Our clinic
Trip Start
Jun 10, 2006
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2
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Trip End
Jun 17, 2006
Los Palis, Haiti
Monday, June 12, 2006
Monday- I believe I have a parasite. I am apparently enjoying the goat, soup surprise, beans and rice we are having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but now I think i'll call in the reinforcement slim jim and powerbar. Thank God for processed food.
There is a stink on the way to the clinic, which I believe is from the hogs. It's unlike anything I've every smelled before...worse than the dump. Nice.
Today, we saw loads of scabies, an overabundance of 6 fingered and/or toed children, encephalitis, and a basal cell carcinoma that had turned into a tumor the size of a fist on the forehead of an elderly lady. We could see her skull.
I have been put in triage w/ Marie. We are taking blood pressure, temperature, weight and giving worm pills. I actually like this job.
Tuesday- Today we saw 125 people. The exciting disease of the day was... (drum roll)...a tie between leprosy and anthrax.
Tonight, we are going back into Hinche to meet the bishop and see the cathedral.
Hinche officially scared me a bit... it's hard to imagine how people still get along by candlelight, but they do. Imagine a pitch black night on busy dirt roads in the middle of a city where people are in their houses, walking down the street, having conversation all by candlelight. Perhaps the saddest, yet most inspiring, thing I saw was a group of children huddled around a lone streetlight studying for their final exams...they had no other way to see.
Wednesday- Today was the day for children with disabilities in the clinic. We saw cerebral palsy, autism, and a child with an intellectual disability. I had two kids puke on me from the worm pills today. Our grand total today was 210 people.
Fenel is teaching me to salsa tonight. Yipee!
Thursday- I do believe EVERYONE has a parasite. It is making it's way from person to person and we can't quite put our finger on what is making everyone sick.
Friday- Today is a half day for the clinic. We saw 98 people from 8 to 930am and didn't end until 11am. We are to attend mass this morning, but wind up walking straight into "charismatic prayer" time...this is one of the reasons I quit being protestant.
My eyes are hurting...it's too dirty to wear contacts, my ankles continue to be the size of small cantaloupes and my water bottle is stinky. I am JUST about ready for some ICE and an environment in which I can stay clean.
Saturday- We tried to sleep outside last night as the power went off in the bishop's compound around 10pm. However, the mosquitos are sting crazy and they LOVE to buzz in the ears. We were up around 6am to walk to the airport. We were there by 6:05am. However, the plane was not.
I FINALLY get a pic w/ the UN truck!! WOo HOO!!
I must say this is the first time I have boarded a big plane from the front and back as the same time.
The pictures attached to this entry are pictures of our humble clinic.
