Trimbling Rambles: Wednesday-Saying goodbye to Maria

Maria walked out of the hospital today.

Sadly, I wasn't there to see it, and I felt really bad about it. Maria had originally been scheduled to leave yesterday, but the floods prevented any taxi's from her home city of Cuzco from coming then. I did meet her this morning just after she woke up. Her mom was there with her traditional top white hat that reflected her Quechua background. Maria was a little more contemporary, a trendy red sweater and knit beanie.

It was 10:30 am and Maria Elena was scheduled to leave, but her taxi didn’t show up. One thirty rolled around and still no show. “it will be here in few moments,” she said–it was becoming a joke since every time I checked on her, "It will be here in a few moments," was the normal response. But now the team was heading to the cabs, we had a scheduled trip to Urubamba to see the market and famed potter Pablo Seminario, known worldwide for his earthenware, and I had to do an interview with two docs for the day. As much as I hated to do it, because I wanted shots of her leaving in the cab, I had to ax it. I had footage of her walking out for a breath of fresh air a couple hours before as she was exercising, that would have to do . Via con Dios, Maria, we wish you very well. Thanks for teaching me Quechua.

Andy,one of the physical therapists, gave Maria a strong workout, a 40 ft walker stroll and a hike up the stairs and down. Her knee was a little swollen on the operated leg, mostly because of the exercise before.

Maria Elena is a special case for Dr. Shaw and Dr.Vigeland. She is the first replacement hip surgery they ever had for a mission like this, and I think they are still sweating bullets no infections manifest. It’s one of the most sensitive surgeries to undertake because if infection does occur, it is very difficult to fight. Typically, such an operation is performed by them using level IV environment suits in a super sterile environment, but they took every precaution they could since that wasn't available. And in a country where the government doctors don’t appreciate visiting talent, she could find herself a leper among the ill, and that is a warrant for death.

The patient schedule opened the door for only a half day work load today, since the floods prevented many children from coming for treatment, and a few kids that would need complicated surgeries wouldn't have the followup from the doctors needed because their operations had been delayed by the power outages the two days prior. So the workload consisted of some cast changes, including Vicki, whose other hip dysplasia would be approached with cutting some muscle and connective tissue in hopes of relaxing the ball joint back into the hip instead of the more gruelling procedure of forcing it back in like the first hip since it caused more blood loss; physical therapy work, and a few prosthetic and brace modifications.

The drive to Urubamba was a slow one. Rock slides completely covered the roads in some spots, and the river flowed over others. When we got there, several homes had been washed away, businesses destroyed. People were still working to fortify some areas with soil, building levies to help if the namesake river continues to swell. The pottery gallery was fantastic. My mother is a potter, and I think I have some small appreciation for the craft, and Pablo and his wife truly made some beautiful work.

We sampled food up and down the narrow market square, indulging in the boiled corn on the cob with grape sized kernels. This is the corn that the U.S. usually experiences as corn nuts. I have never been a particular fan of corn nuts myself, but as corn on the cob, supremely delicious!

The drivers hastened us back since they didn't want to be caught after dark on the hazardous roads, so we ended up heading back early. It was 7pm when we arrived, and I found out Maria had just left an hour before. She had been waiting nine hours for her taxi, and expected a four hour drive back home.

Todd, his daughter Maddie and I hiked up above the village at sunset since we got back so early. It was nice the finally get some nature in!