D Ward

Since I have been back on the ship I have been mainly working in D ward. Generally this is where all the max fac's patients are. For those of you who dont know what max fac's is its maxillofacial surgeries so people who have the massive tumours protruding from their faces or the kiddies and sometimes adults who have cleft lips and palates.
Last year when I was here I could count the number of times I worked in D ward on one hand, for some reason I was just put in the other wards with all the general surgeries, plastics surgeries and of course with my all time favourites the VVF ladies. (Who are coming back at the end of May, Hooray!!)

So despite the fact I hardly worked in D ward last year I must say that I do quite like it down there. I love the nursing I am able to do here and how it is just so different from home. I love how these people really know how to live in community, and the way they relate to each other, they have so much to teach us. If someone in the ward has a problem then that problem becomes the whole wards problem, everyone gets involved. Like when Jean's Mama was tired and needed a break from looking after him, little Afi's Mama from bed 12 would strap Jean onto her back just so his Mama could have a break and rest or take a shower. Little Jean had come in to have his lip and palate repaired, he was 18 months old, had cerebal palsy and he had a twin brother Jaque at home who was staying with his Papa. His Mama was so devoted to him and I loved watching the way she just loved all over him and sung songs to him in Ewe and how he would respond to her with his smiles and gurgles. Oh it made my heart smile. I just think it might be a little hard going back to working in a ward at home.