What's Up Doc...

My apologies to anyone reading this post with a weak stomach, but I wanted to share what surgery is like here in PNG.  This photo is of an ovary and those are my hands in the photo.  The amazing thing is that I have removed four ovaries like this in just one week.

Yesterday in the clinic I saw a young woman who had traveled ten hours to see me.  She is a student at a bible college and the government hospital where she lives has closed it's operating room six months ago.  Just a few years ago the government hospital was a thriving 350 bed hospital with subspecialists in nearly every specialty.  Now for the most part the hospital is barely functioning as a clinic.  She too has a large ovarian tumor that I will operate on in a few weeks.  Patients are now traveling enormous distances from what would be considered major cities to come to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea just to seek care.  Perhaps those of us in America should take note of what happens to healthcare when the government takes over the healthcare system.

This past week I cared for two women who had ruptured their bag of water prematurely.  There is a balance between risking infection verses the risks of prematurity in making the decision of whether to deliver or to wait.  Both patients delivered this week, and both babies are doing well and are going home with their mamas.  We were so grateful that our prayers were answered.  Life is so much different here, and so fragile.