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!