236. Nepal Mission days 1 through 4

View from plane: Everest?  Maybe

A surgical mission to Nepal.  Treking to a mountain clinic with mountain goats carrying surgical instruments and IV bags? No, we're going to the agricultural lowlands (rice, dairy, sugar cane), near the border with India. A Nepalese ex-pat physician now working in U.S., grew up here.  His wife, also a physician, is from another area in Nepal and in alternate years the team travels there.  This is a large surgical team —six gynecologists, five general surgeons, and 5 anesthesiologists. Add nursing and other support personnel and the team adds up to 50 or so.

Marshlands and Water Buffalo

The real beginning of an overseas surgical mission begins months or even years in advance. Visas, governmental approval, lodging, ground transportation, and supplies, supplies, and supplies.

I left Wed at 2pm with an 11 hr flight to Seoul. Overnight airport hotel (part of the airfare package). Day two a six hour flight to Kathmandu, a six million urban sprawl.  Day three acclimatize, then on day four a 7 hour combination air/bus to destination. Whew. Waiting for the last flight, met a young Chinese businessman who was both surprised and impressed that our group was not sponsored by the government or a Red Cross type of organization—we travel, lodge and eat all at our own expense I explained.