Operation Walk Maryland

This past week I had the pleasure of working with another great group of people from the states.  This team from Operation Walk was 47 people from Maryland mostly, but also Chicago, Arkansas, Florida, California and New York.  We worked down in the south part of Quito at a charity hospital called Tierra Nueva.  We saw over 50 patients the first day and narrowed that down to the 30 patients we were able to operate on, many of which we planned bilateral knees on.  This was the second trip for this team from Maryland as they went last year to Lima, Peru. 

I feel so blessed that God has given me the opportunity to help the Ecuadorians in such a unique way, but also it has been a wonderful blessing for me to practice anesthesia with some of my fellow Americans.  I told Ken that when I sat there the first day and listened to the surgeons and nurses banter back and forth and include me in their conversations it really felt like home for me.

One thing I really want to share is how fun it was to take some of those first steps with patients after surgery.  I got to help this nice lady walk up and down the stairs for the first time after surgery.  She kept shaking her head and telling me she didn't think she could do it, but I said to her "Con Dios todo es posible!" (With God all things are possible!)  Sure enough she went down and back up again and to her delight she found that it truly was possible. 

I did want to give a shout out to my friends from Anesthesia Resources Management for sending the block books and blocking needles and monitors.  I cannot say how much of a life saver they were!  I wanted to show a picture of one of the bilateral knee patients that we were able to do bilateral blocks on so he could have a pain free night after surgery.  He was so very grateful.  He kept squeezing my hand and saying ,"Dios le pague" (May God repay you).  He and 29 other patients all demonstrated their gratitude for the care our team gave and we often humbly found ourselves suddenly being given roses, or a hug, or a round of applause by family when we would go outside the OR to get supplies or eat lunch.

I was reminded of how Jesus always met the physical needs of the people wherever he went because he knew that until the physical needs were met it was sometimes hard for the people to focus on the spiritual parts of their lives.  As more and more missions organizations move away from meeting medical needs I am glad that God has still given me opportunities to be a part of the work that is being done through non-profit organizations such as Operation Walk.  I had the privilege of sharing my faith with some of my patients and it was wonderful to see how many of them recognized God's hand in bringing them this healing through the people of Operation Walk. 

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16