Anger isn’t the word, but disappointment, frustration and disillusionment might be more adequate words in terms of conveying the emotions our team feels today. It seems that a doctor’s strike was scheduled weeks ago, and we were only recently made aware of this information. Essentially, the country has gone on a doctor’s strike and most health care workers have abandoned post. It’s been quite sad, luckily, we have an awesome team and have been staying until late at night sanitizing our own surgical supplies, buying meds for our patients and enticing doctors to say, unfortunately our efforts have been fruitless.
Two days into the doctor’s strike coupled with an anticipated anesthesiology strike that would directly affect our ability to operate, the urgency of getting as many cases as possible on the docket is crystal clear. With a lofty goal of 10 surgeries scheduled today there was no time for morning pleasantries as the physicians headed to the OR at 7am in hopes of helping as many patients as possible, there was no time to spare and it was all hands-on deck.
Simultaneously in the clinic setting, Dr. Ryan Kotton had a schedule filled with eager patients needing trigger point injections, corticosteroid injections and botox. However, a mini dilemma presented itself when we lost our translator Benon. With only two Lugandan words in our arsenal, noshasha (pain) and yoroba (relax) panic was about to take over when a very nice medical student walked into clinic in her search for another department. Luckily for us she spoke English and she offered to assist, disaster averted!
Dr. Kotton was super excited to have this impressionable student in his clinic and he took full advantage of the opportunity to teach her how to evaluate imaging and techniques for administering injections. What an amazing opportunity for this young student to learn from a world-renowned physician.
Dr. Kotton was super excited to have this impressionable student in his clinic and he took full advantage of the opportunity to teach her how to evaluate imaging and techniques for administering injections. What an amazing opportunity for this young student to learn from a world-renowned physician.
Have you ever been to a doctor’s office as an adult where you were offered a lollipop prior to getting a procedure done? Well, you have never seen Dr. Ryan Kotton, his charismatic personality transcended culture in Mbarara as his patients simply fell in love with him. He offered them “special medicine” prior to the procedure and the smiles on the faces of our patients were priceless. In return he received hugs and deepest appreciation for changing their lives in a positive way. Everyone wanted to take a picture with him to show their appreciation, it was an amazing sight to see. If you saw a patient walking around Mbarara hospital with a sucker, you know for sure that they just saw Dr. Ryan Kotton 😊
This image is one of true focus and determination, one that transcends the constrictions of social and political constraints. This is the focus of our leader demonstrating to her team that if we can think outside of the box, be resourceful, and work together we can accomplish great things for others. Today we finished nine out of the ten scheduled surgical cases, Dr. Perry was a Rockstar!! And again, that is not a biased opinion, simply one based in fact.
The completion of 9 out of 10 cases was a remarkable accomplishment and the largest amount of surgical case any team has ever done. Fusions, discectomies, laminectomies, decompressions all successful from the surgical standpoint. It was an excruciatingly long day both clinically and surgically and we were not yet finished as all instrumentation needed to be washed, packed and sterilized before leaving the hospital.
Who needs sleep? Surely not us! As the last case was being completed the team outside of the OR band together to wash instruments, pack them and prepare them for sterilization. As novices to this process we all watched the process intently and Dr. Socci, Pamela, Cindy and myself did what was necessary to make the day a success from beginning to end.
Can you say tired? Never has it been truer that a picture is worth a thousand words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who needs sleep? Surely not us! As the last case was being completed the team outside of the OR band together to wash instruments, pack them and prepare them for sterilization. As novices to this process we all watched the process intently and Dr. Socci, Pamela, Cindy and myself did what was necessary to make the day a success from beginning to end.
Can you say tired? Never has it been truer that a picture is worth a thousand words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After more than 12 hours of work, Dr. Perry and Dr. Kotton ordered us all dinner, we ate as a team, discussed our day and headed up to bed as we had another long day ahead of us on Wednesday.
***If you are ever in Mbarara Uganda, we strongly recommend Café Havana it’s delicious and a great big thank you to Dr. Tiffany Perry for teaching us that the Waze app works in virtually every country, your genius knows no limit 😊……… Good night, until tomorrow!
***If you are ever in Mbarara Uganda, we strongly recommend Café Havana it’s delicious and a great big thank you to Dr. Tiffany Perry for teaching us that the Waze app works in virtually every country, your genius knows no limit 😊……… Good night, until tomorrow!
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