Surgery Update

So today was the big day for Blessing. We traveled to Firestone Hospital (Duside Hospital) at 7AM to have Blessing there and ready for the team here from Children's Surgery International (CSI) and Smile Train. The team arrived last Friday. Had two days for screening Saturday and Sunday, and have been performing surgeries since Monday. When we originally talked to the doctors back in September they were hoping to perform 60-70 surgeries in 4.5 days. In an unofficial count by one of the staff they are estimated to have performed 130+ surgeries by the time the pack up tomorrow about noon (to catch their flight out tomorrow evening). So many hernias, cleft lips and other problems fixed.

So without further ado...here are a couple final pictures of Blessing while waiting in the pre-op room.

After getting her ankle IV. Does she look nervous?

While waiting during her procedure, I took a few pictures around the hospital. You know you aren't in Washington anymore when the satellite dishes are pointed straight up.

A picture on the wall outside the surgery theaters of the rooms during the civil war...

The first picture post-op. She wasn't real happy, but after being cut on and not eating for over 12 hours we all get a little fussy.

After a bottle and a little time to relax in the pediatric ward. She still has more surgeries in her future for her palate and nose, but an incredible job to fix her lip.

So many other children there. It was such a joy to get to interact and play with them. This little one knocked a large pot of boiling oil onto herself a little over a month ago. Despite the serious burns over much of her body she is slowly healing and had a good time with the CSI nurses and staff.

The Ped ward we were in at Firestone...very nice.

A couple other surgery recipients resting.

Blessing resting.

Couldn't pass up an opportunity to take a picture of an odd construction. It looks like the toilet flange was a little too close to the wall so they sunk the toilet into the wall.

From left to right: Dr. Keith Chapman (assisted with Blessing's surgery), some woman in the hallway who wanted her picture taken, and Dr. Kofi Boahene. Kofi was born in Ghana but currently works with Johns Hopkins and was the surgeon for Blessing's operation. Thank you Kofi and the rest of the CSI/Smile Team.

And one final picture of the scenery on the way to Firestone Hospital on the Firestone rubber plantation. If you kinda squint you might think they are grape vines in Napa.
Thank you for all your prayers.