, recovery nurses, prep nurses, etc. It's also been amazing to see a side-by-side comparison between American health care professionals and Guatemalan health care professionals. Anyone who doesn't believe that the United States produces the best health care workers in the world needs to watch them work close up. It's absolutely amazing.

Okay, only one surgical picture today, and no blood and guts. The other pictures are of some of the team members shopping at an impromptu stand set up by a very enterprising young woman who heard that there were some American doctors and nurses in town. She set up her wares in the lawn between the hospital and the house. She sat there all day waiting for the team to leave the hospital for the day. She was richly rewarded for her time.... We learned that if you don't have time to go to the market, they'll bring the market to you!!!!

As an aside, Heidi and Flavia were in the hospital last night performing post-operative checks on their patients when they encountered the local OB-GYN, walking around with his arm in a sling. He dislocated his shoulder just a few days ago and was in an obvious amount of pain. Heidi mentioned that she hoped he didn't have any surgeries to do and he said he was on his way to a C-section. She asked if he wanted help and he said yes. A few minutes later, Heidi performed her first C-section in Guatemala.... YAY!