Some happy, some sad...

Today we were back at Aselsi, which you will recall is a wonderfully run clinic started by John and Sharon Harvey in Chichicastenango. Maria, Carolina, and Otto came for their post-op checks, and everyone is healing up great! The pictures are of Maria (you can always tell her by her fat cheeks... her parents had one baby die of prematurity/malnutrition at 4 pounds, and they're not ABOUT to let that happen again!) and Carolina, who we had to wake up for the photo op... The really cool thing about these babies is that the same team that did their lip surgeries will be back next January, and they hope to do the palates then. That's not bad continuity of care for being a few thousand miles away, right?

Anyway, we also have good news to report on the two inguinal hernia kids from Chinique. They were both looking great post-operatively and were released from the hospital today. It is comforting to know that their pastor and our friend, Roy Espinosa, will be checking in on them over the next few days.

We saw over 30 patients today, and most were routine prenatal care patients or people with minor ailments. Two notable exceptions are the 50 year old man with findings on his lung exam and chest X-ray that Heidi can't interpret well (We'll ask Tom Hoak for help tomorrow), and a lady who brought in her paperwork today saying that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she had a 32-pound tumor removed in 2002! She has had no follow-up care since then, and the fact that she's still alive at this point means she has already beaten many odds with ovarian cancer. We are doing some tests to see if the cancer is returning (she's having some suspicious symptoms), but pray that things work out well for her.

Our little "single" pregnant lady came back in, too. She's the one who is pregnant by her (ex-) husband, who has been living with another woman for several years! We found out today that while her mom and pastor are being very supportive, her brothers are now considering kicking her out of the house because of the illegitimate pregnancy. She has no idea where she will go if this happens, has no money, no skills, and does not speak Spanish. Please pray that her family's hearts will soften more to her over the next few weeks. The baby is due April 5th.

We did have some good news to give her today, though... It's a BOY. (just like Baby Bell for those of you who haven't figured it out yet!) This will improve her chances of being allowed to stay in the house, as her brothers would be much less inclined to look favorably upon a baby girl. It is a sad state of affairs here-- Not quite as bad as you hear about it being in China, since people have many more kids/attempts at a boy here-- but still a girl is seen as much less "useful" to the family than a boy is.

Still no word on when the container might or might not get here. We are trying hard to focus on the huge blessing that the items packed in it will be to so many people here, but we must admit it's hard to continue waiting!

Tomorrow Heidi is off to the Hospital Buen Samaritano again, hoping to see more than one or two patients this time. Matt will be here either starting to unload the container (hopefully...) or practicing his music.

Oh, and while we're thinking about it, don't forget to look at Rachel Ficker's new blog. There's a link on the right hand side of our page. It's FANTASTIC!!! We read it every day. You should, too. (Maybe Katie will get off her hiney and write once in a while, too.)