Monday is our first day of surgery for our week in Guatemala. There is always an increased anticipation and anxiety before the first surgery. It is similar to the feeling before playing a ball game. That feeling Immediately evaporates after the first contact. Then the focus shifts to getting the job done. Experience, training, and reflex take over. Inevitably, for the first case or two, the rhythm of the operating room is not as smooth as desired. That does not impact the level of patient care but does slow the rhythm. Then the Team hits its stride and goes into cruise control. Minor bumps in the road are encountered and expected but are easily navigated. Yes, cruise control.
Our patient story today is about Estefany who is a 20-year-old college student. She is, or was, an accomplished dancer. Then 3 years ago she injured her left knee dancing. She sustained a tear in her ACL ligament which is the main stabilizer of the knee. After she recovered from the initial injury, she could walk but could not run or dance because of her unstable knee. We evaluated her in the preop clinic yesterday. Today she has undergone surgery to reconstruct her ACL. Her surgery was performed by Dr Koco Eaton who was assisted by Denecio, Alison, Cara, and Chris. All are volunteers with Faith in Practice. Dr. Eaton also happens to be the Team physician of the Tampa Bay Rays. Estefany will require a rehab program, but she can resume her dancing in 6 months. Good as new.
Monday evening: now is the end of the first day. We walked back to our hotel, La Quinta de las Flores or House of Flowers. The landscaping is beautiful, of course, particularly the Bird of Paradise and Bougainvillea. Time to relax and recharge. We will all sleep better tonight after the first day. The rest of the week will fall into a routine much like it is at our home hospitals. The normal rhythm of the OR…. Cruise control.
Until tomorrow,
The Mesen Team
To support the Mesen Team visit: https://donate.faithinpractice.org/team/455482
