Finishing Strong and Giving Thanks: Day 8

The final operative day began with a 7:30 AM departure from the mission house. Before leaving, the team gathered in prayer, asking for God’s presence and persistence to guide the day ahead.

Patient Progress

All prior surgical patients continue to do well.

Mobilizing effectively with therapy

Pain well controlled

Overall recovery progressing as expected

Two patients continued to have elevated blood pressure, presenting an ongoing challenge for the local internal medicine team. Despite this, both patients remained stable without additional concerns.

A Strong Start

We were able to get an early start, with the first patient ready by 9:15 AM.

The team completed:

2 Total Knee Arthroplasties

1 ORIF of a Tibial Plateau Fracture

Final Arthroplasty Cases

Both total knee patients were notably small in stature—approximately 4’5” and 4’6”—requiring the smallest implant sizes available.

Utilized the final remaining size 1 femoral components

Both procedures were completed smoothly and successfully

Careful planning around implant inventory allowed these cases to proceed without compromise.

Trauma Case

The final case was a 28-year-old male with a mildly displaced medial tibial plateau fracture.

Approach: posteromedial

Fixation: buttress plating

Outcome: excellent, no complications

Efficiency Realized

The progression of the week was clearly evident today.

Improved workflow

Refined sterilization process

Strong team coordination

All cases were completed by 12:30 PM—a testament to how far the system had come since the early challenges of the mission.

Following the final case, the team carefully cleaned, processed, and sterilized all instruments in preparation for transport back home.

A Time of Gratitude

The hospital administration hosted a formal program to recognize the mission and celebrate the success of the surgical camp.

We were honored with:

Traditional khadas

Certificates of appreciation

A gift of love—a trophy featuring a map of Nepal

Together, we shared tea, reflected on the week, and gave thanks—recognizing that the success of this mission was made possible through faith, partnership, and perseverance.

Closing the Work

After the ceremony, the team began packing—organizing totes, preparing instruments, and making arrangements for departure.

Some team members will be leaving early for a Mount Everest flight and will not return to the hospital, so we made it a priority to visit patients one final time—offering encouragement, continuity, and closure.

An Evening of Reflection

The team gathered for dinner at Nina’s Restaurant, a familiar spot near the American embassy.

Over the meal, team members shared their most memorable moments from the trip:

The beauty of the countryside during early morning drives

Participating in Nepali worship each day

Building relationships with hospital staff

Seeing the outcomes of last year’s patients

Fellowship within the team

Anticipation of the Mount Everest flight the following morning

Final Devotional

The day concluded with a team devotional led by Jason DeBusk, who taught from Mark 2.

His message centered on a powerful truth: that all things are ultimately done by God, and what He asks of us is faithfulness. It was a fitting conclusion to a week marked by effort, challenge, and perseverance—reminding us that while we labor, it is God who works through it all.

Reflections

The final day reflects the full arc of the mission:

From uncertainty → to efficiency

From constraints → to solutions

From preparation → to execution

What began with challenges in sterilization, power, and logistics ended with a highly efficient surgical system delivering excellent outcomes.

Through it all, one truth remained constant:

We were never working alone.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

It has been a privilege to serve, to partner, and to witness the impact of this work.

We leave grateful, humbled, and already looking forward to what comes next.