Today was the day that lives started to change. Again an early wakeup for many of us before dawn to catch a bit of WIFI in one location at the Hostel to catch up with friends and family and assure them all is well. Then breakfast promptly at 6:00 a.m. and on the bus by 6:45 a.m.. But first, we took a moment to enjoy the morning display of male peacocks at the Hostel.
Then an overview of emergency protocols briefing by Lead Anesthesiologist Helen O’Keefe Vajk, MD.
Lead Anesthesiologist Helen O’Keefe Vajk, MD
The Medical Director Ron Gemberling, MD reiterated that safety is the first priority.
Medical Director Ron Gemberling, MD
The patients for today’s surgery had stayed the night to make sure none of them had any liquids prior to surgery. Along with many others, the patients below were waiting for us when we arrived at the hospital.
Eunice
Paulina
Brandon
Prior to surgery, Pediatricians Al Goldberg, MD & Paula Rand, MD give the prospective surgical candidates another once over to make sure there were not changes in their conditions from the initial evaluation. Once the final pre-surgical review was done, the patients were cleared for surgery.
Al Goldberg, MD
Operating Room No. 1 is staffed by Surgeon Royal Hobbs, MD, of Spartenburg, SC, Anesthesiologist Bridgett Payne, MD of Sacramento, CA and OR Nurse Margot Escamilla, RN, of Levittown, NY.
Royal Hobbs, MD
Margot Escamilla, RN & Bridgett Payne, MD
Operating Room No. 2 is staffed by Surgeon Jitka Vrtiskova, MD, of Prague, Chech Republic, Anesthesiologist Tim Conahan, MD of Havertown, PA & OR Nurse Paulette McHugh, RN of Santa Rosa, CA.
Jitka Vrtiskova, MD
Tim Conahan, MD
Paulette McHugh, RN
Operating Room No. 3 – which has the best air conditioning, but is the smallest, was staffed by Surgeon Milton Solis, MD, of Guatemala City, Anesthesiologist Stephen Layne, MD, Superior, CO, & OR Nurse Lois Borie, RN, of Ocala, FL.
Milton Solis, MD & Surgery Schedule
Stephen Layne, MD
Today, was the day that modern miracles started to happen:
Stay tuned for tomorrow –
Post-Op Journey and a volcanic eruption (a little one . . .)