We hauled in our equipment for the last time Thursday morning for our final two cases, and they went very well. This whole team is working so well together now, and we're really making a link with some of the local hospital staff and doctors - hoping to teach them and help make some long-term changes for the better in Kossamak Hospital.
Delicious papaya and banana-coconut shakes for lunch!
I noted that I was now used to my Cambodia OR routine:
Upon entering OR, see if there is, in fact, any oxygen available for my machine today. It's all pumped in through the wall, and seems to go out at random - which has not been a huge problem for me since I've been able to do all regional anesthetics, so patients are breathing on their own. Could be a bit of a challenge with a full-blown general anesthetic with the ventilator, etc!
Then I check my machine, kill at least five or six mosquitoes, and spray DEET on my exposed ankles and toes (remember, flip-flops are the official footwear../). Finally I check that I have enough water bottles since the OR is a little hotter than usual and muggy today, and I have to save an empty one for my 'sharps' container.
Pretty funny!
Denise notes that this is "Our last instrument count in Cambodia!!", which makes us all sad in many ways because it's been such an incredible experience. We packed up to make our final exit and distribute instruments, drugs, and all our equipment back at the clinic. We're all feeling nostalgic and sad to be leaving a place where we really feel at home now.
We had a quiet dinner post-massage, of course, and went to bed looking forward to the Russian Market and Killing Fields on Friday - with our final goodbye party at the clinic Friday night.
THEN THE PHONE STARTED RINGING!!!! Our first patient wasn't doing well - blood pressure problems. We all got about an hour's sleep - and it was becoming increasingly clear that we might need to go back in and re-operate. It was midnight.......details to follow!!
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