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Although originally I was not signed up for a surgery rotation, I managed to fit it into my 5th week in La Paz, and am incredibly glad that I did. This week was one of the strangest, most exciting, and unbelievable things I have ever done in my life.
The first day I showed up by myself because Aaron and Carolyn wanted to stay with Dra. Tejerina one last day. The surgeon, Dr. Galindo (an extremely tall man) showed me to the changing room where I was directed to change into my scrubs (pajamas in Spanish), put on booties, a hairnet, and facial mask. I then stepped into the surgery unit. This is made up of 4 operating rooms, a central area with scrub sinks, and a surgeons' lounge. I met the other surgeons, the anesthesiologist, the nurses, and before I knew it we were in an operating room with a child on the table and Dr. Galindo was scrubbing in! I was a little nervous, I am notorious for feeling faintish in situations where bad cuts are involved, and one of the girls from our program had fainted in surgery the week before. However, I quickly found out that not seeing the patient's face helps a lot with this, as does the fact that I know they are fast asleep and not feeling anything. I felt detached from the fact that this was a little human I was seeing.
The first surgery I watched was quick - It was a boy that had his tied-tongue clipped to improve his speech problems. My brother, Nimi, had this same procedure done a few years ago and it is very basic. The next was significantly more gruesome.
A 1-yesr-old baby girl had a fistula, such that her urinary track and colon were merged, and she was completely missing an anus. For over 2 hours the surgeons worked on reconstructing this area of her body so that bodily functions will go the way that they should. All the while the surgeon was explaining to me what he was doing, and urging me to come closer.
The following day Aaron joined me in surgery, and we got to watch a lot more. We also were given permission to walk in and out of ORs as we pleased and see what other surgeries were going on. We saw an orthopedic surgeon working on a shattered femur, which he had completely open to the bone on the table, a badly broken wrist reset (two surgeons grabbed either end of the arm and pulled as hard as they could!), a 3rd degree burn covering an entire kid's leg, appendicitis, and our supervising surgeons corrected an un-descended testicle that was in a baby boy's intestinal area.
The following day, Carolyn, Aaron and I watched the first surgery, which was of a young girl whose fallopian tubes had herniated into her intestines. As the surgeons finished, I asked Dr. Galindo if he thought we could help with anything, and he told me to follow him to scrub in for the next surgery! I was completely in disbelief, but went with him to the sink where he showed my how to scrub with the iodine solution 3 times before coming back into the OR. A scrub nurse then helped my put on scrubs and gloves, and I stood with the surgeon, as our next patient was prepared. The little boy had a growth on his neck, resulting from his bronchus not having developed properly. I assisted Dr. Galindo with removing it, cleaning off blood, holding the area open, cutting as he sutured, and holding his tools. This was an incredible experience, and I could not believe how much I was able to participate. No parts of it were dangerous or difficult, but I still felt my adrenaline rising the entire time. With very limited anatomy knowledge and zero training I was scrubbing into a pediatric surgery! A minor one, but still very exciting.
Next Carolyn scrubbed into a surgery where a baby had 6 toes on one foot! Aaron and I joked that she got the coolest surgery until we saw the next patient, a baby with 6 toes on each foot and 6 fingers on each hand! Aaron scrubbed in to help remove the extra toes, a pretty challenging task because the extra toes had extra bones that needed removal as well. As they finished, I was directed to go wash my hands, which at first I though was because of the iodine on them from sterilizing the baby's feet, but then I realized I was scrubbing in again for the hands! Helping to remove the fingers was a lot more bloody, invasive, and demanded me to help more than the first surgery, but I was also a lot more comfortable by then, and it was a really unique experience. The three of us walked out of the hospital, a little shocked from what he had just done, but all feeling like we had just done something extremely rewarding. In just a couple of hours 3 kids' lives were significantly improved, and we had taken part in this process.
The following day, our last in surgery, we were surprised to see on the operating table a 3-week-old baby with the head of a 5-year-old. An illness called hydrocephalus, where a child's brain is unable to drain fluid and therefore grows rapidly. We observed as the neurosurgeon placed a tub from the brain through the neck and chest all the way to the abdomen, which would allow drainage. This was by far the most invasive surgery of the week and was harder to watch.
The surgeons were extremely friendly and even goofy with us. One day between surgeries we sat in the lounge, and one surgeon offered us a yellow soda called Inca Cola. I told him I don't think I could drink something that color and Aaron said because it looked like pee. The surgeon loved that, and insisted that we drink the "piss," imitating peeing as he poured it into our glasses! The rest of the time, anyone who came in was offered a glass of "piss" which was hilarious for everyone involved.
It was fun to see the human side of these doctors, and to get to a level a little beyond professionalism with them.
All in all an amazing week, great way to top off our La Paz section of the trip, and we were filled with excitement for the next adventure: Tarija.
- comments
Safta Gilda Shira, as always, gives & gets the most from every new experience, physically and emotionally and intellectually. She is an incredible young women with a heart of gold and a "thumbs up" sense of humor. I adore this beautiful girl. p.s. Blog entry should be 5 *****
Elana Love Love Love reading your blog!!!!
vered rapaport שירה שלום, אני עוקבת אחרי הבלוג שלך החוויות שלך מרתקות! תודה על השיתוף שבת שלום ורד מצרעה...
sabba and your special touch, Shira, at all levels, will surely also touch the souls, psyches and somas of those whose well- being you have chosen to heal. Bless you, dear, dear grand daughter. sabba
Isaac Shira, It has been exciting to hear of your exploits and adventures. This is some gritty, tough-on-the-stomach stuff and it seems your taking it in stride. Way to make us all proud! I look forward to hearing about your experience in person. Much love, Isaac
Manue Mateo Having been on the operating table more than once, I can appreciate the skill needed to be an effective doctor, but what your blogs have brought out the importance of being a good person who is equally adept and professional in his/her attitudes as well. Your time in Bolivia has allowed you to develop into even more of a well rounded and wonderful person than I have known you to be.