As we close out today, I am laying in a hammock listening to crickets chirp and students laugh. The compound facility is really remarkable, and provides and sense of the US in its luxury.
As we drove to our same site today, I was mindful that the washed out road remained exactly as it had the day before. No CalTrans here to come and repair a dirt road 45 minutes outside of Teguc.
Today was hotter than yesterday. Ever aware that my discomfort is normal, everyday life here. Even our staff advisor (US citizen) that works for Global Brigades wears jeans in this heat. It is certainly different here than home. Today, I observed a man walking down the street with a machete. There are also old yellow school buses that drive around on the regular bus route and pick up passengers. The buses are decorated, maybe almost themed, and no one seems to think it odd that private individuals just drive around.
 |
| Our Doctors |
The medical work has been difficult and insightful. I worked in the Pharmacy again today. There were two different patients that came through and received prenatal vitamins. They were 15 and 16 years old. Lives changed forever. Our day began with one of the Honduran doctors walking a patient over with her 1 month old baby. He needed a breathing treatment like my niece used to have for her asthma. This mother sat with this wheezing baby in the pharmacy as the machine administered the treatment. She left with an inhaler and a plastic cup with a hole cut in the bottom to put over his nose and mouth so the inhaler would work for a baby. This leads me to today's lesson...
You do the best with what you have.
This baby needed more. A plastic cup and inhaler was all we had. Today the suitcase that held the supplies for the Triage area was forgotten/left behind. You just make it work with what's available. The jug of water arrived without the dispenser. You make it work. A person with allergies was given a 1 week prescription. It was what we had. A couple hundred more people were seen today.
About an hour into our work today, the Pharmacist, Dr. Louisa, leans over to me while checking medications for a patient. In her hand was a bag of aspirin. She showed me that stamped into each pill was the message, "Jesus Loves You". Healthcare and faith - hope for the people of Honduras.
As we drove to our same site today, I was mindful that the washed out road remained exactly as it had the day before. No CalTrans here to come and repair a dirt road 45 minutes outside of Teguc. 
No comments:
Post a Comment