Back to Work

Today was our first day back to one of our "solo" clinics this year- Chicabracan. This is a clinic that is held in a school in a tiny village outside Quiche. Previously, it was the only clinic we had that did not have an affiliation with a church or an evangelist of some sort.

We have hired a friend of Dr. Lisa Dunham's (our Family Practicioner friend in Chichicastenango) to come with us and witness to the people waiting in line for the clinic. His name, which we've mentioned before, is Juan Diego Lux (pronounced "Loosh").

We had about 25 patients today, two of which we thought had their diabetes under control but appear not to, four kids in one family with chicken pox, and several with allergies and body aches and pains. We did diagnose one pregnancy, though, which is always good when you're an OB/GYN.

One patient, however, stuck out a little bit. Her name is Isidra Alvarado Osono. We didn't recognize her, but she had seen Paul and Lindsey while they were doing our clinics for us for a few weeks while we were in the US for Christmas. Their note about her in the computer (what a GREAT donation that is turning out to be) was that she has had eight miscarriages and has lost four living children due to violence from her spouse. Since Paul and Lindsey are native Spanish speakers, we're pretty sure there wasn't anything lost in translation there. Even if she's a terrible historian and is way off on her numbers, that's still a horrible situation.

She was clearly a troubled woman. She had a hard time looking either one of us in the eye, spoke very softly, and followed every description of a physical complaint with a qualifier. Her stomach hurts, but it could be worse, etc.

We, of course, treated her for gastritis and some aches and pains (her right eye was swollen from a recent beating). We also brought Juan Diego in to talk to her and pray with her. Not only is he a super neat guy and a wonderful evangelist, he is from here and knows the people around here. He knew the village she's from and knew of a man there who could help her. She knows the man and, whether she seeks any help or not, at least has one more option in her mind. Please keep Isidra and her husband in your prayers.

Oh, and before we forget, we have dates for our first trip to the Ixcan with Duane and Leslie. Apparently, there is going to be a caravan of 15 or so people headed up there in February - by ground, unfortunately - to do some medical work and some repair work on the plane that's still sitting there. Duane, Aaron, and David should be back in the next week or so. Then it'll be time to start planning for a long, crazy drive. Thank God our truck seems to be in the best shape it's been in a while. It'll need to be!

Tomorrow we're going to be back at ASELSI in Chichicastenango. We hope to see our patient with breast cancer who, as of yet, has not consented to her surgery. We have been praying a lot for her and look forward to seeing she and her husband again.