Farther

While loading supplies into the truck Friday morning I asked "how far are we going today" to try and get a sense of the drive time. One of the younger translators replied "where we went yesterday, but farther". That actually made sense :)

By the 5th clinic day, we have become very comfortable in our routine of breakfast, plan for the day, load the truck, & then a long ride. 

However, today we got spoiled!  The school had put up signs for us to direct patients to the Farmacia or Consorturio rooms. They even had blankets and sheets hung from the ceiling to partition the large room into smaller rooms (3 consult "rooms" per class). 

What really spoiled us though was the fact the school had ceiling fans to circulate the air!  We were told that a Rotary Club from Canada had donated the fans to the school (let's take a moment to belt out a few lines of O' Canada in appreciation).

At the end of the day, we donated a big duffle bag full of toys, toothbrushes/paste, sewing kits, and other kid items to a local orphanage!

After clinic, another beach excursion. This time however we encountered a gentleman who had broken his leg a few years ago (history on how was not 100% as he stated it was a vehicle crash while someone else told us he was beaten by the police after robbing someone).  His leg was never set properly so was misshapen and he had recently fallen and suffered a severe infection in his leg. Although most of it had healed, he was still battling what appeared to be an osteomyelitis infection. 

Soooo, as nurses, we set up an impromptu clinic station on the curb and treated his injury in our beachwear!  It's an amazing feeling to be able to help someone who is injured regardless of where/what you are doing! 

Afterward, a short stop at a fun center for go-cart racing and sunburns. DR volunteer nursing does have a few perks :)

Morning bus rides are getting less talkative & more introspective. Jessie & Matt getting in the right headspace for the day. 

Patients patiently waiting. 

Beautiful school - they put up signs for us to watch our step.

We had plenty of space to spread out for the Farmacia today. Note the glorious ceiling fan - I think it was turned up to 11. 

Lindsi volunteered to be charge nurse today - still smiling at the end. 

Disparity of $ vs. no $ is sometimes startling - this gorgeous home overlooks homes like this one...

Curbside emergency clinic - beachwear is better than scrubs. 

Matt, Noah, & Jason in "work" mode. Flushing the wound - no chux needed when the drain (aka gutter) is under your patient :)

Off to the go-carts...no guns allowed though. 

Matt patiently (?) waiting to race like Mario Andretti - more like Mario Kart. 

Hold on Jordan!! 

Lindsi was smiling all the way to the finish line. 

This is why there's no guns allowed!  Kids, do not drink and drive...

We all think Eric has a tapeworm...he ate this amount twice tonight!

Damp

Sometimes there can be a little extra moisture in the air. 

Today before we loaded the truck for clinical, we had a small rain shower. Normally, a small shower is OK, but in DR the humidity level goes to 100% and then just stays there. Your clothes don't dry and sweating while you work just makes for a damp day. 

However, we all still enjoyed ourselves at the clinic!  

Another day with a home visit. Lindsi and Jessica (Jessie) jumped at the opportunity to visit a DR home and meet and treat a family. 

Eric says "I love the smell of morning in the morning". Not sure he's quoting that right...

Noah trying to get out of the picture. 

Clinic was held at a small private school - primary on ground level, High School on 2nd level. 

Kris & Noah in action. 

Tired, just tired. 

Our group leader is trying to figure out a way to bring this little dog home with her (really).

We dispose of our sharps in the proper containers - a lot of improvisation happens around here. But, it makes us think differently to find solutions to problems we would never see in the US.

We go high-tone with our signs :)

A local treat: chicharrone - deep fried pork skin & fat with vinegar on it. There were very few of us who enjoyed this dish. 

All work & no play makes grumpy nurses so we were treated to a short beach excursion after clinic - Noah thinks he's keeping his scrubs dry.

Did I mention we were already damp?  No suit = swim in scrubs!

Jordan and Chantel rotating through "guard duty". 

Eric may be depressed, it's hard to tell though. 

Empanadas went over well. 

Don't ever complain the ambulance is too small because it could be worse!

Jessie and Lindsi packing up supplies to go for their home visit. 

These tree frogs sing for us each night. Lindsi seems a bit squeamish...

Lindsi, they're friendly frogs, but c'mon...

The Summit

For our 3rd day of clinic, we drove approx. 1-1/2 hours to a very small village called "The Summit". 

The community was gracious enough to loan us the use of the town hall building. 

The regional mayor escorted us to our destination.  

This was the first day any of us went on home visits to see a home-bound patient. Noah (and a nurse named Pam) went out to see an elderly man with diabetes and diabetic wounds. Jason and Eric went to do a basic head-to-toe wellness check on a 93-year-young woman :)  Everyone had great experiences and felt honored to be welcomed into people's communities and their homes. 

Bob the cat guards our supplies overnight. Not sure of his hourly fee, but I'm guessing that he's willing to negotiate :)

Our clinic site for Day 3 - the man in the yellow shirt is the mayor; for some reason he had a handgun tucked into his belt today...

We were very organized today. However the humidity and heat was the worst we've encountered so far.

We had a "working" toilet today!  The board didn't help much...

Matt "working" our pharmacy (Emily from Maine is taking a needed break). 

A local woman allowed us to sign her cast...

Stopped for a Coke on the way back to camp. 

We visited a monument dedicated to 3 sisters who were peaceful freedom fighters in the 50's - the Dictator had them killed and their bodies thrown into the gorge to make it look like an auto accident. 

Getting ready for Day 4!

Second clinic complete...

For our second clinic, we had a 40 minute drive to get to a small community.

We set up in a structure with only a tin roof. The lack of walls actually helped as the day got hotter since we were blessed with the (very) occasional breeze. 

Official count was 127 patients - from 4 months old to 98 years old :)

I believe every person from a 2-mile radius made their way to see us!

On the long drive.

Our clinic for the day - (we did have chairs).

Some of the kids may end up in carry-on bags when we come back :)

On the drive back to camp at the end of clinic. 

Small swimming hole on the way back to camp - sometimes cooling off is the best prescription :)

First clinic today!

We set up clinic in a local village school and saw approx. 150 patients today. 

It's a little disheartening to have to tell people "here's what's wrong with you, but we don't have anything with us to treat you". We do have the ability to pick up meds locally, but we have no extra money :( 

You can still donate to our trip & our work at the projecthelpinghands.com website (DR7/13 group). 

On the truck heading to our clinic site (not in view: 600 pounds of medical supplies/medications)

Patients were waiting for us to open.

Triage stations - initial contact point to try and diagnose.

Pharmacy station.