theatre day

Today was theatre for many of the kids I was working with. One little 8 year old was particularly anxious about surgery. I got there just as she was going back, so I kind of walked behind her showing her pictures and letting her play with the mask. She mostly just laid in her mom’s arms and cried, though. We had some time outside of theatre and I let her hold the mask. She didn’t keep it very long, but at least she was able to become familiar. She speaks limited English, so it was difficult to provide comfort, but we blew bubbles and that calmed her for some time. She like my glitter wand, too so I let her hold on to that (when she woke up, that's what she remembered and asked for me to bring it right away). I know I’ve mentioned this before, but the surgical team is just amazing here. They gave her something to decrease her anxiety and when she had calmed, had her mother carry her into the operating room. Her mother held her while the anesthesiologist administered the gas. She was a little anxious about the mask, so the doctor put it on mom and then the girl’s arm, then forehead, then cheek and finally mouth. By that time she was pretty comfortable. It’s so wonderful to see that kind of care and willingness to work at the child’s pace. I walked mom out when we were done and saw her crying. I gave her a hug and praised her for the support she provided for her daughter. It was such a comforting environment – truly family centered care at it’s best!

I also accompanied Missy to theatre today. She wanted me to carry her, so I took her from her room and she clung to me as we walked to theatre. I showed her the picture of the operating room so she would know where we were going. I also let her carry the mask. She placed it willingly over her mouth, showing that she remembered it's purpose as was comfortable with its use. I held her in my arms as she hugged me and they administered the mask. She rested so peacefully.

I also had quite a few very active kids in my bay today. We did some group medical play with a doctor’s kit and traced each others hands with crayons. Many of them had burns on their hand, so it was a nice therapeutic activity – both for touch and for normalization. You could just see a craving in these children for attention and play. Many of them are without parents in the hospital and some are from the streets. It’s so great to see those needs fulfilled while they are here.

There is such a need for community education; both for burn prevention as well as reentry into society for burn survivors. That is something we foresee addressing in the future, but we have to take things one step at a time. It is so neat to watch this program grow and develop and to dream about where it will be able to go from here.

Tomorrow is my “golden” birthday. I was hoping to spend it painting a school in one of the townships, but that plan fell through. I guess just being in Cape Town will have to be cool enough. ☺ I’m so thankful to have friends here to celebrate with, and am thankful for all of you at home who have sent wishes and I know are celebrating from a world away! ☺ Love to you all.