We Had A Big Day Yesterday

I wanted to tell you all a little more about yesterday's move into the new hospital. We're still working hard, and I'm pretty tired tonight, too, but I'll try to give a little more detail.

The day yesterday began nothing like any other day. I woke up at 5:15, and couldn't get back to sleep. I got up, drank coffee, did Facebook and email, and still got ready and went to the hospital by 7:30. I wanted to have time to take plenty of photos, and still start rounds at the usual time.

I stopped at the materniny to see if the last baby had been born. There was a lady in late labor, and no others in labor, so I knew that she was a pretty safe bet for the last delivery. Her name was Marina Samson, and she shortly gave birth to a little girl.

On rounds on pediatrics (my ward) I tried to discharge all the patients I could. I had two kids on oxygen. I checked their oxygen saturation off supplemental oxygen. One did well for about 10 minutes, the other was able to stop using oxygen.

During rounds all unoccupied beds were moved to the new hospital. There were a number of new beds, divided between Maternity, Medicine and Surgery.

About 9:00 the first ward Maternity (B-Ward in the old hospital, D-Ward in the new) started moving. I got a photo of the first lady to move. Each patient got a wrist band with their bed number and name, to avoid any confusion on arrival. They were supposed to go into the same bed number in the new ward as in the old. Each one was accompanied by a nurse or a doctor, and their own family members who helped carry their personal belongings, and sometimes an IV flask. Most were wheeled in wheelchairs. The new maternity ward got a lion's share of new beds, so most of the old beds did not need to be moved.

After all the B-Ward patients had moved to the new D-Ward, the patients from the old C-Ward started moving into the new B-Ward (are you keeping track?) Most went by wheelchair. Since there were only a few new beds on the new ward, so for most of these patients the bed had to be brought along. Nursing students, off-duty staff members, the chaplains, doctors' family members, other missionaries all helped with bed duties.

In-between the patients, staff members were taking furniture and boxes of supplies. For heavier items, any rolling device was pressed into service as transport. Beds with exam tables, gurneys with cabinets on top, any wheeled conveyance at all was used.

As the last of the C-Ward patients went over we got the word to start moving the old A-Ward to the new A-Ward. That's right, peds is the only ward to keep its old letter-name. Peds didn't get any of the new beds, so the old ones had to follow each patient. I waited until my most critically-ill baby, and went with him. I had kept him on oxygen until the last minute. There was an oxygen concentrator waiting on the new ward. I went back and accompanied the last patient, who rode a gurney, as he was too big to carry, and to weak to sit up in a wheelchair.

There was a brief break for the 11:00 med pass, then D-Ward started moving to the new C-Ward. The tricky thing about this bunch, is that 3 of them are in traction, 2 for femur (thigh-bone) fractures, and one for a cervical spine (neck) fracture. They had to stay in their beds, with tension on the traction. Dr. Jim took part of the weight off the traction to reduce bouncing and jerking during the move. Then 4 men lifted the bed and carried it as carefully and smoothly as possible. These beds had to go a different route than the general population in order to use wide doors. Out of D-Ward, through the now-vacant C-Ward, out through Labor and Delivery, a sharp left, then follow the sidewalks around to the car-park by Administration, then across the gravel drive to the sidewalks, and on to the new ward, where the traction was adjusted and the patients settled. I was one of the 4 carriers for 3 of them (but with a reliever, and we rotated).

The move of patients was completed by 11:30. But a lot of work remained. There was (and still is) a lot of work to be done to get the new Outpatient Department ready for Monday's opening. I've been helping Judy (who is coordinating the OPD prep). The operating room staff have been working hard getting the new OR ready for use, getting the minor procedure room ready, and the surgical part of the OPD arranged. The emergency generator had to be moved and re-installed at the new hospital. There are countless tasks remaining, that have to be finished by Monday morning. We'll keep working.


For more photos, see the albums listed in yesterday's post, and also look here for Steph Doenges' pictures.

The Move Is Done!

I was going to try to get a longer post written this evening, but I'm just too mentally tired. I'll try to do it in the next couple of days. For now, I'll just try to get some photos put up, and send out the links.

Here's one album. It may be tomorrow before I get the rest up.

And here's a second.

And a third.

We've Moved!

You'll no longer find us in the old, falling down building just South of the famous sign in the circle drive. No, we are now just to the right of the new main gate. Stop by for a visit any time!

The move started at about 9:00 this morning, and was completed by about 11:30.

For the first time, I maxed out a 4-gigabyte memory card, and had to swap in a back-up card for my camera. My video camera was in use by some of the MK high school students, who got the day off to film and photograph the move. I haven't seen any video yet. Shucks, I haven't even gotten my video camera back yet. Maybe I'll be able to post some video clips later. I will certainly post some photos. Not 4 gigabytes worth, but a lot!

The Last Day

Well, that's it. This afternoon at about 4:30, the last patient left the Outpatient Department at Nazarene Hospital. His name was Barry Lapango. He had been seen by Dr. Scott Dooley--what it was about I don't know, and if I did I wouldn't tell you. The OPD is now closed until Monday, when it will reopen in it's new beautiful facility.

The ER is open, but only to stabilize life-threatening emergencies.

Tomorrow we will round on our wards, thinking about each patient, and how they can best be moved to the new ward. For most, it won't be a difficult problem. Most can walk, or be wheeled in a wheelchair. A family member will walk along, carrying their personal belongings, or maybe an IV flask. A few will be more complex, needing to be carried carefully, or wheeled on a gurney. Some will need oxygen, which will be provided from a tank wheeled along side by a nursing student. We'll write appropriate orders for each one.

Then we will hang out waiting until we get the ward for our ward to start moving. They will go, one at a time, but one closely after another, each accompanied by a staff member, first the maternity ward, then medicine, peds (my ward) and finally surgery. Surgery will have some of the trickiest patients, those in traction. I don't know how that will be done, but we'll see.

There will be nurses both in the old ward and in the new one until all patients are moved. Oxygen tanks or concentrators will be available on the new ward to receive the patients who need it as they arrive. We don't have all new beds, so in many cases the bed will have to be moved at the same time as the patient.

This evening there was one more event marking this time of transition. You see, the sidewalks of the new hospital are great places to skate and ride bikes and scooters. The MKs have loved doing this. But when there are patients in the area they won't be allowed to do it any more. So this evening they had one last ride.
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The first photo here is of Mr. Lapongo leaving the Outpatient Department. More of my photos from this afternoon are here.

The second is one Judy took of the Last Ride. There are more here.

The Prayer Walk

This afternoon we had the prayer walk that I mentioned earlier. Dr. Steph Doenges planned and led this. There were about 60 people who participated, missionaries and national staff. There was a good cross-section of the staff, nurses, aides, administrative staff, maintenance, cleaners and laundry ladies.

We went to each of seven areas. In each one, Steph would share a few thoughts and a portion of scripture, then people would walk individually around the area praying for the future of that area. We prayed for the people who would occupy the beds or receive the services of that area in the future. After a few minutes someone would lead in prayer, and we'd move on to the next area.

In OPD the scripture was Psalm 100. Steph drew an analogy between the "gates" and "courts" of the psalm and OPD as the portal of entry into the hospital. She suggested prayers of praise and thanksgiving for the hospital, those who had had a part in planning and building it, as well as for the people who would pass through, and the people who would work there. After the individual prayer time, Scott Dooley led in prayer.

In Maternity Steph read from Ephesians 2:19-23, emphasizing that just as Paul refered to Christ as the cornerstone, that He is the cornerstone of Nazarene Hospital. It says in verse 22 that we "are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives", and that God is building the hospital out of people, more than of block and lumber. After the individual prayers, Sister Elizabeth, our Director of Nurses prayed for the ward and the women who would come there, and the new lives that would begin there.

In the Surgical ward, the scripture was Psalm 90:17 which speaks of God establishing the work of our hands, and suggested prayer that emphasized asking God's guidance and wisdom in the care of our patients. Jim Radcliffe prayed to close the time there.

In Medicine Steph read from Philippians 1:3-6, and talked about how so many had partnered to build this new facility, and that God would complete this work. She suggested prayer for our supporters and volunteers around the world. After the individual prayer, I led in prayer, emphasizing that people often come to the medical ward on the verge of death. I prayed that many of these would recover, but that none would die there without knowing the Lord.

In the Pediatric ward, Steph read from Luke 18:15-17, the story of people bringing children to Jesus. She suggested prayer for the ministry of our chaplains, and for the spiritual children who would begin their spiritual lives there. We all prayed throughout the ward, then Dr. Susan prayed for the children and the parents would occupy the ward.

We then went over to the OT--the operating theater, what we would call the operating room in the US. Steph read Eph 6:10-13, and asked that we pray for the spiritual battles that go on around us. Many of the results of Satan's attacks end up in the OT, with domestic or tribal violence and violent crime. Many of the perpetrators of this evil are bound in the darkness of sin. We walked through the pre-op/post-op area, the OR and the sterile instrument room and prayed. The time in this area was closed in prayer by Chaplain Moses.

The final area was the ER. The scripture was from Isaiah 58:6-12. This scripture cuts so deeply into my heart that I want to share the whole passage with you here.

Prior to this passage, the people had complained that they had gone through the act of fasting, but God hadn't done what they wanted Him to do. God replies:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then you light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Steph urged us to pray that God would use us to "restore broken bodies, broken lives, broken spirits, broken families." After the individual prayer time, Dr. Bill McCoy shared a few thoughts about the people that God has used to build the new facility, many faithful servants of His, some indifferent, some even antagonistic to the things of God. He then closed in prayer.

There was a sweet atmosphere that hovered around us as we lingered, and visited with each other before separating and going home.
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Photos:
1. Maternity
2. Surgery
3. Chaplain Moses
4. OT
5. ER
6. ER

Prayer Walk

This afternoon (5 PM, our time) we are having a prayer walk at the new hospital. Staff and friends of the hospital will join together and walk through the buildings, praying God's blessing on the place and on all those who pass through it in the future. It's been a long time since the official dedication, but in my heart this will be the real time of dedication. This will take place at about 1 AM Sunday morning US Mountain Time. If you are awake at that hour, please join us in prayer. If you pray a few hours earlier or a few hours later, I'm sure it won't matter to God.

Big Day

This morning Judy and I both worked on things related to the move to the new hospital. I helped haul medicines from the old pharmacy to the new ones. Several others also worked on this, including Erin, Becky, Israel and Stalin. Stalin is a body builder who will compete next month in the South Pacific Games. I posted about him in September. This photo shows you how he looks in his security guard uniform.

There are more move-in photos from today here.

In the evening we attended the annual Harvest Party. Most of us don't harvest much, but we have a party anyway.

There's an album of photos of the party here.