All the surgical patients arrive the night before surgery. Prior to this they have been through a screening process by the Bolivian Clinic doctor and Cindy. They have meet all the necessary criteria. There are hundreds of patients on the waiting list to have surgery.
Once they arrive at the clinic they sit in a waiting room and hear the story of Jesus. After this they are talked to by the surgeon and anestheologist who will do there surgery and anesthesia. Then they are taken to their room or mattress in the hall if all the room beds are full. They are given showers and a place to sleep. The Bolivian clinic staff become the night nurses during surgery weeks. Their IVs are started and they get a good nights sleep (hopefully) prior to their surgery.
The next morning surgery begins around 0730. Two operating rooms run simultaneously. From the OR they go to the recovery room and from the recovery room to their post op rooms. At 1000 every morning the patients are required to attend praise and worship if able. A local Bolivian team come and sing and the Word of God is preached to them again. The patients are also presented with Bibles. The patients receive post op care as long as medically necessary and sometimes as long as socially necessary. They receive love from the surgery team, pampering from the hair and nail specialist and we receive sincere love and graditude in return. Discharge instructions are given, often tears are shed or at least in my case they were, patients are sent home and will return the following Tuesday for post op visits. And to the clinic as necessary after that. The patients will then spread the good news of Mission of Hope and the cycle repeats itself.
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