Clinic Survival

Well I survived being out in the middle of nowhere with only 1 native nurse, operating a clinic with which had nothing but some worm medicine and some pain meds and gloves. There was a very nice clinic in this town but it burned down last week. They really to open the clinic but did not have the nursing staff because the one nurse was in training. It was quite an experience being fully immersed into the culture here; it made me feel very grateful for how we live in the US and for what we have. We cooked over a fire and had running water and electricity for about 5% of the time and when we did have water it was very cold and at random times. So I did not have a shower for two days, so I fit right in with the local people! I actually got to come back this afternoon instead of tomorrow morning, and I was very excited to find that the water was on at our house when I got back so I got a shower!!! Well right know I it is about 2:00am and Linda and I are working the night shift. Just when I thought I would be done with working nights! Well already tonight we had a woman come in that delivered at home and still had not delivered the placenta. It came right out when we got her on the delivery table and after further examination we saw that she had a laceration. So Linda told me to glove up and I would be doing my first repair. So with much coaching and guidance I sewed her up, and it looked pretty good I should say! Other than that it is very slow, just keeping a good eye on a baby that will most likely die soon, it had a bowel obstruction no stool for 48hr and vomiting up mec. They did surgery because the parents are “wealthy” but the Dr. had never done this kind of surgery before and nobody new how to do the anesthesia on an infant. We thought the baby would die during surgery but she some how survived. They gave her a colostomy so we will see how she does. We started her on O2 and she responded well to that (we have no 02 stat monitor), but she is still having retracting and grunting and her color is not so good. So keep her in your prayers that she will either go quickly or get better soon. Then the other lady we are watching is C/S of earlier today, had general anesthesia (that’s what everyone gets) and gets no pain medicine but some NSAID type which does nothing. I feel so bad for her. All the other pt’s seem to be doing fine.
It is quite an experience to work here I am learning so much everyday and my present knowledge is being challenged everyday.

Well I do miss everyone and all the luxuries of the US but I am learning lots here and realizing how much we really have. I am also realizing how much I miss everything being clean!!! Everything is so very dirty and the smells are awful.
But with Gods help I will make a difference here and come back a stronger person.

Well until next time and with much love,
Amber