Cutest Patient Award: a Tie

The cutest patients -- twin nieces of my friend, Sandy, who works at the Williams' house.  Their names are Alesandra and Alejandra.  They don't look very sick, do they??  :)

Patient photos

This is one of my favorite patients, Valentino.  He is 89 and has had 9 children, two which have died.  He was very talkative and told me all about his life in rural Honduras and work as a farmer.  Valentino is one of many patients who come to our clinic with diabetes and high blood pressure.  The typical Honduran diet (rice, beans, tortillas, plantains, yucca, coffee, fruit, etc.) in conjunction with influences from North American culture has affected the health of many people in Honduras.  Just today, half of our adult patients had high blood pressure and diabetes.  
On the contrary, children commonly suffer from malnutrition in Honduras and are underweight.  This young girl is 28 months old and weighs 20.5 lbs -- a gain of only 2 lbs since her last visit 6 months ago.  She, like many of the children we see, has an upper respiratory infection and required a series of breathing treatments to clear her lungs and ease her breathing.  We also provided powered formula, antibiotics, etc. which are included in the 50 Limpira (about $2.65) fee to see the doctor at our clinic.  If patients can't pay, they either bring bags of dried beans or a chicken, etc.  When they don't have a way to pay or live too far to bring anything, we still see them for free.

Weekend adventures

Last weekend Heather and I took a walk to visit our American friends down the road (Jonathan and Devin).  We met up with them just in time for a hike, guided by a swarm of anxious and energetic kids who are orphans from the next village over.  They bring food to the kids a couple times a week and are quite popular for being giant human jungle gyms and for sharing their Oreo cookies.  

Here's a picture of Franklin, Julia and their friend with his tiny kitten in front of the "orphanage" where they live.  These children along with many others live with an older woman who takes care of them.  Despite their solemn expressions, these kids are filled with so much joy and love.   They love having their picture taken and are laughing and goofy and hyper right up until you take it, then for 5 seconds they turn serious.  After its taken, they run to look at the picture and are back to being fun and smily.  It's hilarious.

My tour guide, Franklin, 4 years old, guiding me down the path from the cave.  The kids loved to hold your hand down the path and little Franklin here needed a boost a few times in his oversized flip-flops.  He was so eager to point things out and show me a toucan up in the trees and where the stream turns into a mini waterfall, etc.  He was so excited when we finally made it to the cave and tried to get me to climb through a small opening on the side of the rocks where there's another space (the kids had to be going somewhere, right?)...I declined.

This is the swimming hole where we took the kids after our hike -- I couldn't resist the dare this time and jumped off this rock with all my clothes on (in the background).  Reminded me of jumping off the bridge at the Land, but probably a bit more dangerous!  The water was cool and clear and felt great after the hike.  It came from a rushing stream up the mountain from this picture and meets one of the 3 large rivers which join in the area near Rio Viejo (hence the name of the town where I live).  Glad to be able to share in the fun of what goes on down the road from us and also to be able to connect with kids in our area outside of the clinic.  Hope to do it again soon!

BUGS!

So after finding a giant chaga bug in our bathroom, I decided enough was finally enough.  I am adjusting well to my new mosquito net and feeling quite secure in fact.  As an attempt to not scare off all possible visitors, I will not explain what a chaga bug does or transmits, but feel free to wikipedia it on your own, if you dare.

Clinic pics

Here's some pictures of the clinic -- the top is of my exam room where I see patients for their initial consult before they wait to see Dr. Williams.  After Martin sees the patients I fill their prescription in the pharmacy (picture on the left) and explain how to take their medication. 

  

Didn't take long to realize how different things are in the medical world in Honduras than in the States, commonly due to limited accessibility.  For example, we wash and reuse equipment that is routinely tossed in the States, including all the pieces used to nebulize (breathing treatments), scalpels, surgical instruments, speculums, etc.  My job is to scrub, wash, and soak everything in bleach and later we will boil the metal instruments to sterilize them for use in minor surgeries (picture on the right).  

Also, dirty needles are kept in an empty wine bottle.  We use bed sheets for the exam table and wear headlamps while doing procedures.  Even prescribing medications is reliant upon what is available in our pharmacy (what has recently been donated and isn't too far out-of-date).  

Such is life in a Jungle Hospital!

Check your boots!

This is why we tip our boots over before putting them on!  Well, not really because usually it would be a tarantula or roach or something.  But this guy certainly surprised Martin the other day before we started clinic!  The nearest river is down the road a bit, so Mr. Crab must have been walking all night just to miraculously climb up into a rubber boot.  Our "guard dog", Kaiser, was equally perplexed as the poor crab, who kept snapping at his nose when he tried to sniff him out.  Needless to say, it was quite an eventful start to our day!

¡Yipee, hace sol!

  

The rains have stopped!  (only for 3 days, but enough to see the sun!)  Heather and I went for a hike down to the river (the village's namesake) and enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery.  

Will continue to post photos as long as our internet signal allows -- not many pictures of patients yet as I don't want patients to feel uncomfortable or to seem intrusive.