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Eric Lazar, MD
China: October 2010 I traveled to Nanchang, China. Nanchang is a smaller city by Chinese standards and at first look, it seems a modern city, but from a healthcare perspective, western medicine is about 40 years behind the major Chinese cities. We cared for orphans from regional homes with a variety of surgical problems-hypospadias, hip dysplasia, cleft lip/palate, and imperforate anus. Problem solving here involves many more people cooperating together than you might imagine. There is a culture gap, a language gap, and a medical knowledge gap. Nonetheless, with no time on the ground to practice or run through, we achieved what some OR teams take years to do: we were a team. Perhaps it also helps that we dined and spent some social time together with our hosts. I am always touched by how our hosts extend themselves to us and insured our comfort. They are generous with their time, their food, and their spirit (and their spirits!). Two children in particular stand out from this trip. On day four of the trip, John Connor, MD, and I operated on an 8 year old boy whose foster brother we operated on the day before. Both have medical problems that limit their socialization (imperforate anus with fecal fistulas) and they are cared for by a most generous and loving foster family. As we rounded this morning on Tian Bao, whose operation was first, Yang Yang held his hand, concerned not for his own imminent operation, but for his brother who was recovering from his. It was a touching moment-realizing that whatever their problems are, these two worry about each other, not themselves. People often remark about what a wonderful thing this is that I do but it is the most selfish thing I have ever done. I am getting far more than I am giving. My wife, daughters, and partners back home give up more as they cover my responsibilities. I am better because I know that I can do more with less. I do not need the latest gadget to function in the operating room and I see that well functioning teams can move mountains. As much as I missed home and my family, it was difficult to leave these children. Simply put, they are a beautiful reminder of the universal truths about children, chief among them that love and attention are sufficient to grow. Back to FIELD REPORTS page | ||||||
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