Monday, September 17, 2012

Molly Journal #4

Every day is a slightly different patient load and is made up with patients I have never met before and also patients with conditions I have never seen before. Friday we had a slightly lighter load of patients, which was a little unusual. Maybe it was because it was a Friday or maybe it had something to do with the march many kids had that morning before school, considering a baby girl with a high fever came in later in the day because her older sister had the march to go to. Her older sister was dressed in a purple, satin-like princess dress.

I know for my host family preparation for the march started out the day before. My host mom had a pretty white satin-like ribbon out and was decorating it with silver glittered letters. She then proceeded to making white dresses for both of her young girls, one is three and doesn't even go to school yet but was included in the festivities. The older one slept in curlers that created small tight ringlets and the younger girl had nice natural curls and didn't need much but some ribbons added to her hair. The next morning, the day of the march, the girls woke up early, for their standards, around 6:30 a.m. They had to get ready, get something to eat and wake up before the start of the march, 7:30 a.m. The dresses were beautiful and had blue ribbons lining the bottom. And each girl was wearing glove-like pieces with a loop around the middle finger. They looked like princesses. My host mom carried the younger daughter so that she wouldn't get any orange clay on her dress and her brother brought the older daughter on a moped. When we got to where everyone was gathering, there were around one-hundred young children and some of their parents. Those who had cameras were taking pictures. From just a glance you could tell everyone and their mom put a lot of effort into their outfits. The youngest child in my host family is definitely not a morning person and I did not see one smile or hear one word from her all morning which is very rare. So in the pictures she doesn't look so happy. I left around 7:45 a.m., before the march started, and caught a collectivo to Coxen Hole just in time before the police closed the roads. I made into the hospital with perfect timing to start the day.

Every patient is different and even if they receive the same diagnosis, they are unique. Today however I met a young boy with a cephalic disorder. I recognized the name but could not recall the different severities of the disease or the typical prognosis. He could not stand or walk on his own and his mother carried him wherever he needed to go. Normally I use the measuring tape on the wall of the clinic to take a three year old's height and the stand-up scale, but for him I had to measure his height on the table and his weight on the scale for infants. His height actually exceeded the measuring tape, but it wasn't so much that I couldn't estimate the rest. He clearly was uncomfortable in general because he kept tearing up but could not voice his concerns like other children his age. While shadowing Dra. Cerritos I learned a little bit more about his condition and the fact that his mother has other children to take care of as well. What matters is that the little boy has the support of his family and Dra. Cerritos help to continue monitoring his condition.
 
This reminded me of my host family and how the older daughter has a disorder. She can speak so her family understands her and slowly I've been able to understand bits and pieces of what she says. She also has difficulty controlling her motor functions. She can walk, sit, stand, go up and down stairs, etc. but not with the same ease as any other child. Her facial muscles are also difficult for her to control. You can tell in a couple of the pictures her mom took of us with my phone that she cannot control her facial expressions from moment to moment and almost always she has saliva on the top of her shirt. Despite the differences Nicole is good-natured, thoughtful, well-behaved, and positive young girls I have ever met. Maybe it is because she is the oldest child and has taken it upon herself to be responsible. I know my host parents have done a fantastic job of loving and supporting their kids which makes all the difference in the world. Nicole attends school with other students her age and plays with her younger sister, cousins, and friends when she is not in school. I am so happy for her that she has this support system and is treated much like any other child.

Sunday, September 09, 2012

Molly Journal #3

Today was the first of three days that Doctora Cerritos is teaching a course for pregnant women and women with newborns near the hospital. The relationship between patients and providers is very important and I think that it is fantastic that Dra. Cerritos is teaching the class for three days to educate women about their health and their child's. This can be considered a means of preventative medicine and one that I think is very important. Communication is key to many things in life and sometimes spending the time to explain something to someone or to talk to someone or even to ask a question can make life easier in the end. Keeping parents up to date on how to best care for their kids is important to health care professionals but I think it is just as important to the patients and their families. Families form a ring of support and if a mother has to work, many times her mother brings the child into the hospital, looking out for their family members. Without this support system, I do not even want to think what could happen to the child without getting the healthcare they need.
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Because of the classes Dra. Cerritos is teaching, the pediatric clinic is closed for the next three days. After talking with Alice on the phone I figured out that the clinic had not had a thorough cleaning for a very long time. It is important to make sure the clinic is as clean of an environment as possible. Of course I clean throughout every day, but dust has gathered on a lot of the shelving, doorways etc.
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So I started my day by taking the collectivo and going into Coxen Hole to go to Eldon's supermarket. I was hoping they were open at seven or eight at the latest so I could get an early start. I got lucky. Apparently the store's hours on the week days are 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. I found what I needed right away and paid $10 for eight rolls of paper towels to stock up the clinic. I use paper towels to clean the exam beds, tables, chairs, baby scale, etc. along with Lysol and occasionally some fantastik.
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I walked along the busy roads in Coxen Hole down my normal route but in addition to my backpack, this time I had a huge package of paper towels. I got to the hospital, opened the clinic and turned on the air conditioning because I was hotter than normal, carrying those paper towels,  wearing my backpack, and wearing long pants all the way to the hospital. Good thing I started early in the morning.
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I started dusting shelves, crevices, desks, and removed most of the stuff to make sure I got everything. It was disgusting how much dust I picked up, folding the paper towel every which way to make sure I didn't waste any of it. When I got tired of dusting I started going through medications we have (not that many) and got rid of those that  were expired and reorganized the ones we could keep according to the labels already on the shelves.
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Halfway in between that job I needed a change and continued dusting. I started tackling the windows,  and the frame behind the curtain that was coated with dust. The dust was so thick on them it makes sick to think about all of the other rooms in the hospital which are just as bad or worse. Next I started dusting on top of doorways and their frame and the tops of shelves where they probably have not cleaned since the shelves were built...
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I made a lot of progress on the cleaning and organizing. The pediatric clinic is one segment of the hospital. We have our own main door which I can lock and opens into a small hallway lined with benches on each side, and also people. Normally at 7:30 in the morning and until noonish it is difficult to walk down the hallway. Our pediatric clinic has three rooms, a main room (the biggest) with the main desk and computer, baby scale, normal scale, changing table, mat for measuring babies and a for children, a small file cabinet for forms and charts, and a couple book shelves for equipment and for books. This room is sufficient to support the services we provide and I'm glad the hospital has Global Healing's clinic for the community.
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When I was all done cleaning. All of the trash cans were completely filled and so I asked the cleaning ladies to come in and empty them for me. Thirty minutes later and after bothering them three times they came. They asked me about the clinic being closed today and why I was there. I told them the clinic needed cleaning and so I spent all day working on that. They must have been very surprised because that was the first time I had seen any of them smile at me. Usually I try and be very nice to them, but they don't seem very friendly, to me at least. After today I hope they understand that I respect them and think that they have important jobs and the hospital would not be able to function without their help.
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I thought about going to the class Dra. Cerritos was teaching for mothers because I thought it would be a good experience to see what the structure is for the classes, to learn some myself, and also to give me another opportunity to work on my Spanish. However, I had my doubts about whether or not it would be okay for me to go and by the time I seriously thought about going, it was too late to talk to the doctor. So for the next two days I translated for Clinica Esperanza until late afternoon.
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This week I ran into a few patients from the hospital in a collectivo, in Sandy Bay, and at Clinica Esperanza. I was reminded that I represent Global Healing wherever I go and I'm proud to say yes when someone asks me if I work in the hospital after recognizing me.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Molly Journal #2

26 August, 2012
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This past Sunday I went to church in West Bay. The service was great as usual. Although I don’t like the songs as much as the ones back home. The band here isn’t as exciting, granted there are only three band members here and about nine back home.
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After church Ms. Peggy drove some of us to this park called gumba limba. This park is gorgeous. I actually wandered through here on my adventure walking to West Bay and didn’t know exactly what it was. Gumba limba is like a huge jungle/tropical rainforest. As you drive in under the canopied trees, you can hear the monkeys, birds and other animals that live there. Guest can zip line, walk through the canopy, see the many iguanas that roam around, kayak, dive, etc. Of course this is all for an extra fee and is for people who aren’t stuck using crutches to get around…
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Anyways, the real reason for coming to Gumba limba is because of Sundae by the Sea, Clinica Esperanza’s annual fundraiser was being held there under a large gazebo like area (thank goodness we had cover because it rained at the beginning). The gazebo was huge and I didn’t notice at first but if you looked up at the ceiling there were bats. They were just chilling upside down, doing their thing. I joked with JJ (one of the volunteers/translators at the clinic who is a U.S. citizen, is applying to UMiami and grew up in Roatán) that hopefully none of the guests get the honor of getting guano in their hair.
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The set-up took a while and of course I couldn’t help. All I did was sit on my butt, but they did put me in charge of checking people in, collecting and selling tickets, handling money, etc. I did this all day and the live auction finally started around 2 p.m. By then I was so hungry for lunch…either way the live auction was exciting for me because I had never been to one before. The guys announcing the items were hilarious and overall it was entertaining. Some very cool things/opportunities were auctioned off live and in the silent auction. Some people will get to take a submarine ride down 1000 ft, spend a day as the mayor of Roatán, go in a hovercraft (or something cool like that), stay in a sweet resort for a week, get mani/pedi/massage for cheap, do some awesome diving, eat at some great restaurants, rent some sailboats, etc. I was lucky I couldn’t get around to bid on all of these items. All or nothing/go big or go home and this time choose the latter. Clinica Esperanza was lucky because so many supporters gave items for the auction.
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A couple of the best restaurants on the island donated food for dinner and of course all of the food was set up near my check-in table, tempting me for at least four hours after church and before we finally ate around 3:30 p.m. At the event there were drinks and of course ice cream sundaes. You can’t have Sundae by the Sea without sundaes. I was holding out until I got some real food until around 3:15 p.m. I was dying and needed to eat something, so I gave in, got some ice cream and when I was almost done, they started serving dinner. I knew that was going to happen.
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Dinner was amazing. I was super stoked to have a salad. I told JJ, who was getting food for the crippled (me), that I wanted lots of salad and then he could pile whatever looked good on top. He brought back a great salad with avocado, chicken and veggie shish kabobs, a bit of a surprisingly good potato salad, and some tasty rice. He told me when he piled on the lettuce and then everything on top people looked at him weird. I apologized and said people look at me weird all the time and for the most part I’m used to it.
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We finally finished up closing the deals on items, collecting money and packing up everything we brought. The fundraiser was a success, but of course the clinic still is trying to raise more money. It costs $450 for each baby born their (including birth, prenatal care and vaccinations) but the clinic charges patients less than $5 to see a doctor, no money for medications, and a dollar or two to get blood work or other lab tests done. Like I mentioned in another post Ms. Peggy is in the planning stages of building a trauma center for Roatán. She has a donor who is giving $1 million in equipment but they need $250,000 to build the center and more to continue operating. It will take time but I have faith that Clinica Esperanza will reach their goals. They don’t turn any patient away and are a great asset to Roatán. The Global Healing Pediatric clinic in the public hospital is also essential and treats patients from all around Roatán. Without this clinic a large majority of the patients would not be seen and would not get the treatment or medications they need.
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27 August, 2012
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Monday I went to the hospital, had a typical there triaging patients, finishing with paperwork, etc. I found out that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week most of the hospital is closed because doctors participate in a Tuberculosis course mandated by the Honduran Ministry of Health. The next three days I will be volunteering in Clinica Esperanza as a translator, which is great to do in the afternoons after the hospital but now I will have a bit more time to practice my translating skills.
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Today I was lucky to get a free taxi ride all the way to the hospital so I didn’t have to crutch half a mile or so. I didn’t argue. I was just relieved to not stumble in the door to the clinic drenched in sweat. Every morning I unlock the door, turn on the lights, turn on the AC, and wait for it to get cooler…crutches.
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28 August, 2012
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At the clinic today I had some interesting cases but enjoyed translating for the patients/doctors. A urologist is in town for the next week and he is pretty cool, but I don’t think his male patients felt very comfortable talking to me…so when JJ got to the clinic I continued to translate for Gavin, a PA resident, and stuck with talking to the pregnant but married 15 year old, a couple old ladies, a retired Canadian, and more but still engaging.
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I also got my cast off today. Ms. Peggy sawed some of it off, the urologist did some (for the first time) and I also got to saw some of my cast off. I had never done that before so it was pretty cool. My wound on the top of my foot which happened while playing beach volleyball (sand sloughed the skin off) was stuck to the cotton inside of the cast. That cut is the reason why I rolled my ankle in the first place.
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I put on my socks and sneakers to keep the sand out after I cleaned it off and because I put my sneakers on and was higher off the ground, it was easier to roll my ankle with a misstep…anyways Ms. Peggy properly bandaged it so the wound can continue healing. Next she put an air cast on me, which is kind of cool. I never knew what it was but I am surprised at how well it works. I’m glad I’m walking again because it makes everything so much easier and also my ankle was a bit stiff so finally moving it again feels good.
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Today is my mom’s birthday and she turned the big 5-0. I’m excited for her and was disappointed I couldn’t connect to the Internet in the clinic to talk to her. So, around three after I finished up at the clinic I went home to my host family, had lunch and then took a collectivo to the hospital so I could use the Internet and the phone to call my mom and dad and to send my mom her birthday poem I wrote her.
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Afterward, I stocked up on apples, bananas, lettuce and peanut butter since I could walk again and go out of my way to the grocery store. I also splurged on some blackberries and 90% chocolate, without my cast on I was feeling like a million bucks and thought I deserved something special. I started walking out of the parking lot to go catch a collectivo just as Dee drove in. Perfect timing, he went shopping while I at my refreshing blackberries and then he drove me back to Sandy Bay from Coxen Hole.
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Recently I have been sitting on my butt a lot watching TV because I haven’t been able to do much. So I’ve gotten to know the Kardashian family fairly well, Bones, Numb3rs, How I met your mother, and the recent election excitement…I have also done a lot of reading which is enjoyable. Needless to say tomorrow I’m excited to kayak and snorkel a bit in the afternoon. It just started pouring and I’m glad it’s raining hard at night so hopefully the roads can dry a bit before tomorrow. It gets pretty dangerous here with the windy/hilly roads combined with the not so great vehicles. Good thing I’m walking to the clinic in the morning and can keep an eye out for myself.