The Second Week of Work

This past week, I was in the VVF surgery room.  Basically, we were repairing fistulas.  This is a hole between either the vagina and the urethra or the rectum.  It forms because the women is in labor and needs a c-section because she cannot deliver the child at home, but can't get medical care for days and days, usually because she does not have money.  By then, the baby is dead and the woman has dead tissue that eventually forms a fistula.  So after the trauma of delivery, the woman leaks urine/stool 24 hours a day and usually gets abandoned by her family.  

This kind of surgery is fulfilling work, but makes for long and complicated work days.  Also, while the ORs are somewhat air conditioned, the gowns/sterile attire we wear when we are scrubbed in are super HOT (think triple reinforced).  It makes for long cases when you are literally dripping sweat and dizzy.  :)

I left out the bloody pictures for all you non-medical folks.  :)

I am settling on the ship nicely.  The ship no longer feels like it is moving.  I can tell we are moving when I look out a window, but my balance system no longer notes it.  I now know where everything pretty much is on the ship, however, I occasionally wander up a random staircase.  Work went very well this week.  There were some long, hot days, but I now have a general idea where things are and how things operate.  I am enjoying my time here.  There is something very rewarding to know you are changing lives forever.  And because of all the long days we put in this week, the VVF room staff got today (Friday) off, so we are going to the pool in a little while!  :)