Last Full Day of Surgery

Last night, Honduras beat El Salvador in a soccer match qualifying them for a World Cup spot (with the help of the US who tied Costa Rica) for the first time since 1982! We could hear cheering late into the night.

Although Abigail's heart was broken when Myrah was discharged, she did recover when she discovered another friend from Sunday's clinic in the ward for surgery today. This is Scarlett Juliette who is having surgery on her right elbow to correct a poorly healed fracture in the past.

Abigail enjoyed playing Mr. Potatohead with Scarlett, acting as an unofficial child life helper.

Because we had some time in the morning, we brought our laptop down to show videos to the kids again. The loved Scooby Doo and Pink Panther. Otherwise there is absolutely nothing to do while waiting for surgery or recovering from it.

While the girls were watching videos, I assembled the four shower shelf towers that our family brought as a gift to the hospital. They look very nice with the help of some extra woodwork by handyman Dedo-- and now the patients and OR team won't have to keep the soap on the floor.

Later in the morning Ruth us back to the Integrar school for Down Syndrome to see the children Lillian's age-- but the school was not in session because the president declared it a national holiday after the soccer team won last night. We did visit some more with the administrator Victoria who explained that they have the land and the foundation built for the amazing new school building-- but they need to raise an additional $100,000 to match a donation from the Japanese embassy.

We got back just in time for a lunch of a light bean broth with pork and veggies and a plantain with a plate of rice and pineapple-orange juice. Of course, both girls loved it. Abigail suggested that we get a Honduran cook for our house.

No surgery photos for today-- but one of Jay's surgeries was particularly tough. He did a lot of dissecting of a teenaged boy's forearm trying to release a contracture that prevented good hand function. After a long time of searching for the tight tendon, he had success! This is the tiny surgery lounge.

And here is the big room that leads to the two ORs.

What do we do while Daddy operates? Watch some TV and play games and work on projects up in our living area (very hot with only fans and no AC which is only in our bedrooms), visit with kids in the clinic waiting area and on the ward. Here is Abigail practicing piano on the hospital keyboard.

Because we don't leave the compound unless we are accompanied by a Honduran, I packed both girls' scooters so they can ride around the compound on the paved walks. It has, however, been very handy for this trip to be so close to Daddy and have access to all the things we brought from home since we are just staying upstairs from the clinic and ORs.

Here is Lillian playing with a little girl in the waiting area.

This evening, our anesthesiologist Sally Green took us all out for dinner at a seafood restaurant Linda Mar. From the left, Lillian, Vanderbilt med student Jared O'Leary, Danny and Ruth Castro (spiritual director and executive director of CURE Honduras), Warren Terry (ped ortho surgeon here for four months), and Abigail and Jay.

From left: Penn State med student Gary Updegrove, Sally Green, Cindy and Bill DeMuth.

We hit the jackpot with two excellent and fun med students who are adored by our girls. Here they are with Jared from Vanderbilt.

Abigail with Danny Castro.

And Abigail totally asleep at the end of dinner and being carried out by Gary.