Sept. 12, 2009
Our burn patient Enil is on day 13 now, beginning to heal. Still not out of the woods as far as grafts is concerned, but no decision yet on those. Each crisis here like that makes the need for specific equipment glaring. Right now we could use a Dermatone, that cheesecutter type device that slices off the skin to use for grafting. Ours is archaic. Anyone got one stuffed away on the top shelf?
Our new RN’s arrived Monday and I began to orient them to us and the hospital. I promised them that we would not do the “sink or swim” method of orientation, that they would NOT be asked to do something before having been checked off. Yeah, right! Wednesday after having assigned them to their places for the day, John let me know about 9 (as I was beginning the hour+ dressing change on Enil) that I needed to be the ambulance STAT to take an OB patient at 8 cm. to Ceiba. Not my favorite job, as I dread getting caught on the road delivering a baby. I changed the job description of Belkis for the day and enlisted her companionship to transport. We hit the road, and thankfully many of the speed bumps had been leveled in road repair recently. We made the low flying trip in 55 minutes instead of the 75 I usually take. I kept one eye on the road and the cows and chickens crossing, and the other on the rearview mirror to watch for signs of pushing! By God’s grace, she did not begin pushing til we arrived at the hospital. Whew!
We arrived back in the campo to find that a 14 yr old girl had come in in our absence, having been shot in the face by her boyfiend (oops, that friend!) at fairly close range. She was just coming out of surgery, and a big repair job of her tongue and mouth and face by Dr. Jeff. As she is unable to talk til she heals, I gave her a notepad and pen to communicate. I was so touched when I asked her the second day if there was anything I could do for her and she wrote, “Ore por mi”, pray for me.
John went up to Satal in the mountains on Tuesday, getting to be a regular clinic up there monthly. We are beginning to see results in the care there, more folks following up down below with ultrasounds and coming down to have their babies. Recently a road has gone thru to the mountain village making that 1 hr hike at the end of the old road not necessary any more. Makes the trip more feasible, tho it will still not be passable in rainy season. Our Dr. Don has begun some home groups meeting for bible study, and has been doing programs in the school. We are thankful for such open doors here.
Just got back from another trip to the hospital. #3 for the day. The first was when the guard from the gate rode up on a motorbike he borrowed this AM at 7:30 as they couldn’t reach us for some reason by radio. A lady was ready to deliver, so we both scooted down to be there to help Dr. Joel, who was on call and found himself caught with this imminent birth. I was done with my part and on the road to the music program by 8:45- now that’s an efficient mother. The second trip was to give John a tetanus shot as he got himself with the drill while working here at the house. The 3rd. was just because ER was too busy for the nurse to handle that plus her inpatients, so just got her thru the worst of it. Time for bed.
Exciting note from church this afternoon. Angelica, for the first time in over a year, was emotionally healthy enough to lead singing. I had met with her twice during the week as she cleans house for us and she worked on the songs she wanted. Decided to pick 3 hymns, which we haven’t used much here, but she loves them. Well, she did great, and there were an unusually large number of attendees. There was great participation with her selected hymns…made me happy to see her glowing. Met with the pastor and a young couple I have been very involved with now for 3 years to discuss their role in the church. Have seen them thru some troubled times, so was a great joy to see them ready to make mature decisions. They were the ones that got married a short time ago.
Sept. 15 Honduras Independence Day- clinic closed today in honor of their holiday. We will celebrate with the fellow missionaries, the Tumlinsons, later today with a program on the history of Honduras and typical Honduran food, hosted by Cynthia, who is Honduran.
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