Obviously this experience has shown and taught me a whole lot. One of the most notable is the strength and resiliency of people who do not have much. While the care we give is certainly somewhat different than we are used to in the U.S., one marked difference is the kids. They are tough, sweet, and incredibly eager to listen to instructions...the same goes for the families.
The most notable story is the 1 1/2 year old with a terrible cleft lip and palate who was extubated day 1 following a VSD repair and soon thereafter eating toast, porridge and milk - all with a massive cleft lip/palate. No special nipples, no gentle feeding - take the toast, and eat it. Darwin's law...the strong survive.
I clearly am not so strong. I am exhausted - days start at 7:30, and we are not home until nearly midnight....day after day. Resources limited, culture different, and we are all beat...not so tough, sweet, or eager as the patients we are treating...but we already knew that.
Klugs
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