Three down and one to go!! Team HIM has completed three days of surgery for 56 patients and will finish up one more day tomorrow.
The pre-op tasks went smoothly, and rounds were a delight with many patients giving a “thumbs up” as they saw their surgeon. At this point, some of the patients that were operated on Monday had already gone home if they lived fairly close by or have moved to Casa de Fe (the Faith in Practice boarding facility) to continue their recovery before they made their sometimes lengthyjourney back home. The 29 year-old hip patient who had a large difference in her leg lengths got out of bed and tried out her new hip joint with legs that were the same length. A video is included of her walking with a huge smile on her face!! The entire mission was completely worth it just with that one moment!
A total of 17 cases were performed in five rooms with 10 knees, 3 hips and 4 foot and ankle cases. Drs. Mike Berend, Klaassen and Lombardi were cooking with oil as they installed Zimmer Biomet Knees into a group of very grateful Guatemalans. Different knee conditions were handled with ease and great skill. In the foot and ankle room great care was taken to improve the area of the body that touches the earth. One 52 year-old man had polio that had caused his left foot and ankle to be completed disfigured. Drs. Knecht and Herbst carefully reconstructed his foot into a normal position and gave him a stable ankle for him to walk again.
In addition to the surgeon in each room, there are three other Team HIM members that are scrubbed into the surgical field and are assisting the surgeon in a safe and efficient manner. Also in the operating room is a circulating nurse who is passing medication, providing supplies and being the intermediary between the folks who are on the sterile field and the non-sterile world. Then there is a person who covers the implant and instrument side of things. Finally, an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist is keeping the patient alive and properly sedated during the procedure. All these team members are critically important to delivering a successful procedure. Every day the team prays and concentrates and gives their best to coordinate the best care for each patient. We invite all your prayers and the grace of God to watch over each case and bring each patient to a healthy outcome!
Stay tuned for an update on the final day of surgery for Team HIM tomorrow!!
Respectfully submitted
John White
