A day at work

You'll have to look at these pictures and then use your imagination( no photos of patients allowed) to get an idea of what is happening between 230 and 330pm on the wards . I may have mentioned earlier, ortho corrections as well as general and maxillary facial surgeries are happening now on the ship. At least 30 kids have had osteotomies and whatever else they do in surgery to correct their deformed legs caused by malnutrition.
There are no elevators on the ship so whoever is strong and able comes to the hospital on the second deck and carries the kids to the seventh deck.(Picture #1-3 with several flights missing!!) The kids have full leg casts on both legs. Once on the top deck, One or two kids are put in the wagons , and our job is to pull them up and down the deck. (Picture 4&5). The older kids sit in chairs with legs propped up looking out over the ocean. The rest of the surgical patients also make the climb. Jenga and UNO are favorite games we often play together.
Currently, adult surgeries happening are hernia repairs, lipoma,(picture#6 and fibroma excisions. By far these are the largest hernias and lipomas I have ever seen. Often at discharge , several men have tears of joy thanking us over and over again for helping them with these often, socially isolating and debilitating conditions.

The Malagasy people are very endearing, very kind , and it’s been an honor to be a small part of their journey.