nine course meal and a new ward

For the greater part of the outreach we've had a local surgeon, Dr. James, working alongside and training with the legendary Dr. Gary Parker in oral-facial surgeries.

A couple weekends ago he so graciously invited the OR and Ward staff to his beautiful home for dinner. And boy were we in for a treat! Nine courses and two glasses of wine later... no joke!! The courses included drinks, nuts, bread, sausage rolls, salad, the main dish with grilled pig, ice cream, sweet bread, and fresh fruit. The food kept coming and coming. :-)

Highlights of the evening included praise worship and dance with the band, hearing Dr. James express his gratitude, and (I'm not going to lie) the wine :-). We were recipients of such generosity and hospitality from Dr. James and his lovely wife. It was an enjoyable and memorable evening had by all. We were blessed.

The picture above is with Dr. Christophe in tribute to our morning rounds together in the land of max-fax in D ward. A couple weeks ago Ali and I switched wards for the remainder of the outreach. Time for a change of scenery :-) I will admit, it took a little getting used to :-) No more mandibulectomies, cleft palates, and pharyngoplasties for me. It will always feel a little like "my ward." I now work with little people with cleft lip and cataract repairs, mixed with a few bigger people for things like thyroidectomies.

Emergency airway kits replace NG bags above the beds, and so many small cutie patooties with whisker-like bandages over their repaired lip, or shields over their eyes, now fill the beds. Lots of snuggles and kisses to go around. Love those "little mouses!" Oh, and I mustn't forget the noise level either. Its about three times the decibel of D ward. :-)

Life is good.