Day 5 Thursday, October 8th
Thursday began with morning rounds as the surgical teams checked on patients recovering from previous procedures. For families whose children had undergone surgery, recovery brought its own concerns. Mothers of children placed in hip spica casts for two to three months needed guidance on how to care for their children safely during this time. Doctors, physical therapists and interpreters worked together to demonstrate how to hold, clean and bathe their children, as well as how to position them comfortably while resting. Raven, one of our physical therapists, and Fran, one of our interpreters, continued working with these families to help prepare them for the challenges of recovery at home.
Collaboration extended beyond Team 921 as well. During the day, a local orthopedic surgeon requested assistance from our trauma orthopedic surgeon with a patient requiring surgical care, providing another example of medical professionals working together to meet the needs of the community.
Our physical therapy team also remained busy helping patients recover from knee replacements. Shari worked with patients as they began walking with crutches, practicing in hallways and navigating stairs. These exercises helped patients prepare for the practical challenges of returning to their daily routines after surgery.
The dental team continued providing care throughout the week, reaching 100 patients by Thursday. Dr. Logan Wood shared one experience that stood out to him: a family who came in together to receive dental treatment. During their visit, two siblings received root canals, while their mother also received dental care. Their visit was one example of how the clinic was able to address multiple needs within a single family.
By the end of the week, Team 921 had built 112 wheelchairs, helped 153 patients through the mobility clinic, provided dental care to 100 patients and completed 46 surgeries. Together, these efforts represented nearly 300 patient visits across our teams. From helping patients regain mobility after surgery to teaching parents how to care for their children during recovery, each team contributed to the same goal: providing practical care and helping make everyday life a little easier for the patients and families we served.
