St. Ann's Bay Hospital Ceremony

Elder Smith had a wonderful birthday on Thursday, Sept. 15th. We drove to Ocho Rios then Saint Ann's Bay Hospital for the "Handing Over" Ceremony of the new anaestheology (sp) machine. We first set up a meeting with Dr. Dawkins, the director of the hospital in December of 2010 ... and here it is come to fruition! We thought it was taking a long time, but the hospital was thrilled that it only took 8/9 months. Brother Paul Lester represented the Ocho Rios Branch Presidency in the ceremony - here he is shaking hands with Dr. Dawkins. Elder Whitehead spoke about the Church Humanitarian services, told about Fast Sunday and Fast Offerings that the whole church contributed to this wonderful machine being here..he did a great job. Told everyone that the Church is trying to follow the Savior's example of serving our fellow men. Dr. Scarlett from the surgery dept. called the machine a Merecedes Benz and joked that he had the keys! Dr. Dawkins corrected him and said it was a Jaguar, but the head of surgery called it a Rolls Royce!! Actually Dr. Scarlett said that this is high tech - state of the art - and he was so grateful for it. He labeled it a Number Seven, and they started with number one, their 25 years old machine was at a number four -- so this is a major improvement to say the least! They all called it a Dream Come True, and one of the doctors told Elder Smith that they do 30 surgeries a day and this will make their work safer and they will save more patients lives because of it. The company that makes the machine also contributed - lowering the price significantly so that the Church could afford to buy it for the hospital. Humanitarian Couples have only so many US dollars they can spend on any one single project ...so their good gets spread around the whole island. It was a wonderful ceremony and the hospital appreciated it so much - made me cry! They also appreciated the service project and the wheelchair training that the Church does...what a huge blessing to the lives of the Jamaicans! so glad to be a small part of it! The Nurse pictured is the Charge Nurse for Surgery and Sister Whitehead and I loved her white cap! The Whiteheads have two daughters that are RN's and we have Heidi and Ben - yay for good nurses!