"General" Surgeon

Here at Kudjip, I’m learning to be a truly general surgeon.

Some days, I’m an orthopedic surgeon: 

This young man came to us after a fall with a bad distal humerus fracture right at the elbow. Dr. Ben showed me how to pin and plate the complex fracture. It was surreal to see this bone protruding from our incision as we worked to piece together a somewhat normal anatomy.

Other days, I’m a pediatric surgeon: 

This baby boy was born in the village hours before being brought into the emergency room with his intestines protruding from his abdomen, a condition called gastroschisis. We took him to the operating room to remove the nonviable intestine and repair the defect. Without IV nutrition available, we are now praying that he will tolerate breast feeding.

The same day, this 8 month-old girl went to surgery for recurrent empyemas (pus in the chest) requiring a thoracotomy. Without a pediatric ICU we were worried how she would do post-operatively, but she has done great. Her mom was all smiles when she was transferred out of the surgical ward. 

Some days I’m an Obstetrician/Gynecologist:  delivering breech twins by c-section, excising cervical cancer, or dealing with the ugly aftermath of a ruptured, septic uterus after a botched village abortion (not pictured for everyone's sake).

Recently, I was a plastic surgeon: 

 This woman was chopped in the face by her own husband. I will never understand why domestic violence is so prevalent here, but many fights end with someone getting chopped by the ubiquitous machete, or bush knife as they are called in PNG (demonstrated here by one of the security guys on my last outing). 

Every day I am learning a new facet of missionary surgery under the tutelage of my partners, Dr. Jim and Dr. Ben, as well as visiting specialists. I am thankful for all that I have learned and experienced so far and for all that God continues to teach me day by day. Please continue to pray for our team as we work, for me as I learn, and our patients as they heal: physically, emotionally and spiritually.