Monday Clinic, etc.

Today was our bi-weekly clinic in Chicabracan. Luckily, our friends Toby and Britney were free to go with us today. We've wanted to go to clinic together for some time, but they've had this JOB that kept getting in the way of our fun. Now they're near the end of their time here and things are opening up a bit in their schedule so they had a morning to spend with us.

We say "us"... What we meant was "Heidi". Knowing that Heidi was going to have some help, Matt decided to stay home with Isaac and let him have his routine here at the house. Good thing, too, because as of press time, he's thrown up about seven times today. Poor little chipper - he feels terrible. Lots of whining and crying... Hopefully we'll get that whole thing figured out today and tomorrow, because we have to make a long drive on Thursday (we hope).

On that note, our little friend, Rudy, with the large facial tumor (he's going on 7 years old now) has an opportunity at a surgery in Guatemala City next week. A team from Texas Children's Hospital is going to be down. We're offering the family a ride to Guatemala City this Thursday afternoon, a night in the city, then his pre-op consult on Friday morning. The pastor (and our translator in Nueva Santa Catarina) called this morning to tell us that the family doesn't want to go because they don't have any money. We told him that God will send money. Do not let a few dollars get in the way of Rudy getting his surgery. He said he'd tell the family. We're hoping to hear back tonight or tomorrow.

Also, one of our pre-eclamptic patients out there had her baby yesterday. Mom refused to go to the hospital (see our last entry for more on that) and had the baby at home. She didn't seize and the baby was born "bien gordito" (or "nice and fat") at an estimated 9 lbs! Praise God for that!

Anyway, back to clinic in Chicabracan. One of our regular patients out there has had surgery in Guatemala City for a blocked tear duct. She has occasional appointments in Guatemala City and comes to us to ask for help with her bus fare from time to time. Bus fare to Guatemala City is around $3, so we give her that when she comes in. Unfortunately, we recently diagnosed her with a miscarriage. She came to the hospital to get all of that taken care of and they sent her (appropriately) for some lab tests. Apparently, she has had a history of molar pregnancy (which she did not tell us about). So when she comes in to town on Wednesday, she'll come by the house with her receipt from the lab and we'll cover the $20 lab test.

Also in clinic today, we saw at least three new prenatal patients. It seems that word is getting around that we can help with prenatal care. And we got a POSTnatal patient, too. She brought in her baby for us to check out. (Picture #2. Pic #1 is of Toby checking a blood sugar level on a diabetic.)

Toby and Britney have been out of power at the house for a few days now, so they'll come over tonight to take hot showers (they have electric hot water) and for some supper. Heidi's out on the patio with Isaac in the hammock (next to an electric heater).

Tomorrow is our Saturday, so hopefully we'll be able to nurse Isaac back to health. Wednesday, Heidi has a couple of surgeries that Toby will scrub in on. We already talked about our possible trip to Guatemala City on Thursday afternoon and Friday. And on Sunday, Matt's mom and dad come in to hang out with Isaac for a week and a half. We think they might be coming to see us, too, but we're sure that we're a distant 2nd and 3rd place... as it should be!