Bangladesh 2013 - Final Day

Friday, January 25, 2013

Final Day

This morning a few CSI team members returned to the hospital to do the final round of discharging patients, and make sure we had all of our supplies packed up. When they got back to the hotel, we loaded up our bus, and were on the road back to Dhaka shortly after 8 AM. Thankfully, we had a much shorter bus ride than last year's team (21 hours due to the holiday Eid), and arrived safely at the Dhaka Regency around 3:30 PM, with time to relax before dinner.

Dhaka sunset from the rooftop of the Dhaka Regency Hotel.

The RCMC Hospital CEO, his wife, and other guests came to the hotel's Restaurant to have a delicious buffet dinner with us on our last evening together in Bangladesh.

CSI Team Members with the RCMC Hospital's CEO, and other guests.

One side of the dessert buffet.

It was a bittersweet dinner as we all began to say our farewells. In the morning, about half of the group will be traveling further south to Chittagong for a few days on the beach before returning to the States. The rest of the team has been invited over to Raj's family's home for lunch before heading to the airport.

All in all, we had a fantastic and very successful trip thanks to all of the RCMC Hospital staff and administration, the people of Bangladesh who have assisted us along the way, the CSI team members here in Bangladesh, and support from everyone at home.

Bangladesh 2013 - Surgery Day 5

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Surgery - Day 5

Today was our last day of surgery, and finished up the last 8 cleft lips on our schedule.  It was a hectic day as we had to simultaneously had to operate, finish CPR training, pack up the ORs and all of our supplies, and say our goodbyes to all the hospital staff we had worked so closely with throughout the week.

Dee,  Judy, and Donna with OR Nurses.

Kathryn and a fast friend.

Celeste, Andrew, Danielle, Rangpur surgeon, and OR tech.

We will also miss the creative energy of all the patients and their siblings livening up the ward.

It was tough to let go. Heather, Norie, Saira, and Aliza transitioned care of the remaining post-operative patients to the RCMC hospital nurses during their final night before discharge.

Heather handing over the reins to RCMC hospital nurses.

As the CSI team began to finish up at the hospital, a few decided to go on another rickshaw tour of Rangpur.  We got a great feel for the city, and they took us to the Rangpur Zoo. The Zoo had a beautiful park, and a wide variety of animals, however we noticed some cultural differences in how locals interact with the exhibits.

Jesse preparing for the rickshaw tour.

Entrance to the Rangpur Zoo

Six Inches from becoming a viral YouTube hit, "Man Swallowed By Hippo At Rangpur Zoo" - Danielle

We wrapped up the evening with a ceremony to recognize all of the hospital staff and administration's hard work throughout the week. We handed out certificates of appreciation and certificates for completing CPR training, in addition to holding a raffle. The big hit of the night were the traditional Bangla folk dances that ended with the entire CSI team awkwardly joining in. It was definitely a highlight of the week to all watching.

Nancy and OR friends.

Danielle, Celeste, and ward nurses

Dody getting a big hug from her CPR students.

Presenting CPR certificates.

Fazly presenting a raffle prize.

Traditional Bangla folk dance.

Traditional Bangla folk dance.

Traditional Bangla folk dance.

Traditional Bangla folk dance.

The whole team joins in, led by Celeste.

Donna and some young performers.

Jesse and the ladies.

We ended the evening with a dinner back at our hotel (RDRS) with a select few hospital administrators. It has been a long, but very rewarding week. Tomorrow we sadly will begin our travels home too soon.

Bangladesh 2013 - Surgery Day 4

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Surgery - Day 4

This morning, we started off with a hearty breakfast of bananas, shuzi (a porridge), luchi (fired puffed bread), alu bhaji (a spiced hashbrown dish), rolls, omelets, cha (tea), coffee, and an interesting assortment of juices. And then headed to the hospital for another full day of cleft lip and palate surgeries.

 Dr. Saira hard at work in the PACU.

Throughout the day, our CSI Team has had endless opportunities to bond with the hospital staff, surgical patients, and their families.

Nurse Norie and local ward nurses.

Nurse Dody comforting a baby in post-op.

Nurse Anesthetist Danielle getting a patient ready for surgery.

Kathryn making new friends in the ward.

Nurse Dody saying goodbye to a dental student she has known for two years.

Nurse Donna getting a child ready for surgery, before the IV went in.

Calming down babies after surgery.

Nurse Dee and patient bonding in pre-op.

Father and son reunited after surgery.

A farewell hug between Dr. Saira and a Bangla colleague.

On our way home from the hospital, instead of the usual walk or van ride, some of our staff decided to take a tour of Rangpur via rickshaw.

 

Tomorrow is the last day of surgery, and will be one of the busiest yet. After surgery we will quickly pack up, have a celebration with the hospital staff and prepare to return to Dhaka the following morning.

Bangladesh 2013 - Surgery Day 3

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Surgery - Day 3

We woke up bright and early this morning, and found ourselves in the Nationwide section of the Rangpur newspaper!

CSI Team Members pictured in the Rangpur newspaper from our screening day on Saturday during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Then we were off to the hospital to begin our day.  All week we have been working on the 5th floor of the Rangpur Community Medical College Hospical, where we were able to have pre-op, two OR rooms, storage, post-op, PACU, and the ward all in one area for our convenience.

A view from the RCMC Hospital roof of where we were working (the third row of windows from the ground).

Washed surgical gloves drying on the rooftop.

As our day began, Nurse Dody continued her CPR class for the local nurses and staff, who completed their training.

Nurse Dody and her nursing students after completing CPR training this morning.

Dr. Tim, Dr. Andrew, and Dr. Raj continued surgeries today, completing 7 operations including a mix of cleft lips, palates, and one facial cleft. Everyone was excited as local surgeons began successfully performing surgeries of their own.

Dr. Tim teaches and assists a local surgeon through a cleft palate surgery.

A surgical team approach to a facial cleft operation.

This little piggy...

Dr. Raj and Dr. Tim enjoying some tunes.

A surgery never went without a full team of scrub nurses, OR nurses, and other staff excited to learn.

On the ward, the floor nurses and pediatricians held a discharge meeting with all of the parents of the children ready to head home. They answered questions and addressed any concerns the parents had, and also explained medications and proper home care to ensure the comfort of the kids.

Aliza, Dr. Jesse, Dr. Saira, Nurse Norie, and Nurse Heather meeting with the parents.

Ready to go home!

There's no one like mom.

A fathers love for his daughter.

Excited to go home with new toys.

Exhausted from a long day, we returned from the hospital, had a delicious dinner, and fell quickly asleep.