Happy New Year

Thursday April 14, 2011

4:38PM

Happy New Year! That’s right. It’s the Nepali New Year today. Why they have a different calender, I have no idea, and I can’t seem to find a Nepali that can explain it to me either. It doesn’t seem to be quite the festive holiday we celebrate back home. Regardless, Ed and I are going to celebrate over a bottle Nepal’s finest - Kukuri Rum. Before you get all excited that we’re about to get ripped you have to realize that a bottle of rum is all of 4 ounces, and at the local prices (and taste) you typically don’t go for a second serving.

After today, I think that a night out on the town is in order. Ed and I were supposed to set out for our two-mountain-pass journey yesterday, but the weather has been decidedly poor the past two days and we decided to wait for improvement. I’m actually glad that the clouds, snow and fog arrived before we departed, so that this time I might avoid multiple hours hiking in the blowing snow. 

Lauren, however, was not happy about our delay and continued to voice her opinion that we should just go. It became pretty apparent that she really wanted to get out of the clinic, so I set she and Alun free to hike down to Namche for a short holiday. I’m more than happy for them to get away, especially while the weather is bad, if it means she comes back less grumpy. The downside is that I now spend the day with three guys who only talk to each other in a language I don’t understand, and I see all of the patients. Much of life is about compromise, right?

The plan now is to leave on Sunday or Monday after my colleagues return, and I’m looking forward to the break. We hit the half-way point on Sunday and as much as I’m enjoying my time here, I am also starting to look forward to being back home. Last night we had the painful discussion regarding all of the foods we would love to be eating instead of the pasta with carrots and ketchup. A couple of other things that will be really great: Geary’s, dessert, running without feeling like vomiting, ratz, warm fingers and toes, and of course being back with Charlotte, the Ratz and our friends.

Friday April 15, 2011

8:25PM

Yesterday’s entry came to an abrupt close in part due to the arrival of a patient requiring evaluation but also because we ran out of power. With the prolonged bad weather of the past week our power supplies have been slowly dwindling, unable to regenerate through the solar panels. We finally hit rock bottom yesterday in time for two emergencies which killed any hopes of New Year celebrations

The first was an infection of the hand that I thought would be treatable but progressed rapidly and did not respond to our limited antibiotic supply. The second was another case of AMS and HAPE that required overnight treatment. With my colleagues on holiday that meant that I was up all night administering medications and monitoring for effect. 

Today started busy from the beginning with patients arriving at 7 AM and not letting up until the most recent five minutes ago. The damage consisted of 22 total patients (our busiest day yet), 1 ground evacuation and 3 helicopter evacuations. I now realize why last fall’s team recommended that 2 physicians be in the clinic during the middle and busiest part of the season. I actually prefer being busy in the clinic, but Gobi and I are hoping for a little sleep tonight.