There is a girl from Nigeria, sixteen years old, who we have been expecting and were told was coming last week. She is one of the few patients who we know will go to the ICU straight from surgery because she would likely need a tracheostomy due to the tumors occluding her airway. All the nurses were asked to start praying for her last week and we were told her name is Esther. She is a special case because she will be getting both a mandibulectomy and a maxillectomy because her facial tumors have been growing in both places. They started when she was 3 months old and now she is sixteen.
Yesterday my roomate and I went outside on the dock and stopped by the admissions tent while we were waiting for one of the jeeps to arrive so we could visit the Hope Center. We started talking to some of the patients and then my roomate immediately put two and two together and noticed Esther. She immediately said Esther, your name is Esther right!? She told her we have been waiting for you and praying for your surgery and are so glad you're here. Esther smiled and gave us both hugs. Since she's from Nigeria she could speak English which was very very nice. We talked to her for awhile and found out she has a very large family with six siblings. She was wearing a very pretty dress and flower flip flops with a colorful scarf around her face. She said she couldn't wait to go inside the ship and we assured her it shouldn't be too much longer. They just had to clear out the other patients and clean her bed. Later on in the night my bunkmate and I peaked in the wards to say a quick hello and wish her well for her surgery.
So right now she is still in the OR getting worked on by Dr. Gary who just had his 60th birthday a couple days ago. I was told that the mandibulectomy went well and now they're working on the maxillectomy which is more complex. She's been in everyones prayers all day and I can't wait to see her after surgery and talk with her in English. I work four nightshifts starting this weekend and hopefully will get to have her as my patient.
Yesterday my roomate and I went outside on the dock and stopped by the admissions tent while we were waiting for one of the jeeps to arrive so we could visit the Hope Center. We started talking to some of the patients and then my roomate immediately put two and two together and noticed Esther. She immediately said Esther, your name is Esther right!? She told her we have been waiting for you and praying for your surgery and are so glad you're here. Esther smiled and gave us both hugs. Since she's from Nigeria she could speak English which was very very nice. We talked to her for awhile and found out she has a very large family with six siblings. She was wearing a very pretty dress and flower flip flops with a colorful scarf around her face. She said she couldn't wait to go inside the ship and we assured her it shouldn't be too much longer. They just had to clear out the other patients and clean her bed. Later on in the night my bunkmate and I peaked in the wards to say a quick hello and wish her well for her surgery.
So right now she is still in the OR getting worked on by Dr. Gary who just had his 60th birthday a couple days ago. I was told that the mandibulectomy went well and now they're working on the maxillectomy which is more complex. She's been in everyones prayers all day and I can't wait to see her after surgery and talk with her in English. I work four nightshifts starting this weekend and hopefully will get to have her as my patient.
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