Uganda Spine Surgery Mission - Team 3 Day 2

We met up with the Team Two to head to the hospital after enjoying a much needed breakfast. We all pilled on the bus headed to the hospital, filled with excitement. When we get to the hospital, team two began explaining what things we needed to expect during our week here in Uganda. Team Two then starts their last case of their trip, while Dr. Holman and his team head to the clinic to start seeing patients. Dr. Shane Birch created a charting program just for the Uganda mission trip. In previous missions, progress notes were done on scratch paper. With this new program we were able to document assessments, upload exam and radiology photos, and then chart postoperatively on surgical patients. It was an amazing new tool for the mission. 

We quickly learned that a lollipop will always produce a smile on our patients faces even during some scary moments. One of our first pediatric patients was a 7 year old boy named Javita. He has kyphotic congenital scoliosis, and was quickly put down as a potential surgical patients after getting orders for new X-rays and CT scans. 

One of our patients was the very nice Reverend Bwambara. This 54 year old man was diagnosed with a intradural tumor that was putting pressure on his spinal cord therefore, creating progressive weakness on his right side of his body. Without the help of Dr. Holman and his team, he could potentially become paralyzed in the future. Even in the United States, these types of procedures are very risky. Dr. Holman would have to preform this surgery without a microscope or his normal equipment. Dr. Holman was up for the challenge and we put him on the schedule for surgery. 

Dr. Holman, Zain and Rebecca looking at films. 

The next patient to steal our hearts was Innocent. This 9 year old boy, was extremely scared of the team, but quickly warmed up after Rebecca gave him three lollipops. Like Javita, Innocent has hyperkyphotic congenital scoliosis. According to his mother, the extreme curvature of his back was only getting worse. After a careful examination of both Innocent and his radiology films, he was placed on the surgical schedule. 

Patients came from all over Uganda to see Dr. Holman and his team. Over 40 patients were seen in clinic. Some patients came for new problems, some were previous surgical patients needing to be seen for their yearly checkup, and some patient just needed a prescription for medication. Everyone was excited with the potential surgery schedule. After an intense clinic day, we make our way back to the hotel, but first needed to stop by the store to pick up some much needed supplies and enough water to last us a couple of days. The store is known as the Nakumut, similar to a Ugandan Walmart.  It has everything from groceries to large appliances.

After the successful shopping experience,we headed back to the hotel for dinner. Zain and Michelle decided to be adventures and order the whole fish platter. It was big enough to feed a small army!  Shortly after dinner, we tucked in for the night knowing we had two surgeries scheduled for our first day in the OR. 

Quote of the day: Dr. Paul Holman quote for the trip " One Mission, Three Samosas, Two Tucker's and NO Cipro!"