A Weekend to Reflect

I was on call Saturday. In my pocket were the keys for hte OR and a pager attached to my belt in case there should be a need to return to surgery with one of our post op patients. The only restriction was that I needed to remain aboard ship. Many of the others chartered a small boat to one of the surrounding islands and in a 40 minute trip with only a little bailing of water, they arrived safely. Shortly after their arrival they had some locals take orders of fish for lunch. It would seem that they then went to catch the fish that had been ordered. It took several hours before their lunch arrived but all were able to finish before the small boat left for the port.

I spent a few hours on Deck 8 in the African sun. A little reading, a short nap, some visiting with some surgical colleagues, and some realxing at Starbuck's in the evening.

Today, I spent some time reflecting on my time here and tried to write some suggestions to consider for enhancing the surgical progam aboard the ship as well as some ideas for their next initiative where Mercy Ships will be mentoring local physicians and training health care providers with additional skills to use in their local hospitals.

A few hours this afternoon were spent at the Riviera Hotel. They allow Mercy Ships staff to enjoy their pool and facilities as long as we buy some food or soft drinks at the restaurant. One of our shipmates felt as though we were in the midst of a spy novel. there was an interesting mix of African, Libyan, Mediterranean, Chinese, and English sitting in an open restaurant with Middle Eastern music playing, "hooka" pipes and cigarette smoke wafting across the cement floor while a few others lounged in the pool. Felt like an Indiana Jones movie.

A remarkable change saw our lady form Tuesday and Wednesday vastly improved today. She ventured to Deck 6 to sit with other ward patients in the sunshine soaking up the warmth of an African afternoon. Amazing!

The slates are set for tomorrow and several staff have returned home and a few more are to be welcomed at the staff meeting after breakfast. A new week ahead, a ward full of expectant patients looking forward to the possibility for surgery.