36 is starting out way better than 35 ended!!!

Sorry, the internt was bad yesterday from heavy,heavy rain, so this is mostly yesterdays and todays post.



To all the birthday well-wishers, thank you.  It has been a good, B-day and its only 3:30pm. Started with a call at 3:30 this am from my old friend, Henry Heimsoth, who called to check on me/family and see if I wanted to play in the Cole Camp charity golf event.  Was surprised to find I was across the ocean and unavailable for golf, but glad the family is safe.

So when we were coming to Africa, I told my wife she could basically be anything she wanted here.  Hygienist, dentist, oral surgeon, endodontist, orthodontist.  The credentials aren't checked, only the willingness to try to perform the task, and a modicum of skill.  Well, after our new friends, the insurance agent and his pediatrician wife arrived and now after three days he is a full-fledged hospital chaplain she sees my point.  Over dinner we discussed that maybe she and Grace should come into the OR and see what I do, especially since it was going to be a big open scoliosis case.  So Amy suited up in the OR garb this morning and took "snaps", photos of the operation. Grace may come to next weeks case, yet to be determined. Pretty sure Amy could have scrubbed in and put in screws if she had wanted, but I was just impressed she didn't pass out or throw up.  It was a pretty big, somewhat gruesome affair.  But, it went awesome.  For as little hardware as we used to try to conserve and treat as many patients as possible.  I'm ecstatic about the results.  We used only 4 screws on top/4 screws on bottom, two rods, cross connector and some wire.  About a third of what we would use in the states and she has a very satisfactory correction.  Now we pray she heals her fusion.  Lucky the power didn't go out until I was ready to close. Very first stitch... no lights, had to close by camping head light.

And again I say, you see stuff you only see in books.  Not once, not twice, three times already today.  First is a boy who came for walking difficulty.  The picture below is of his feet. He is not turning them in, they are that turned in or more.  Ricketts so severe, his toes turn backward!!!

Second pics are of a three week old baby, born with no radius bones in either arm.  Never seen it before, but then the mom says well, his brother has it to and show me his brother with the same abnormality.

Last pic is of the Monsoon/ hail storm that occurred during the surgery to knock out the power and lasted most of the afternoon.  It was good though, clinic was light so I got out by about 3 pm and came home to an interesting lunch to heat up.  A spaghetti noodle/egg omelet, with peppers...was very tasty, heard from Roxy it was awesome warm.  Was very good cold.

So we've started using the term "African Up" to tell kids to "suck it up" and be tough.  Apparently its started working.  Made lemonade today in a water bottle out of one of the little packets of lemonade.  Set the packet down on counter, and in true African style, Joey came along and grabbed packet, tore it the rest of the way and licked the inside of the packet for any remaing grains of sugar. Later, we asked Grace to use the phone, and she was a little perplexed by it.  How does it dial?  Rotary phones aer still in use in Mbingo, and now my daughter can say she's used one. 





Amy then suprised me with a special dinner for my birthday at the hostel.  She had them get Chicken, which at $16 dollars a bird, American, we haven't had there yet, was very tasty treat.  As good as a steak dinner.  She then somehow figured out how to get the ingredients for red velvet cake and a choclate sheet cake.  Had all the ex-Patriots over to the house to celebrate, was a very pleasant birthday.

Birthday Boy...BI