Saturday

Saturday March 5

The administration at JFK wants us to be as busy as possible, so they arranged with the OR to have staff available for us to work today. Originally we were goingto do just one case, but we were convinced to do three. So we started this morning with a hypospadius repair on a 4 year old boy; it was likely a traumatic hypospadius from his circumcision. Konneh did it with Yuk and I was quite impressed with his technique; afterwards I asked him if he would like a pair of loupes, and he was really quite excited about that !, so I will arrange for a HEARTT volunteer to bring them over to him when we get back. The next case was an unfortunate 37 year old woman who was thought to have a recto vaginal fistula from childbirth 2 years ago, but she turns out to have a huge cancer which has destroyed her recto vaginal septum. Dr Jallah asked us to see her, and we recommended a palliative colostomy just to make hygiene a bit easier. We also biopsies to mass to see if it is rectal, cervical, or cloacogenic. The final case was an inguinal hernia which we finished around 3.

We then went to the dorm for lunch, which was brought over by the staff from the Guest House. We had a nice lunch, and I had the opportunity to chat for a long time with Dr. McDonald about a variety of subjects. One of the ladies on staff at the Guest House asked Dr McDonald if she could arrange for her husband to see me about a growth on his face/neck; I will see him on Monday. She also said that JFK could advertise our presence on the radio, but I think we have plenty to do as it is, so I don't think we need an advertising campaign !

After that we came back to the Guest House and had a nap. Later on we decided that we would meet some of the other HEARTT people for dinner at Sajj, a Lebanese restaurant near the hospital. Since Dewalt is driving Adamah to Freetown, we needed to find a way to get to Sajj. I called Señora, who said that Adamah had told her that a guy named Alfred would be our driver while Dewalt was away. She tried to contact Alfred, but was not able to get a response; she thought his phone was turned off. So, at her suggestion, we decided to walk up to the end of the lane and ask the security guards to get us a taxi. Outside the President's house, we told one of the Special Security Service agents of this plan, which she nixed immediately. She explained that we were guests of the President, and as such they would take care of us. So within a few minutes we had a vehicle, a driver, and another agent who sat in the restaurant (at a discrete distance) while we ate. It seemed like they made a much bigger deal out of it than was really necessary, but then again it is not unreasonable that they don't want to take chances. It was a good meal and good company, so it all worked out in the end.