Mission Accomplished--Ecuador!

Whew! Returned to the US late Thursday evening with my mind still reeling from the past weeks' events in Ecuador. We were able to operate on 30 patients, replacing 39 of their joints even a few bilateral knees done at the same time! Everyone did very well except for one man who remained in the hospital a couple more days due to some medical problems...the rest discharged either day 3 or 4! The mission went well, quite chaotic, but very well due to some real dedicated nurses, doctors, therapists and volunteers! The interpreters were pulled every which way but always rose to the occasion to translate for the patients, families and health care providers.
My stamina was really put to the test. Very long 12-14 hours days, 5 days in a row--and doing actual patient care which I hadn't encountered for years! I am quite proud of the work I did; and the patients were so appreciative. Their self-efficacy was amazing--these folks were so eager to test out their new joints, most often walking to the bathroom just hours after their surgery.
The country of Ecuador was really quite beautiful--such a diverse topography; jungle, mountains, oceans and coutryside/city and we didn't even get to the Galapagos Islands! We did however enjoyed two brief afternoon excursions. First to colonial Quito and the museum and secondly to Mital del Mundo--center of the Earth--the acutal Equator! Really cool.
My sleeping was really off, didn't get much of it. No time to wind down so by mid week I was really a zombie, but somehow pulled through till the end. Not exercising at all didn't help the cause either. Been sleeping 12-13 hour nights with 1-2 hour naps daily since I've been home.
I'm still quite amazed how my new hip held up during all this stress. By the end of the mission I was slightly achey there, which considering the week's conditions wasn't bad at all. Amazing--how these prosthesis really work...and you can count on me to keep putting it to the test!

Gearing up for the Book Club & Ecuador!

Big week ahead...better get pumped up! First of all just celebrated my 10 month anniversay since my hip replacement and all is still going great! My Book Club, Better Health by the Book is meeting tomorrow evening at 7pm at Greetings & Readings and 40 people are registered to attend! I am excited--just love meeting all of these new vibrant people with such a zeal for life!

And on Thursday, January 14th I leave for Quito, Ecuador for my second mission with Operation Walk Maryland. This year, my role as a floor nurse will take me back to the old days when I worked on the orthopedic floor caring for fresh total hip/knee replacement patients. I am very excited to be back at the bedside especially for such a crippled, underpriveleged population that we are about to serve. No worries this year though, with regard to my stamina, fatigue and pain because those troubles are over the bridge since my hip surgery! Can't wait to share my stories upon my return on January 25. Until then....