Greetings and Namaste from Kathmandu, Nepal

It is the end of our first full day in Kathmandu and our gracious hosts, Nepal Orthopedic Hospital was just as welcoming as the many times before. It is amazing to reconnect with our friends and colleagues at NOH. It's like coming home, everyone is excited to see you and no one asks why it's been so long. 

As one would expect, our day was filled. After a filling breakfast at the Grand Norling Resort, we packed the car and hopped into the hotel SUV, we went down the wrong road and still made it to the hospital on time. 

We were greeted by our friends and all the bags we carried with us half way around the world, one by one we opened up  each one, I guess it's kind of nerdy but it was like Christmas, unwrapping and careful organizing all of the generous donations from our friends, family and business colleagues!! We had generous donations of Nitinol staples, Stryker small power set, casting supplies, bone graft, surgical instrument sets, sutures, needles, drapes, or start packs. We are truly grateful to all. 

As we started to organize the supplies  Jason Martin and Marta Eli started organizing all of the charts  with help from Pragya we started making up patients charts and getting our screening process, Dr Carl and myself rounded in the ward with our Medical officers for the week, screening the patients with foot and ankle concerns, although not everyone needed surgery the pathology was vast with everyone from post traumatic arthritis to pseudoarthrosis of the tibia. It's was very busy reviewing the patients sending for X-rays, reevaluating and if they were surgical candidate having them screened by medicine and anesthesia. All in all it was a busy, tiring but productive day. We are starting surgery tomorrow and will continue to screen patients as they come in!! 

So far it's been a mind expanding trip and is stretching people into new roles they never thought they could do! 

A big big thank you to  all of the team?

Namaste

Dr. Jennifer