So when I first started my volunteer placement, I often felt like I was more of a burden than a help. It was frustrating to try and learn how I could help when I didn't fully understand the language, especially when others weren't always willing to be patient! I remember at times feeling like I wasn't really wanted there...and there were times when I felt like I should try a fresh start in a different unit.
I feel as though my perseverance has been worth it! I feel like I am a welcomed and appreciated part of the maternity and delivery room team! Especially in the delivery room, which is where I spend most of my mornings. After a lot of observing and just following the nurses around to figure out where things went and what tasks had to be done when, I was finally able to take initiative in doing these tasks on my own. I really realized today how far I've come since my first week! I am right there with the nurses and doctor when the mom is crowning...I'm comforting her as they are, and I'm well aware of what's going on. When the baby is born, I take the baby. I either do the measurements, or I record. I'm needed there. They treat me as if I am staff. It's a wonderful feeling to feel like I'm a part of their team. I know what tasks need to be done, and it brings me joy to be able to finish these tasks before the other nurses get there. I am quick to clean the instruments, change the sheets, sterilize the beds, and update the records. I think that they appreciate my perseverance in learning how I can really be of help to them, and that they appreciate my willingness to help. The ones who used to roll their eyes when I asked them "Puedo ayudarle?" (Can I help you?) now smile at me. They are so much more willing to teach me things, to give me tasks to help with. And they all know my name. I can't even say how happy this makes me. And patients know my name too. When I take their vital signs, I am sure to introduce myself, to ask their name and to get to know them better. I go out of my way to see how someone is feeling, and to talk to them if they seem lonely. Often, these women are there for two or three days before having their c-sections or going into labour or being sent home. They actually seem to smile when they see me, or when I bother them with taking their vital signs. I'm finding that it's in these little successes - the smiles, the use of my name, the laughs at my questions and the time they take to make sure I understand - that bring me joy. I know now that no matter what happens for the next 3 weeks of this volunteer placement, I feel like I've somehow contributed. It may be in a small way, but I've helped in some small way at the very least.
Over two weeks ago, I approached the hospital director with the BaseCamp coordinator to see if I could have permission to observe a surgery. The answer was no. That simple. I understood completely, although I must admit I was a little disappointed that there was no hope of exploring that aspect of medicine during my time in Nicaragua.
Since then, I've become quite good friends with the director. I actually don't even think he remembered me from that time when we first met. He wasn't interested in me or why I was there. He was actually the one who hardly looked up from his paperwork. Now, he comes to see me every day in the delivery room. He speaks french, and loves that I do too. We always speak french together. He always has thoughtful advice for me, or an incredible story. He worked for Doctors Without Borders for 14 years, and he has a lot of wisdom to share. I admire his passion for humanitarianism above all.
When this doctor came to see me today, I decided to ask him again about seeing a surgery. I asked him if it would be at all possible for me to observe a surgery. I emphasized that I completely understood if it wasn't appropriate. He just smiled at me, and said "I'll send someone to get to for the very next c-section.". I was afraid to get my hopes up, simply because in Nica, everything runs on Nica time...
But sure enough, hardly 20 minutes later, someone came in to the delivery room calling my name. I was in the middle of cleaning something, but the nurses came and basically pushed me out the door, insisting that they would finish up what I was doing. I was more touched by the fact that they were so willing to help me have this opportunity than anything.
I changed into surgical scrubs...cloth booties, cap, face mask and all. The director was the one performing the c-section, along with 2 other doctors, and he welcomed me. He made sure to bring me a stool before starting the surgery, just in case I felt dizzy...
I was too amazed and curious to be dizzy! Right from the first cut, I forgot any fears I had and just became captivated by the surgery. How fast they worked, and how efficiently! The work itself is extremely tedious...they truly were masters of their instruments. Everything from the cuts to the stitches was done with such precision...it was honestly incredible to watch. The baby was born and healthy, but quickly taken away for measurements and clean-up and such.
The time from when the first incision was made to the time when they had the baby out was easily less than 5 minutes. The time from when the baby was born, to when the mom was fully stitched up was over 20. It became evident to me very quickly that getting the baby out was only the first step in the surgery...and just as everything in life, the damage is a lot more easily done than fixed. The incisions were quick, but the stitches took far, far, far more time and effort.
I could honestly not believe how little evidence there was that this woman had undergone surgery. Their stitches were so perfectly buried that when the thread was pulled taught, you could only see a faint line. Incredible.
After this surgery, I went in to observe another. They were resetting a broken elbow. It was fascinating to see the tendons and muscle and joint. They were drilling 8-10 inch long rods into the elbow are various angles. There were 4 separate rods sticking through this man's arm at one point. I had no idea what they were doing... They stitched back up his arm, and it was only then that I realized they were done their work. But how? This man had 4 rods sticking through his arm! I still don't know what happened...I didn't want to bother these preoccupied surgeons with pesky questions, and I figured google could help me out once I got home. So far, it hasn't given me any answers! We'll see...
My afternoon at the clinic was quieter than usual. I sat in on part of an HIV test, which was somewhat interesting. This part consisted of determining the patient's sexual history. I found I understood very little of their conversation, I think primarily because I was unfamiliar with the new words associated with sexual histories! haha
I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to see what I did today. Another little dream come true...
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