Dr. Sawyer Serving with Samaritan's Purse

Dr. Sawyer Serving with Samaritan's Purse
Papua New Guinea

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The surgeon is in...

Tuesdays are surgery days and Dr. Jim and I were repairing eight of ten of the flexor tendons of the hand of a woman whose husbands second wife had nearly completely cut off the first wife's right hand.  If anyone thinks that polygamy is a good idea, they need to come to Kudjip Hospital to see the consequences of polygamy.

Half way through the two hour hand surgery, Dr. Stephanie came into the operating room to tell us that a woman just came into the labor ward in active labor with twins and that twin A was breech and twin B was transverse and that we needed to do a cesarean section.  We finished the hand surgery and 90 minutes later started the cesarean.

The operating theatre (as it is called here due to the British influence in PNG), was busy.  In this first picture you can see me holding up one of the twins, with the scrub nurse in the foreground, David the nurse anesthetist just to my right, Dr. Jim wearing his favorite red Ohio State scrub hat, and then the tallest of the group is our son Andrew, who had scrubbed into surgery for the very first time.
The nursery nurse was behind Andrew, so each time that I delivered the twins, I handed the babies to Andrew, and he turned around and handed the twins to the nursery nurse.  It sounded like a presidential press conference with all of the cameras clicking in the operating room (we had a lot of observers).  Andrew was very excited and it was the high point of his day...and mine, too!

6 comments:

  1. I am loving these reports! Blessings, Dr. Sawyer and crew, from Phoenix. Many of us are praying for you, and for the people God made and loves in Papua New Guinea. I do pray that every piece of wisdom and knowledge you impart to the medical community there will be held onto, for their long-term benefit. I also pray for those who must have Jesus.

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  3. So glad that you are having a better day! That last post was so hard to read....such a reality check that not all births are happy. How special that you and your son are sharing in this experience together! I will continue to pray for you and your team..... those people are very lucky to have YOU there to help them! Hoping this little girl waits for YOU..... I want you in the delivery room and no one else! :)

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  4. What an incredible experience for Andrew! I just cannot believe how grown-up he is...I still picture him in my first grade student-teaching class! What a blessing your family continues to be to me, even after so many years.

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  5. Twins!! I love twins!! Derrik wanted me to find out when you and your family will be coming through Brisbane and where you will be staying. He would love to see you all if he can. I hope you get this and can let me know. Enjoy serving! Angi Adams

    azadams@cox.net

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  6. What an amazing experience for Andrew and for you as well,Dr Sawyer! I am loving reading how awesome God is working through you and your family and how much of a blessing you all are to the people of PNG!!

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