Thursday, June 21, 2018

Day One


So as promised, we had a long day in clinic today—we only saw a total of 24 patients (that won’t sound like much to full-time docs at home!), but you have to keep in mind that most are brand-new patients and we are doing a full history and physical, our own urine testing, vitals, glucose testing, decision-making, often ultrasound, counseling, and dispensing of medicines!  It can take a while—especially when you are working in a second (Spanish) or even third (the Mayan Quiche language)!

The morning actually started with a brief devotional service that the hospital staff do every morning, which is beautiful.  Today, another Doctor and the Medical Director for the hospital preached/spoke briefly on Isaiah 40:29-31.  There could not have been a more perfect passage for us today!

29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

We definitely needed that before diving in—we went to the hospital around 8 this morning and didn’t finish until around 7 tonight, with about 1 15 minute lunch break.  Eeesh, right?  The worst part was that, of the 24 patients, we only scheduled THREE for surgery so far!  Usually by now we have scheduled at least 6 or 8, so we will see what the next days bring… 

Our favorite story from clinic—and our biggest prayer request!—is a patient who came in after being treated/followed by me for a little over a year now for infertility—She was sporting a suspiciously pregnant-looking belly, and totally joked with us when she saw the expectant/questioning look on my face that she “has been drinking a lot of beer”!!!  LOL—She, of course, is totally PREGNANT with a little BOY (which she just found out today)!!!  So. Very. Exciting!  However, I’m pretty worried that she likely has preeclampsia at about 31 weeks, so please be in prayer that she can stay healthy enough not to deliver too prematurely or run into bigger problems here!  We will see her again on Saturday…

I can’t really top that, and there really weren’t that many other good stories from today.  We did have a mother-daughter pair who both are convinced they have vaginal infections because they itch all the way from near their vaginas all the way down their legs—Pretty sure it’s just dry skin/eczema, ladies.  Why do the lady parts get blamed for everything?!

We did get a few pictures today to share, so here you go—I’m otherwise signing off for BED now, after a nice team dinner that we could treat our fantastic nursing help to this evening!

Actually, it may just be this group shot until I can download Kathryn’s pictures a little later:

From left to right: Mica, Kathryn, Heidi, Naomi, Alicia
AAaaaaaaactually, the internet is kinda acting up, so it may not be any pictures tonight!  I'll try to upload again in the morning... sorry!

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