Never say never

"We need to have a serious talk about this," Jeff informed me. "About whether we are or are not going to provide this surgery here at Loma de Luz," he went on to clarify. A 10 yr old girl had spurred this statement. She had presented with 5 days of head ache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Jeff knew her because he had originally placed her VP shunt (ventricular-peritoneal shunt) 5 years ago. It was a fairly easy deduction that she had outgrown her existing shunt and symptoms were caused by increased pressure in her brain.

In response to his statement, I simply asked him where, when and how he had learned to place VP shunts. His response was a collection of experiences going all the way back to his residency and including his time in Kenya as well as visiting surgeons over the years here. In other words, loads of experience in comparison to my zero. I held back any further questions or comments after that. Further serious talk to be continued once I have time to ponder the subject.

I've often said in a joking manner, "I don't do eyeballs and brains!" Joking manner yes, but I was very serious. Even back to medical school the nervous system was my least favorite system of the body, and a desire to mess with brains and nerves never has appealed to me. But... but what if it's needed. What if all other options are financially unavailable? Sigh. Not sure yet where this will take us, but the irony of catching myself eating my own statement was not lost on me.

Whether I do attempt brain surgery in the future or not is yet to be seen, but either way, I should not attempt to put limits on what God is able to do.

Much Love.