Communication and spreading the word

Talking in the hallway with relatives of patients they were amazed that Van Anh, Mario and I could communicate being from Vietnam, Brazil and the US. Thanks goodness for English. They told us the hospital had run an advertisement on TV saying AOFAS was coming to Dien Bien to treat problems of the foot and ankle. They contacted the hospital and were seen in a clinic. One mother was very happy we had operated on her daughter yesterday as they would have had to go to Hanoi for treatment and did not have the money to do that. With a big smile, she thanked us. I drove back last year from Dien Bien Phu with Dr. Toan and it took about 12 hours with a few stops. I think the bus takes longer. It is about $100 round trip on Vietnam Air but consider that many of these families make less then $300/year so flying is not an option. Much communication in the OR is done with hand signals as there is a "universal" OR dance. Communication with patients is done with gestures, looks and a translator. It is amazing how many children will follow your gestures...and the adults need instruction...AAHH to be a child again.