Stay updated with breaking news from Marlene Maxwell. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Up anywhere in the world, it sends a strong message. and it means many things. potential revenue for the host country. a form of international medical diplomacy. and lots and lots of grateful patients. patients like marlene maxwell, who had her life-saving operation right here on this ship. for "vital signs," i'm dr. sanjay gupta. thanks for watching.
There's no question things are going to be busy on the usns comfort. they plan ten to 12 operations per day. the first group came in yesterday. one of those patients was marlene maxwell. consider this. 24 hours ago, she had never even been on a ship. and today, she's going to have an operation on one. doctors will be removing mar len's thyroid today. for eight years, she's dealt with pain and discomfort that has just gotten worse. for three years, she's been waiting for this operation. a big part of this mission is collaboration between the united states and each host nation. that includes jam...
The comfort come to jamaica? does anyone see that as a threat or a concern? >> i don't think so. i think the whole of jamaica welcomes the u.s. comfort. if they could see more patients, if they could do more surgeries, if they could stay longer, if they could leave the ship with us. >> leave the ship. i like that. >> for marlene's operation, dr. whylie will be scrubbing in with lead surgeon dr. michelle morrison. she is a commander on the united states navy. they operated together on one patient this morning. >> i have her scrubbed in with me today, just kind of showing her how i would do thin...
Questions, please let me know. i'll try to explain things thoroughly before i do them so that i don't try to catch them off guard. >> this is five, six weeks into a six-month mission. >> yes, sir. >> that's a long time. >> it's a long time. >> family, friends, you miss people back home. >> of course. of course. it's hard to be away, but it's also great to be knowing that we're doing really good work here. a lot of mixed emotions. you have those days where you do miss home, but then you come in and see someone's smiling face like marlene, and just so much you can do, and it really brings you up...