The Past Two Days

Wednesday
Our mobile clinic moves to Puente Piedra! This site was a bit different than the first as our view is now the mountains whereas on Monday and Tuesday it was thePacific Ocean! The different site proved challenging because of the limited space. The pediatric doctor met with patients in the bus and tents were set upfor the pharmacy, registration, and health education.

The day started off very slow but picked up in the afternoon and really got crazy when 29 children showed up at 1:00 to see the pediatrician. The clinic closes at 4:30 and we only have one pediatrician! Physical therapy only treated 7 patients but it still was a rewarding day. Two wheelchairs were sent home with patients. One wheelchair was given to a postpolio patient. The other wheelchair went home with a patient with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.

Praises: We treated 60 patients and of those 7 came for physical therapy.

Prayers: Giving the wheelchair to the patient with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy was bittersweet due to the nature of the disease and the family’ssituation. The patient was 9 and had stopped walking at 8. His 5 year old little brother has Duchenne’s as well. He received orthotics. Their young uncle who is 15 also has Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy. Please pray for this family as they have many struggles ahead.

Thursday
We rearranged some things to allow for better patient flow. Physical therapy had several pediatric patients. Due to our rotations, we have been working intriage, pharmacy, dental and optometry as well. It has been a wonderful experience as we are learning so much by assisting in these areas. It is really helping us with our vital signs and gaining more knowledge about medications (weare even filling prescriptions!! ) In addition, our Spanish is definitely improving although it is very difficult sometimes having to communicate with patients and other medical staff who do not speak the same language as you (there are only two translators for the team).

Praises: We treated 98 patients today and of those, 10 came for physical therapy. We measured a wheelchair for a 9 year old cerebral palsy patient who had been carried by her mother since she was born. With a lot of prayer and the support of donations, she will hopefully have a wheelchair by October.

Prayers: We move to a new site on Friday. Please pray that the transition goes smoothly once again.