Last night, after completing the Whipple Procedure and several other surgeries, I hobbled out of the OR. I met a pleasant lady sitting on a bench. She has been waiting patiently for her exploratory laparotomy. She said to me, "What of mine?" I said, "ndo (sorry), I am too tired". "Echi bu ubochi ozo (tomorrow is another day)"
She was happy with my attempts to speak Igbo. She was grateful that she would be taken care of eventually. Nigeria is a society where it is hard to get what you need. Most Nigerians are used to waiting and also to being disappointed. We won't disappoint this patient. Her surgery will be today.
ADDENDUM: Our sweet lady has some type of uterine cancer with malignant ascites. We will commence chemotherapy once she recovers.
