First Day of Surgery!
Our day started off early with reflections and worship led by John. Tracey presented Megan with a superhero scrub top in honor of Guru, a former volunteer, then we were off to the hospital!
It is incredible to see each team member jump into their role and create a cohesive team. Even though it was our first day of surgeries, the team was well-prepared and ready to go. The nurses working in pre-op get the patients ready for a smooth transition into surgery. The patients then meet with their anesthesiologist and surgeon and are taken back to surgery. After surgery, they are brought out to our PACU nurse team where they are eased out of the anesthesia. Once they are fully awake, they move on to the ward where they are taken care of, post-operation, by more of our team nurses.
John prayed with many patients, while they waited in pre-op, to help ease any nerves they may be feeling. Our interpreters are also a major help in communicating and calming any fears.
Today the blogger/photography team, Molly and Tamara, split up and followed two patients all the way through their process.
Molly had the privilege of meeting Ruth, an incredibly beautiful and happy soul. She was very excited to talk to us and share how much she enjoyed singing worship songs with John yesterday while she was waiting to be screened.
Ruth is getting a hysterectomy and has been living with her pain for over 2 years. She has been very nervous to get surgery and didn’t have the money to pay for one at the government hospital. She later talked to a friend who received knee surgery from Faith In Practice and had a wonderful experience. Ruth said she trusts FIP because it is faith-based, and she has all the confidence in the doctors on our team.
Ruth has 5 children but had to come alone to Casa Milagros. Molly told her that she would be with her at every stage of the process, and she was very grateful. She told Molly, “I now have 6 children” and that she was her adopted madre! As they continued to talk, they found so many similarities between their lives. She said, “God brings people into our lives for a reason. There is always a reason.”
Before going into surgery, Ruth felt very calm. Ruth’s surgery went well, and when we spoke in recovery, she said she had no pain and felt “bien.”
Tamara had the pleasure of meeting Carlos Manuel who came to Hospital Hilario Galindo with his wife, Maria, from Petén, which is 12 hours away. He had a hernia surgery five years ago and, unfortunately, reinjured himself after only five months. He has been living with pain for almost five years. As Carlos Manuel works in construction and does heavy lifting every day, being gentle with himself is not really an option.
Carlos Manuel found FIP through his niece, who previously came to HHG for surgery. He has a great deal of trust in FIP because it has such a great reputation in the community. We are happy to report that Carlos Manuel’s surgery was a success and was resting comfortably when we last saw him. He said that he will always carry Faith in Practice in his heart and is super grateful for the care he has received.
Overall, it was a very busy but successful first day of surgery here at Hospital Hilario Galindo! Everyone will sleep well tonight!
Tamara Grace & Molly Wayhmeller
