"coping with extraordinary circumstances"

I was due to have foot surgery last Friday and arrived at 9:30, to find that 2 ladies had been waiting since 7:30/8:00. It later transpired that one of the two anaesthetists had been unable to attend, and they only knew this late the night before. However, instead of cancelling operations, they ploughed ahead using one anaesthetics between 2 surgeons, which I thought was really good of them! Admittedly, we had to wait around a lot, and I did feel sorry for the ladies who had arrived so early, but at least we did not have to go home and wait again for who knows how long (NHS patients)!! My surgery was performed with the customary care and attention and I can but praise them for rising to the challenge! Thank you very much!