Gold Laser

Here is Dr. Luong mastering the art of being a Gold Laser surgeon.

These photos are out of order, but here I am teaching some of the staff the techniques of Gold Laser surgery. The little girl below is much more interesting!!!!

Today was a very special day as we were able to donate the Gold Laser to Bach Mai Hospital. I don't think I am allowed to tell you the amount of the gift but it is 6 digits and is the first ever Gold Laser in Asia. MedEnergy out of New Orleans contributed this state of the art equipment and the little 6 yearold girl above was the first patient. She had her tonsils and adenoid removed and she was a great patient! We spent the morning teaching about the laser, then did two cases. The second was the worst sinus case imaginable. I never see them this bad in the USA. Gross!

We went to dinner tonight with one of dearest friends and former fellows, Quang and his wife. How things have changed. ALL the doctors used to be so poor. We were his guests at a lovely restaurant near where he grew up (near the heart of our bombing in the early '70's). He is now the boss and drove us in his Mercedes. This points up the need for us to move on. He and I discussed the need to move our teaching to the more rural medical teaching centers, such as Haiphong. I have not seen the rest of the team since their return, but Quang told me their experience was extremely good. We will need to discuss this with Brian Teel, Cliff, Chuck and the other REI team doctors. Guys! We need to talk and plan about the future!

Tuesday, 8 Sep 09

Medically, everyone is reporting wonderful experiences. The medical arms of our goals are being met and we feel we are being very effective. In our relationship building, I don't know how anything could be better. Conversations are deep and meaningful. Tonight we all went to a small dinner party with the leadership of the National ENT Hospital. Begee and I feel honored as the Director and one of the Vice-Directors were our fellows, Quang and Can. We are having intimate time with both during this week.

Marcy and I lectured today at the National Hospital and the audience was very large and very responsive. The surgeries went very well for both of us. Craig reports the same.

Elaine and Kathie are part of the nursing team. They are breaking ground with the different hospitals in Hanoi. Here they are meeting with one of the nurse leaders here in Hanoi. The entire team except Begee and I will go to Haiphong tomorrow to break ground for a new effort there. Craig is leading the team and we will learn a lot from this visit. Below that is a photo of Dr. Marcy Bothwell with Uncle Ho. We never give a lecture anywhere without his presence!

Begee is feeling fine except for the heat. 90+ temp and humidity. The jet lag has been almost non-existant. We are blessed. tomorrow is a big day but I will save my report.

In H Grace, David

Meet our children!

Dr. Can is the second from the left. This is her husband and two daughters. Can was our fellow many years ago and now she has progressed to the vice-director of the largest ENT Hospital in VN. Begee and I regard Can as a daughter and her family are our "other" children. It was a blessed evening to be with them. He-O (long E, long O) and I don't speak any words of the same language, but we speak through the heart. This is what this trip is all about... speaking from the heart. Words are seldom required! :o)

Craig had an equally outstanding day and evening. He was bubbly tonight with joy over his day. Begee taught English as a foreign language to University students and loved it. She then had a great day shopping, just for fun and family, not for business! I've seen no one else! In H Joy, D

First day of work

The typical morning start... meeting in the Directors office, introductions, discussion of plans and goals, presentions of donations, etc. Quang is the Director of the National ENT Hospital in Hanoi (far end of table, & our fellow several years ago).

The reason we come to Vietnam is to development meaningful relationships with the Vietnamese doctors and their families. This is Dr. Lien, the editor of the Vietnamese ENT Journal. He has been a friend for 14 years. I know our friendship is very dear to him.

But the most important friendships are the ones we cultivate in the evenings. This is Dr. Phong and his wife and daughter. He was Craig's fellow and knows and understands why we come to Vietnam!

Everyone except Craig was at the National ENT Hospital today. I haven't seen anyone yet so no feedback, but my day went fine! I did 2 sinus surgeries and it is interesting because we are now on our 2nd generation of students... our first students are now the leaders and these are their students who have become the teaching staff!

Every night this week we will be taking out our former fellows, except Tues. when there is a big banquet. I said a huge # of hello's today and the friendships are so deep and trusting. Returning is a wonderful blessing.

Jet lag not too bad, but we are busy! More later. Thank you for your prayers.

In H Service, David

Sunday night, 6 Sep

The pagota on the Lake of the Sword, just outside our hotel. Beautiful!

A lovely dinner with friends from Vietnam Cuba Hospital, Craig and Begee. Notice the huge bowl of pho (soup) in the middle of the table. Community soup!

This was before dinner. Notice the hole in the middle of the table! There is a burner just out of view in the hole. Great way to make and serve pho!

Sudden change and Begee and I went out with Craig Hedges and a Vietnamese family we've known for years. It was perfect for our goals of relationship building. It was a wonderful evening and very fun. Good night!

Attempt at photo... be patient!

Success with a photo! This is a photo of one of the lectures given last year. All of us will be lecturing, starting tomorrow and most audiences are about this size. Our nurses have the roughest and most challenging schedule. They are facing issues that are typical of what the surgeon's faced in 1996 when we felt changing things was next to impossible. 14 years later, we seen the phenomenal progress made by the academic medical communities of Hanoi, Hue and HCMC. Basic nursing issues are almost unknown here, starting with hand washing! We've brought a great team but they are facing a monumental challenge!

The team has arrived in Hanoi!

9 of the 11 have arrived safely and the other 2 arrive on Thursday. No one had any unfortunate experiences with travel. Today is Sunday and we slept late as there is no church that we know of that we are able to attend. Begee is feeling reasonably well with just a tiny bit more fatique than the rest of us are experiencing. She is blaming it on the heat, which is a problem.

The Vietnamese food is great, the streets and shops are fun, Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem) is as fascinating as always and we are very affectionately remembered by our friends (many of whom Begee and I regard as our children) and the hotel staff (who remembered us by name as we walked in!). Lien and Long are on top of everything, as always!

Of the 9, all are vets from prior trips except Marcy Bothwell. Marcy was a medical student and ENT resident with us at Missouri and later did her Peds ENT fellowship with Rod Lusk in St. Louis. She has helped us with other Vietnamese Fellows in the past, so she is not a complete stranger. For the other team members, go to www.parsonsministries.org, home page.

For those of you who have been here, we are going to El Fresca tonight (a great favorite of our team's... the best Texas BBQ, in of all places - Hanoi - owned by Australians!). Jet lag not bad... yet! I can't get photos to upload. That is enough for now. Thank you for your prayers! In H Grace, David & Begee