The really only important part of flying is for the pilot to land the plane on the proper runway at the proper time. Everything else is secondary, including eating your knees for lunch. We all made it OK with the exception of one of my duffles of supplies. It took 20 minutes to go thru Immigration at 12:30AM, India time (all of India is 10 1/2 hours of EST), and 40 minutes to wait for the bags, and 1 hour to stand in line waiting to fill out the report for my lost duffle. “We promise we’ll deliver it to you in 2 days!” Yeah, right, as Bill Cosby says. Everyone is in fine spirits.

We saw 150 patients Monday, and started doing some minor procedures Monday afternoon just to get things warmed up. Patient mix was more or less the same as usual with lumps and bumps, breast masses, thyroid problems, lots of Gyn problems, kids with problems like hernias, hemorrhoids, burn scars. One guy showed up that we did an elbow flexure scar release last year with a skin graft. He did his exercises well and now has full elbow range of motion, but he wants his anterior axillary fold scar released so he can raise his arm above the level of his navel. Can’t say as I blame him, but he’s kind of a turkey. His girl friend jilted him so he set himself on fire, thus the burn scars. Of course being dark skinned he, like most of his compatriots, is subject to forming keloid scars which are big humped up proliferations of the scar tissue, sometimes reaching a centimeter in height and width.

One guy showed up with a golf ball-sized keloid on his earlobe that he wanted removed. We said it will come right back. He said he knew because he had had it removed 4 times before…..so what can I say?? Anyway, I did the self-immolator yest aft, got a good release, and got it closed. Andrew Herting, a junior at Fordham U.(his first year here, came with classmate Sam Carter who came last year) helped me, using the staple machine to close the stiff, recalcitrant skin. Now for his exercises!!

A 19-year-old girl showed up Monday 9 1/2 months pregnant. Dr. Sulochana Christopher, our old and good friend who has again come up from Chinnae to help us out, said the girl needed a C-section, which we did yest aft. Daughter Liz, who is here this year, was delighted cuz she got to hold the new-born. Tell DJ, not to worry. She doesn’t look like she really wants another one!. When we made rounds last night at 9PM, Sam Carter was thrilled, holding the new baby. Liz took his picture. We said we’d send the pic to his Mom & Dad with a note that there’s something he forgot to tell them about last year, and now he’s getting married here. He hopes the family likes the baby……we all laughed, Sam loudest of all. Lots of fun times amid the seriousness.

Miracle of miracles, my lost duffle showed up this morning at 7:30, sealed shut with a Lufthansa plastic lock. I think the guy who made me sign all sorts of papers to get it wanted a bribe from me, but I didn’t have any Rupees on me at this hour…..way it goes. Well breakfast is ready….sugar coated corn flakes, boiled eggs, toast. Yesterday we has “egg-toast” which we all love (that’s French toast). Last night we had “omelets” in addition to the usual spicy food….that’s two meals in a row without spices, for me…a real luxury!! My old Yale room-mate, Bill Bayfield would love it here. He puts tabasco sauce on his toothpaste…likes hot food!!!      Gotta go so as not to be late for the OR. Nuttin’ starts till I get there…….later, Geo.