Mori’s time in Banda Aceh winding down

Editor’s note: Dr. Hayato Mori, an orthopedic surgeon with Wilcox Health (Wilcox Memorial Hospital and Kauai Medical Clinic), is aboard the USNS Mercy on a goodwill medical mission, performing surgery both onboard and in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on those injured by the December tsunami. He has been e-mailing photos and regular reports.

The time is nearing when Dr. Hayato Mori will leave the waters off Banda Aceh and return to Kaua‘i to resume his normal life and medical practice.

Keeping busy making the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy ready for departure means less time to think about the sad good-byes that will inevitably come, he said.

“We have nurtured many friendships during our time here in Banda Aceh. We have helped many individuals heal their wounds,” he said. “Our regret is that we were only able to see the tip of the iceberg. There is so much need for the type of care that we were able to offer,” Mori said.

“It is indeed a day of mixed emotions for the crew of USNS Mercy. We are winding down our mission,” he said. “All of our inpatients will be transferred to the capable hands of medical professionals at one of three hospitals in Banda Aceh.

“We will continue to work with patients on shore until the ship makes sail for Singapore in several days. It is my understanding that, aside from the World Health Organization, the Mexican Navy will be the only foreign-government presence in Banda Aceh,” he continued.

“Our hope is that the Indonesian government will continue to allow NGOs such as Aussie Aid to staff the University Hospital. We have great confidence in the ICRC (Red Cross) to be able to provide continuity of care for our patients,” he added.

“TNI Hospital is fully staffed with Indonesian medical personnel. So far, our orthopedic patients are being well cared for, and I have full confidence in Dr. Jursal Harun to manage our post-operative patients,” he concluded.