Life-saving for the patient
Between the large city of Juliaca in the state of Puno and Curahuasi in Apurimac, there are many hospitals. The fact that Donna Dionicia now preferred to travel to Hospital Diospi Suyana – despite her abdominal pain – is per se a real statement. And she reached the mission hospital not a day too soon. The wall of her gallbladder was dead (necrotic) from a severe infection and had broken through in one place. As a result, a pus cavity had formed in the liver. Due to the inflammation, her diabetes (blood sugar) was derailed.
Every patient is worthy of doctors and nurses fighting for his or her health, but when a woman has seven children, the medical team’s efforts quickly take on drama.
Our Swiss general surgeon, Dr. Lukas Steffen – himself stricken with a flu-like infection these days – removed the gallbladder and then cleared out the abscess (collection of pus) in the liver. His colleague, Dr. Maria Elena, treated the diabetes.
Dr. Steffen’s bravery suggests that William Tell was one of his ancestors. Thanks to him and to Dr. Maria Elena for the expert internal therapy. We recommend a bottle of Coca Cola to the two of them and then immediately on to the next case. /KDJ
