Two Teeth

They have been mentioned in Christmas songs as something a child longs for (“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”)  and we all have that dreaded picture in the first or second grade with a crater between your canines that people think is super cute when you are seven. However, somewhere between ages seven and twelve it becomes very awkward to be missing those pearly whites. Of course they are import for eating, and one of the first things people notice when they look at you. However, during my entire career as a nurse and quite possibly my entire life, two little teeth have never caused so much trouble. Tonight on the wards, two teeth- two small, jagged, pointed, bottom teeth that reached clear up the the underside of her nose were the source of three separate 15 minute conversations shared between three doctors, three nurses, four translators and six languages. “Mama” as we call pretty much any woman over the age of 30, was born with a cleft lip. Because of where she was geographically placed on this earth, her lip has remained split, for 51 years. She was admitted today for surgery tomorrow to bring her upper lip together and radically change her appearance. The first conversation was between her and her nurse just minutes after she came onto the wards as they went through what would take place in the next 24hours. “Mama” who has exactly 5 teeth came to the ship with a dream to leave with a full set of pearly white chompers to go with her new lip. Unfortunately that is just not a service we can provide. We are able to take out rotted teeth or crooked teeth, but we can’t replace them due to funding and supplies. The nurse explained all of this and Mama seemed satisfied, but not for long. The anesthesiologist came by later and she, full of joy and feisty spirit, asked him the same questions. To her dismay, he came and got me--who gave her the same answers. A few hours later Dr. Gary came by, and I asked him to set her mind straight so that she wouldn’t wake up disappointed by what we had enforced earlier in the evening. The conversation went something like this. Dr. Gary asked her would she like him to take out those two bottom teeth while she was asleep tomorrow. Yes, she exclaimed! Get rid of them! Wait, no, don’t unless you’ll replace them......will you replace them?.......are you sure you can’t?.......what if I want someone else to put new ones in?...That would be just fine, said Dr. Gary.  But, I’m just a farmer, how could I afford that, Momma asked? Then without hesitation she added, well-- I am the third wife of my husband, which means he loves me most, maybe he’ll pay for my teeth when he sees how beautiful I am!? A few second pause, she changed her mind again...No leave them, she said- just in case he wont pay for it, even though I’ve won his heart she added. Dr. Gary asked, is that your final decision? Yes--wait, no, okay--final answer, out they go!! By this point we were all laughing, watching her animatedly go back and forth. We received consent by her thumb print on the piece of paper, and quietly the humble Dr. Gary added, I think this was a longer consent process than what we have for patients who are about to have half their face removed!! But it was all worth the time and laughs, because today after 51 years, she had her lip made new-bringing together two pieces of flesh that have never touched in her life--and when I saw her tonight after her operation she was absolutely beautiful.....