Today was
the first non-surgical day since arriving in Guatemala. After three and a half days of
operating, the team was able to replace 63 hip and knee joints! The operating room staff took great
pride in the long hours worked and the number of Guatemalan people they
helped. However, there was no rest
for the weary as they had to re-pack all of the surgical equipment and implants
to ship back to be used by another Operation Walk team on a future trip.
The operating room staff
prepares to load and ship leftover equipment.
With the
surgeries completed, the primary task became focusing on the post-operative
care of the patients. The surgeons
made rounds on all the patients they had operated on over the last few days.
Dr. Mike Weiss and Duane
Chess check on a patient.
Many hugs
and handshakes were exchanged because the patients were so grateful and
appreciative time that the doctors and other team members gave to help them.
Dr. Tony DiGioia greets
a patient.
Incisions
were checked...
Tracy Brnusak and Janice
Harmon check an incision.
...and all
dressings were replaced with clean bandages.
Tom Maidens changes a
dressing.
This
afternoon team members were finally able to explore the quaint town of Antigua
and its many unique shops and picturesque views.
Antigua,
Guatemala
Although
the hours have been long, there isn't a single team member who hasn't been
touched by the kindness and gratitude shown by the people here (and more than a
few team members have also been touched by a bit of "upset stomach" associated
with travel to foreign countries!).
Tomorrow
will be another busy day of post-operative care, along with multiple physical
therapy sessions, in preparation of sending patients home to begin a new life
free of hip and knee pain.
Each one
of the Operation Walk Pittsburgh team members extends thoughts to friends and
loved ones back home. They can't
wait to see all of everyone in a few days and to give a firsthand account of
all the wonderful things that were seen and done here.
But for
now... we say Adios!from Antigua, Guatemala.
Antigua, Guatemala
Today was the first non-surgical day since arriving in Guatemala. After three and a half days of operating, the team was able to replace 63 hip and knee joints! The operating room staff took great pride in the long hours worked and the number of Guatemalan people they helped. However, there was no rest for the weary as they had to re-pack all of the surgical equipment and implants to ship back to be used by another Operation Walk team on a future trip.
With the surgeries completed, the primary task became focusing on the post-operative care of the patients. The surgeons made rounds on all the patients they had operated on over the last few days.
Dr. Mike Weiss and Duane Chess check on a patient.
Many hugs and handshakes were exchanged because the patients were so grateful and appreciative time that the doctors and other team members gave to help them.
Dr. Tony DiGioia greets a patient.
Incisions were checked...
Tracy Brnusak and Janice Harmon check an incision.
...and all dressings were replaced with clean bandages.
Tom Maidens changes a dressing.
This afternoon team members were finally able to explore the quaint town of Antigua and its many unique shops and picturesque views.
Antigua, Guatemala
Although the hours have been long, there isn't a single team member who hasn't been touched by the kindness and gratitude shown by the people here (and more than a few team members have also been touched by a bit of "upset stomach" associated with travel to foreign countries!).
Tomorrow will be another busy day of post-operative care, along with multiple physical therapy sessions, in preparation of sending patients home to begin a new life free of hip and knee pain.
Each one of the Operation Walk Pittsburgh team members extends thoughts to friends and loved ones back home. They can't wait to see all of everyone in a few days and to give a firsthand account of all the wonderful things that were seen and done here.
But for now... we say Adios!from Antigua, Guatemala.
Antigua, Guatemala