A day of Shopping...and then some...

Saturday finally has arrived to really hit the streets and markets of Hanoi and shop for myself and family.  Luckily, Vicky, Judy and Jim has been here 6 times before, so they know the good places to go for the items we wanted.

We stopped off at a market to see a friend of Jim's from his prior years here.  There was just about anything you can imagine.  It was a produce market, a meat market, a pasta and rice market.  There were individual stalls, very small with souvenir trinkets from chopstix, to pottery to textiles, to oriental dolls, to magnets.  I found the most beautiful blue and white pottery, but it was our first stop and I didn't want to haul it around.  I took the woman's card and promised to return to purchase and wonderful bowl, 4 square plates and some tea/coffee cups.  I will have to return on Tuesday, before we leave, because I kept my promise. 

It was interesting to see all the foods.  There were entire chickens, ducks, all plucked and ready to cook.  No refridgeration, just laying out on the tables.  There were cuts of meat/beef that you could have chopped up as you like.  Beautiful fruits and vegetables.  They cook pumpkin vines in garlic and stir fry it.  It is wonderful.  Similar to spinach or broccolini.  The fruit is very juicy.  The mango and pineapple are to die for! 

We then left the market and headed for the open streets.  Again, this weekend is the 2nd most important holiday to the Vietnamese people: the Unification of Vietnam.  30 April 1975 is when Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) fell to the control of the communist government of the North.  People are celebrating with hoards of shoppers, tourists, more motorbikes; if you can believe that.  Anyway, we shopped, found some beautiful silk tablerunners: 3/35$.  I just had to buy them in such vivid colors.  Also, more jewelry with oriental symbol among mother of pearl earrings.  Also, bookmarks for my co-workers back home, silk eyeglass case, lacquered boxes, lacquered coasters in a box, mother of pearl bracelets.  Hmmmm, what else.  I still need to get the pottery.  The prices are unbelievable.

Many vendors which are the poor population selling t-shirts, fruits, produce, books, lighters, just about anything.  The problem is they sometimes don't want to take "no" for an answer and will follow you down the street.  I did post a picture of Vicky buying from one of the vendors...

We then thought after all the walking, how about a foot massage?  Sounds great right?  Well, we went to a place that Vicky knew and the sign said "foot massage:  $6.00 US". Sounds great.  Well, we sat down, and they began the massage.  They then had us go upstairs, where we got a head, neck, shoulder and back massage (through our clothes).  We thought, hmmm, must be an added bonus since 3 of us entered their establishment.  After the massage the price was $13.00, which surprised us, but we were there for an hour, so why not.  But, they wanted a $2.00 tip as well...It's not the cost, it is just that we felt taken.  We just paid and got the heck out of there and headed home.  Oh well, every tourist has a scam to tell, right?

We then went out to dinner with the entire group at the "City View Cafe" about 5 stories up with a view to die for, of the center, near Hoan Kiem Lake.  We were outside on the terrace and just watched all the crazy traffic from a birds eye view.  Cars, pedestrians, bikes, motorbikes, going every which way.  No lanes, no traffic lights, some near misses as we watched.  We had a wonderful dinner provided for by Dr. Allender.  The crowds were getting thicker, so thought we'd make our way back to the hotel.  We got through the crowd and Dr. Allender realized his i-phone was not in his pocket.  He said he felt someone watching him as we were walking through the crowd and thinks they took it out of his pocket.  Quite a damper to the day.  We headed back to the hotel, because we leave in the morning for Ha Long Bay.  Dr. Allender went back to the restaurant just in case, it fell out of his pocket.  I hope to blog good news later.

Time for bed.  Early day tomorrow for our overnight.  Will miss blogging tomorrow, but hope to post pics for the last time Monday night of our trip to the Bay. 

Night all and will be coming home soon.  I miss Marysville and my husband terribly!

A Celebration

Facial Harmony Vietnam is the name of the Medical Group from Eugene Oregon that I am traveling with.  Our last day was Friday and a wonderful presentation of "thank you" was given to the group and myself.  This group I travelled with includes: Dr. Richard Litchfield, retired Dentist that started coming to Hanoi about 12 years ago to help the Doctors here. Dr. Litchfield's wife Jacquie, who has worked teaching English to the staff and patients.  Dr. Brian Allender, an Oral-Maxilo-facial surgeon, who has been coming for the past 6 years.  He works on the surgical correction for cleft palates, and either overbites or underbites and repairs the jaw and upper jaw to better align the two.  Vicky Shook, RN who has been working the Dr. Allender for the past few years in his office and in surgery. Judy Peterson, RN who also works in the OR with Dr. A.  Jim Hayfield, RN who has been an Operating Room nurse down at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene for many years.  Jim is the connection I had for this trip via a nurse at my institution in Everett, WA.  Jim and BJ traveled to Guatamala last January so we connected when the team needed a Recovery Room nurse to travel to Vietnam.

OK, history lesson complete.  Yesterday was our last surgery on a young lady needing both the upper and lower jaw re-aligned.  We were done early and told to be back to the Institue at 2pm.  We then arrived upstairs, to a conference room and saw a film presentation the local Doctors/Dentists prepared with pictures of all this team has accomplished over the past years.  There is so much love and admiration and gratitude that it is difficult to put down in words.  The room consisted of all of us, the staff which includes the head and I do mean HEAD of the Government of Vietnam's medical Institute here in Hanoi and down in HCM city (Ho Chi Minh).  The group also consisted of about 5 past patients that also wanted to tell the team how their surgeries has changed their lives, physically and emotionally.  One patient even met his future wife while being a patient in the hospital last year.  His fiancee's sister also was a patient, and she visited her sister and met her now, fiance.  Anyway, this young man got up and told the team how grateful he was for "making my life better".  It was so emotional that the tears started to flow.

After the speeches of thanks and "please come back next year" (that was repeated many, many times), was the presentation of "gifts" too.  The slide show had the bios of everyone with their pictures, and then they all came up to the front and were presented with framed certificates from the government of Vietnam for thanks in all their humanitarian work they have done over the years.  Also, a beatiful crystal award to put on their mantles, from the Institute. A gift of a beautiful embroidered silk tablecloth with 12 napkins and an envelope with more thanks.  I was so proud of all these people and their contributions and so glad I met and could participate with each and every one of them.  I was not left out, as I received a beautiful bouquet of long stemmed red roses and a gift of an exquisite silk scarf (pictures below).

Lots of hugs and kisses and fond farewells were exchanged (plus the paparazzi was out in force with all the photos being taken).  We were then instructed to be back to the Institute at 6pm for our final celebration with what else, FOOD!

This experience is something I have always wanted to do, to give back and to help others.  I have waited too long to be apart, but I have done it now and really hope to continue the mission.

I plan in my next blog entry to try to describe how the experience was, in more detail.  We just have a few days left, and we will go to the Institute and give our fond farewells to the patients that are still in hospital.  I did receive a scarf from my little patient that I have grown close to and we exchanged emails and facebook addresses.  I hope to stay in contact with her for many years to come and maybe see her one day in the USA, or even on my next trip here.

Now, time for shopping!

Enjoy the pics!

Aaaahhhhhhh!!!

Finally, a long day, but a day for a massage!  Yes, an hour long Swedish massage with Vicky (another nurse from our team).  She took care of the booking as she has been wanting a massage all week, but we have been so busy, we just haven't had the time.

Anyway, we booked this hour long massage that Vicky and Judy had gone to the last time they were here.  We left the hospital at 6pm (our appt was for 5:30, but it was another long day).  It was pouring rain, so I just left with my scrubs on.  No sense in getting my clothes all wet, right?

We arrived and they took us to the room and all I can say is "aaahhhhh".  It is just what we needed.  These tiny beautiful Vietnamese women really know how to work the tension out.  They even get on the table and stradle so they can apply, steady even pressure.  We could hear all the horns honking from outside, which in this case, the horns were my white noise. The drivers are constantly honking there horns and the noise is usually stress inducing, but today...I didn't really mind.. My feet were in dire need of some TLC.  My wonderful husband Bruce pampers me at home with a foot massage most nights, as we are sitting on the couch watching TV (have I said how much I miss him yet?), so this massage reminded me of his pampering.  Now here is the kicker.  How much do you pay for massages?  $50, $60, $75, $100?  I must say, I get a massage from Sonia in Arlington, WA fairly regularly, especially because she has a bargain rate of $40.  Today, I paid $14.00!  I couldn't believe it.  The US dollar goes a long way here.  Another reason why I can't wait to continue my shopping.  Lots to buy, and running out of time.

Needless to say, Vicky and I, even though we were wet and hot after walking in the rain after work, we didn't care what we looked like when we headed back to the hotel.  Again....aaaaahhhhhh.....

I got back to my room about 7:30, took a shower and even watched American Idol, on the few channels I get in English.  I have checked my email, wrote to my husband, and am now doing this entry.

As far as the workday today, it was another long day.  There were 2 facial surgeries scheduled and the first one took almost 9 hours!  It was a lot more difficult of a case then was imagined.  The patient did well, and then they still had the 2nd patient to complete.  My job is working with the Vietnamese nurses and helping them in any way we can, with our patients.  Until our patients enter the Recovery Room, there isn't too much for me to do.  I do stay in the OR and help in anyway I can, and then I will do frequent checks on our patients that we did earlier in the week.  The patients are admitted to the hospital for 1 week post surgery.

If the patients are lucky, there are 3 beds to a room, male mixed with female.  I counted a room today with 12 beds in it.  The parents do the care for their family member.  Food is not provided in the hospital, the family brings their food.  There are fridges in the room and a TV and a bathroom and shower.  Housekeeping drops off clean sheets for their beds and clean PJ's and the patient or the family does the bed changing.  The team for Oregon provides the items needed for their post op care and we give post-op instructions on the importance of using Ice to decrease facial swelling, feeding and nutrition, as most patients have their jaws wired, and oral care. 

Anyway, I will round on the patients and see how they are doing and if there are any questions.  Some of them speak English, and for those that don't, we usually use the English speaking family member to help translate.  We see many babies at the hospital coming in for their cleft lip repairs.  We have not done those surgeries, but the team has brought toys from home, so if we see a child, we will go get a book or stuffed animal and give to the children.  I tell you, it is heart warming.

Anyway, again I digress.  I hope I am not rambling too much.  With these long days, today was my challenge day.  I just felt tired all day and the week has been catching up with me.  I am just so happy to have had my wonderful massage, and an early night. 

Below, are some pictures from today.  Some of our patients after their surgery, one of which is my favorite little girl from the week.  Some pictures of children, and a picture of a woman in her traditional dress.  She is from the mountainous community of Sapa, the H'mong people.  Her teeth were black from beetlenut that is a sign of beauty.  Older women are given the beetlenut to suck on and it turns their teeth black.  I guess it is addictive and causes a "high", I am told.

The rest of our week is as follows:  tomorrow, our last day with begin with only one surgery.  Then, a "celebration" for us at 2pm where I am told the staff will sing to us (I'll bring my kleenex).  Dinner in the evening too.

Saturday=Shopping!!!  Hopefully to finish my souvenir hunt for everyon in the family.

Sunday, we leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the wonders of the world.  Google it if you can.  I understand it is absolutely beautiful.  Anyway, we are picked up for a 3.5 hour ride across the countryside, rice paddy fields, a couple of shopping stops and lunch.  We will spend the night on a Chinese Junk, dinner and breakfast provided, and tour the bay with all the tiny outcroppings of islands, and many caves.  Kayaking and relaxing.  We then leave to come back to Hanoi Monday afternoon.  Finish last minute gift hunt, and Tuesday, check out of our hotel, but our flight doesn't leave until 10:50 that night for Seoul.  We arrive in Seoul 5:20 am, with a 12 hour layover.  Seoul airport has a transit hotel, so I think we will book a room to sleep and shower.  They also have transit tours of the city of Seoul, so that is also a possibility. Our plane leaves Seoul at 6:40pm to arrive in Seattle Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.  Whew!

I am officially tired of typing now.  Hey, I think another massage is in order...

Good night and thanks for reading...

Another emotional day...

Day number 2 at the Institute.  Again, 3 surgeries were performed on 3 girls.  They all went well and we will go see how they are doing today.  The third patient spoke good English so I spent a lot of time with her before surgery comforting her and re-assuring her that things will be OK.  She is studying for exams into University in July and one of her biggest worries was not being able to study after the surgery.  I told her she will have no problems and will do fine with exams.  She was also told by her own doctor and friends that the surgery is risky and it is bad luck.  Again, more re-assurance and we will be with her the entire way of the process.  This patient too said how she is made fun of by how she looks.  I will post a picture of her and you can see how beautiful she is.  She was tearing as she told me this.  Anyone who knows me that I can't let a good cry go to waste, I just had to join in. 

When her surgery time came, I walked into the Operating Theatre, held her hand until I couldn't anymore, and watched her drift off to sleep.  I was in Recovery when she came in and when she saw me, she smiled and grabbed my hand. (OK, pause here as I grab a kleenex, again...). Her parents were at her bedside, and we did the post-op instructions and gave them supplies to help with her care.  This team I am with "Facial Harmony Vietnam" brings added supplies for patients.  Some patients have their jaws banded, so it is difficult to talk, so we give them note pads and pens (which I bought before I left), carmex for the lips, toothpaste and brush, and soft catheters with a large syringe for providing liquid food into their mouths.  The parents are so appreciative.  Most of the younger patients speak some to very good English, but French is their too.  I have been understanding some French but very Rusty.

I haven't been able to post pictures as I type very readily, so will post pictures at the end.  There is a Picture of Nom and myself so you can see how beautiful she is.

I also took pictures in the Recovery Room (with their permission) of 2 beds with 2 patients in them.  See, I told you!  Also, one of the Operating Theatre's has 2 Operating tables where they do 2 at a time.  The bathroom was especially rough today with a terrible odor.  I restricted my fluids because it was difficult to go in there.  We were out at 4pm today, so headed straight away for the hotel.

SHOPPING, YAY!  Did some girl stuff today.  The 2 nurses I am with know the places for the good prices.  Picked up some raw silk scarves 3/10$.  Pearl necklaces with 3 pearls on a leather necklace $15.  They are just beautiful.  More shopping to come as I have some people to buy for.

Dinner out again last night, very delicious.  I am so happy I love Asian food.

Time for breakfast with the team and another day.  We will round on our other patients and see how they are doing.  Pictures below of the OR and Recovery Room.

Bye all!

My First Day...

A short note without pictures today, as I left my camera in my hotel room.  I did want to add that I did make it to Easter Mass at the Catholic Cathedral and it was awesome.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.

Today we had 3 surgeries scheduled.  The first patient was a 12 y.o. girl and we repaired her cleft palate.  Cleft lips are repaired, but they don't consider the palate an issue.  The surgery went well, and after a few hours with the anesthesia cleared, she was waving to us and smiling.

The second patient was a 17 y.o. male with a protruding jaw, so that was repaired.  He too did well.

The third patient was a 20 y.o. male who spoke wonderful English.  We spoke to him for quite a while, since he was done later in the day.  He too, had an overbite and a small upper jaw.  He had lots of questions about America:  is it hard to go to school there, where do you live, do I have any children?  He knew of Seattle as his teacher attended University of Washington.  This young man had many questions about the surgery and what to expect after surgery.  The other aspect of being here is the post-op teaching:  using ice to control swelling, head elevated, the importance of nutrition, as their jaws will be wired. 

This patient then brought tears to my eyes when he said "I am an introvert because of how I look, but I am really an extrovert.  I stay inside a lot because of some stares I get".  It was heart breaking for me.  I wanted to give him a hug.  I just told him I thought he was handsome now, and he will only get better. 

The conditions in the Recovery Room and the Operating Rooms, is definitely not what I am accustomed too.  The bathrooms in the hospital were another matter.  I am glad I have a strong bladder.  We even saw some rats scurrying by on the floor below us (there is an area where Recovery is, where you can walk into the hallway, and look down to the 1st floor).  No rats in the OR, at least not yet.

The staff does a wonderful job in caring for their patients, with the means they have.  They do not do Vital signs as frequently as we do initially after surgery.  That is hard for me to get used to.

We left the hospital at 7pm tonight (we are 14 hours ahead of the West Coast), and then the doctors took us out to dinner.  I guess they are taking us out to dinner each night this week, plus they brought us lunch today too.

I am quite tired.  Off to bed, only to do it again tomorrow.  I will bring my camera and share some pictures.

Good night all!

Preparation Day at the Clinic...

A long day at the clinic today.  Dr. Brian Allender and nurses Vicky and Judy arrived today to complete the medical team.  After breakfast, then a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, central to the Old Quarter of Hanoi.  We then stopped for Pho, my first experience with Beef Pho.  Delicious, but the chopstick thing wasn't working quite right. Luckily, we have more time for more Pho and practice with my dexterity.

2pm: to the clinic to meet with prospective patients, take photographs, pass out post-op instructions in Vietnamese to the patients and their families. Most of the patients were late teens to early 20's.  Some of them were excluded as they were not ready yet for reconstruction.  Most patients are from malformations of the upper and lower jaw, and assymetrical.  There were a few patients with cleft lip repairs from infancy, but their cleft palate was never addressed.  There were a bevy of Vietnamese Orothdontists, Oral Surgeons surrounding Dr's Litchfield (retired Orthodondist) and Dr. Allender (Oral Maxilo-facial surgeon), as they did the measurements of each prospective patients face.  This hospital is an in-patient facility, a clinic, and a teaching institute.  There were many physcians and residents present and soaking up all the information the American doctors could provide.  Eleven patients have been enrolled for surgery next week, beginning Monday.

I then went up to the Recovery Room area to check supplies and try to orient and prepare myself for what is to come.  The area is definitely not what I am used to  here in the States.  There are 5 monitors, 4 areas for patients.  Get this...I was told that due to increase in patients, sometimes they have 2, yes, I said TWO patients to a bed, that are being recovered.  The windows open to the outside, no air conditioning, just the windows and fans.  Cracks on the tile walls, a portable suction, re-used Ambu bags, for administering oxygen via their endotracheal tubes, until the tubes can be pulled out.  No narcotics are given for pain, just IV tylenol.  Wow, wow, wow!!!   The patients families are an integral part of the process.  They bring the family members in after the patient is brought to the Recovery Room.  The patients still have the breathing tubes in, until they are awake enough to have the tube out.  They are then admitted for 1 week, following surgery, and the families stay with them in the hospital.

Below are pictures of some of the patients we saw today.  Also, pictures of the Recovery Room and the equipment.  Also, in the Recovery Room is a patient that was just admitted after a 4 hour trauma facial surgery from those dreaded motor bikes. 

We were there until 7pm, and then the local doctors took us all out for dinner.  Beautiful Asian fare of, smoked squid, seaweed cooked in garlic (which was my favortie), chicken, sweet rice, spring rolls, a soup dish, an eggplant dish, pork dish, red wine and tea.  It was very elegant and delicious and the 2 country's toasted each other's contributions to the Vietnamese people.

I can't say what is exactly happening here, but it is something that I really can't describe or photograph and really say what it all means.  I am scared about tomorrow and how I can contribute.  I really think it is myself who is doing all the learning here. 

I will report when I can.  I do expect to be completed wiped out tomorrow night after my first day.  Think of us here and send your warm thoughts our way.

Good night from Hanoi!

Seeing the Sights

Saturday morning and only one more day until I begin my work week here in Hanoi.  I definitely had a list of the sights that I really wanted to see while here in the city: Ho Chi Minh Mauseleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and for my Vietnam Vet brother (and myself), Hoa Lo prison (the infamous "Hanoi Hilton").

The morning started out with breakfast on the rooftop deck: scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns.  Doesn't sound like local fare, but, we had a baguette (from the French influence) and laughing cow cheese.  Feeling fueled, off we went to stand in the long, and I do mean LONG line to visualize Ho Chi Minh's body.  The Mauseleum is a solemn place.  My travel guide states that no cameras are allowed in the Mauseleum.  No talking or laughter, while inside will be tolerated.  A dress code exists: no bare arms, no shorts.  OK, I am ready.  As we wound around the complex making our way to the entrance, the Mauseleum is surrounded with guards dressed in their white uniforms.  We were approaching, but not yet inside the area, and I was talking.  Also, the group of local women were also chatting and laughing, but, the guard approached me and reprimanded me for talking.  I quickly complied and approached the steps.  As we entered, there was Ho Chi Minh's body, the room dimmed, and a powerful spotlight illuminating the former leader of Vietnam.  We all walked by in silence and awe, and were prompted not to stop, but to keep the line moving.  I have to say, it was surreal being a part of something that is so a part of this country's history.  Evidently on April 30, this country will be honoring the fall of Saigon and it is a National Holiday with many celebrations planned.
Below are exterior pictures of the Mauseleum, and museum too.

We stopped at a local cafe for lunch and more water.  You get so focused on seeing all you can see, and forget the water.  The weather has been high 70's and very humid.  Lunch was a beef baguette and lots of water. 

Next stop was Hoa Lo prison.  We spoke to a gentleman at the restaurant who guided us with our map, where to go to see the prison.  It was another good hike, but we found our spot, paid our 10,000 dong, and went in.  Jim was talking to an gentleman who was in the Army during the Vietnam war.  He has started an organization that brings back Vets to Vietnam.  I know my brother Phil, was a Marine and in Vietnam in 1967.  I thought he would think I was crazy going to Vietnam, but his response was "I'd give anything to go back and see that country".  I guess my feeling was going back to Vietnam would be too difficult for him.  Anyway, I digress.  This man that we met, brings these Vets back and at the end of their tour, they are to share what they experienced.  He said one vet had a very profound statement: "when I left Vietnam years ago, I left part of me behind, but now, I have found the missing piece".  How profound!

Much of the prison has been torn down, but there are still some of the cells that housed the POW's.  There was a display with many pictures of the pilots that were captured, and listed their capture and release dates.  The prison also housed many female prisoners, the patriots of Vietnam, who were also captured and inturned.  Very few females survived.



It was such a wonderful day...tiring day....awe inspiring day...

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.  We plan to attend Mass at the Cathedral.  We were able to walk inside yesterday and it was very ornate, gothic design from the 1880's.  We could not take inside pictures, which was too bad.  Early Mass tomorrow.  I understand it spills out into the streets with people.  Pretty amazing since Christianity is not really a part of a Socialist Republic. 

Mass in the morning, and shopping in the afternoon.  I REALLY have to rest up for that.  Night all!