Good
news! Our ICU received a Recognition and
Appreciation Certificate from the administration for a remarkable performance
in 2016. What a rewarding feeling to be part of the cardiac center ICU as a Lay
Mission-Helper! This was announced to us during our recent ICU meeting. We will
have a group picture when most of us are more or less around as there are
nurses who are on their annual leave.
The
sad news is our very first patient who had open heart surgery last January and
recovered miraculously in ICU passed away about three weeks after his transfer
to the post-surgical ward. This was due to complications. At least I have
witnessed the miracle of God’s work on a patient in ICU who the doctors thought
there is nothing that can be done for him to live. Practically all of us who
took care of him in ICU had a feeling of satisfaction and enthusiasm every time
we came to work. (patient had a history of HIV)
We
are working this month with a short-term anesthesiologist from Italy who
is assisting our local cardiac surgeon
in operating on adult cardiac cases. Our future pediatric mission operation
will be in June 2017.
During
our ICU meeting one of the topics we discussed was about bedsores prevention
and I was able to share my experience about it. I am finding out more
information about the current approach in preventing its occurrence to
bedridden patients from my former colleagues at Kaiser. Sr. Honorine, my
supervisor in ICU, requested to find out the type of medical equipment that is being
used now in California hospitals in preventing bedsores so she knows what to
order here in Cameroon.
