Mission log:
Did a shift in the Emergency Department at the hospital. We actually take too much for granted in the US. Aspirin and nitroglycerine for chest pain. Oxygen tanks, and nebulizers for asthma. Basic labs, CT scans (neither are available), and EKGs. Stray animals and refuse in and on the hospital grounds. Sterile techniques. And, this was a marked improvement from 9 years ago. So much need, so few resources! It's a different standard or care but not for the lack of caring individuals. Oh by the way, the patients in Nicaragua also complain about long ER wait times for things that do not require medical attention. They too exaggerate their wait times -"I've been here for 3 hours!" when the check-in times reveal only 30 minutes. In a lot of ways, people are the same wherever you go.
The Hospital
The first patient I saw was an American (unbeknownst to me at first -She stated that my English was perfect. I guess I looked local). She had been seen there days before as well as in a clinic earlier. The patient was overall well and just concerned that something worse was wrong despite receiving good care in my humble opinion. Ironic, it was like I hadn't left home in some ways.
Lecture to residents
Gave a lecture to the hospital residents and staff alongside fellow physicians from our team.
Performed a consult on a paciente (wow -thinking in Spanish now. Only been here 3 days).
Saw patients in our makeshift clinic at the orphanage. We saw children that likely were malnourished from intestinal parasites. Diagnosed one mother with advanced stage oral cancer. She had never seen a doctor for it. Her baby who we also saw likely had pneumonia. Sent them both to the referral hospital -although there was no OMFS (Oral maxillary facial surgery) there to help her.
My daughters helped feed other children at the feeding station. This was set up by the local mission, Casa Bernabe/Verbo Church, to feed the children than scrounge around at the trash dump for food and things to sell.
The dump where kids feed and scavenge.
My wife prayed for us, the river mission team (I see her growth in faith every day). The 4 hour drive to the river was hair raising to say the least. All dirt. Giant ditches and mud holes. Pitch black most of the way (we left at dusk). No street lights. Rickety bridges. Wild fires in the forests lining the road. Armed soldiers (read AK-47s) at check points along the way. I kid you not, it looked like the end of the world. Just add zombies. The clip below shows the road conditions in daylight. Note: Image stabilization was active on the camera.
Along the way we were delightfully entertained by a fellow missionary named Tom (that's a story unto itself).
Tom Keogh
9:15 PM
Street festival (celebrating Miskito Culture) and kids jumping on the back of our vehicle while it was moving. Our hotel was blocked by hordes of people at the street festival. A drunk who kept saying in Spanish that his was Fidel Castro kept harassing one of the members in our car while we were blocked by the crowd. It got a little harried when his friend approached the other side of the vehicle. I prayed (smiles). I think I could have taken the drunk and his friend just not the mob that would ensue (smiles again). Nevertheless, Jesus handled them. He used an officer to part the crowd like Red Sea to lead us to the promise land, our hotel!
The party outside the hotel. Ended 2:00 AM Friday!
Oh yeah, the block party doesn't end until 2:00 AM. There are only 12,000 people in this town -I believe that they are all here tonight. I can hear everything in tune and out of tune in my room. It must be open mic. I'm trying to play music in my headphones to drown out the sounds, to no avail. The guy on the mic just announced that on Saturday Night the street party will be traveling to Puerto Cabeza, where we will be staying when we return. This is obviously the work of Satan (laughs).
3:00 AM! Finally asleep... Knock, Knock, Knock!!! "John." "John."
So, I arise open the door to see a group of men standing at my door asking for me. I told them to wait while I put a shirt on. I exit my room still dazed to see the same group of guys (now obviously drunk) knocking on the door next to mine, "John... John... John." Obviously, I was not the only John in Waspan, Nicaragua staying at the Hotelito El Piloto on August 6th at 3:00 AM.
4:00 AM another knock at the door (you can't make this stuff up)! "John... John... John Lewis."
It was Jose, our Mission Pastor, waking me to begin our river trip.
"Nicaragua" must translate to "Land of little sleep."
Day 3 - A Journey of faith... To Be Continued.
