Day 4: Surgery Day #3
Today marked our third full day of surgery—more than halfway done with the week! But it also brought new challenges. After interpreting for the doctors during morning rounds, I only had the chance to build a couple wheelchairs before we were informed that, sadly, an entire bus full of patients was unable to arrive at the mobility clinic. As a result, no more wheelchairs were needed for the day. This left myself and the other wheelchair staff searching for other ways to be helpful throughout the day until we started building again in the afternoon.
After observing a few surgeries and taking photos, I was assigned to organize and inventory boxes of sutures. While I enjoyed the process, I couldn’t help but wonder if my work really mattered. What was organizing boxes of Vicryl and Stratafix compared to saving lives in the operating room?
But as I reflected more, I realized that every job here plays a vital role. Just like a mustard seed can grow into a tall tree (as our Day 1 devotional reminded us), small actions can have a big impact. Surgical procedures in the operating room would not be possible without well-organized sutures. The mobility clinic would not be possible without hundreds of wheelchairs to provide to patients. Patients would not feel seen and heard without interpreters and bloggers.
Our team here brings together a wide variety of knowledge and skills, including surgeons, nurses, physician’s assistants, bioengineers, physical therapists, pharmacists, interpreters, and volunteers like me with no formal medical training. But one of the most marvelous parts of this trip has been our collaboration and flexibility. People regularly jump into new roles, doing whatever they can to help the patients and putting complete trust in the other members of the team. This mission wouldn’t be possible without all of us working together, and I know the patients really appreciate it—as do I.
-Isabel Rowan, Blogger
