7/7/98: More photography in the OR today. First was a wound exploration on a TEV patient…
NOTE: I am reluctant to post any of the photos I took in the surgical unit at AIC Kijabe Hospital due to privacy concerns. The free stock photo above by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash
7/7/23: Bill J., who was serving at AIC Kijabe Hospital as a physio-therapist, explained to me just how meaningful these reconstructive surgeries can be for these children. He said it was not unusual for parents in rural and poor parts of Kenya to reject or even discard children born with congenital deformities. He described seeing the looks of relief on their faces when the parents see the casts come off of corrected limbs. It was only then that any measure of acceptance was expressed to the child. By reconstructing limbs, this hospital ministry is reconstructing lives and families.
The next surgery was a skin graft on a burn victim, a young child who had bad scarring from having stumbled into a village campfire. Watching and photographing a skin graft was particularly interesting. It was like watching a puzzle be created then put together. The surgeon traced the shape of the wound to be covered on a piece of gauze, overlayed it on the patient’s upper thigh and marked out the shape there. He then delicately peeled off a layer of skin from the thigh in the exact shape he wanted and sutured it into place over the wound. This is possible because the spot that the graft is taken from completely regenerates the skin leaving no scar. These doctors do amazing work.