Hola, it’s wonderful that you can join me again for today’s blog! It is Monday and it’s the start of the first round of surgeries. We ate breakfast and at 7 am, we headed to the hospital.
The worship and devotional were conducted at the hospital. Clergy David gave the devotional today, and it was about our Faith- in Christ, and that He Is Who He Says He Is. One of the things that stood out to me was when he said “we are not here to be saved, but because we are saved”. We are here to help and serve, not to earn rewards, or earn enough points to be able to enter Heaven.
While the doctors, and the volunteers were conducting surgeries, removing hernias, transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), gallbladder, and taking care of patients. We had the pleasure of talking to the patients. We saw Evelyn today and asked her follow up questions after seeing the doctor. She came with her grandfather who has been suffering with constant pain of his hernia for a year. Yesterday the doctor told him that they need to remove his hernia. His operation will be on Wednesday, so please keep him and his family in your prayers.
I had the pleasure of meeting Nancy, who was here for a follow up check up. She had her gallbladder and hernia removed and this was conducted by another FIP team that came 2 weeks before us. She opened up and said how she was frightened, because she thought she wouldn’t be able to qualify to do the surgery. 2 weeks later, and she is walking and grateful that FIP was able to give her the operation.
As we made our way to the mobility clinic, there were patients lined up, it was very busy. The doctors, nurses and staff were directing patients where they needed to go, allowing those who needed wheelchairs to be able to have them. Dr. Roe was seeing patients who needed treatment and the volunteers were diligently making more wheelchairs in the back. We met a patient named Francisca, she is 79 years young and she had difficulty in walking since she has had pain in her right leg. She was able to get herself a wheelchair and get checked by Dr. Roe.
It was amazing to see all the volunteers working like a well-oiled machine to get patients from Pre-OP and then into surgery. Once surgery is complete to the best of their abilities, then get the patients into Post-OP and recovery. I was able to witness how the volunteers took care of the patients with such care and gave them comfort.
Tomorrow we will continue seeing patients and conduct surgeries. If you don’t mind, I would like to leave you with a riddle. “I’m a lake with no ocean, a mountain with no stones and a city with no buildings. What am I?” Tune in tomorrow for the answer if you haven’t figured it out, but for now hasta mañana.
Archana Thomas
To support this team and their commitment to our patients visit https://donate.faithinpractice.org/team/373501
