41/46 daily Lenten blog…

One of my first patients this morning was a friendly chap from an area of Honduras called La Moskitia.  Sometimes I think that we live in a remote area of the world because it takes 1 1/2 hours to drive to a city, and we don’t have stores or restaurants anywhere nearby (the closest Starbucks is in El Salvador, a 12 hour and 22 minute drive away).  But then I consider the folks living out in La Moskitia.  This fellow, Ned (not his real name) first took a boat ride down a tortuous river for 6 hours, and then drove another 12 hours just to come see us. Continue reading →

40/46 of daily Lenten blog posts…

OK, last time I’m gonna say it.  it’s hot…

Today marks the beginning of Semana Santa, or ‘Holy Week.’  It is one of the most important weeks of the year culturally in Honduras.  It has traditionally been a week to celebrate Easter, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Continue reading →

Did I mention yesterday that it is hot?

Well, it’s frickin’ hot…  moving on.

Saturday mornings at the hospital are a mixed bag.  I’d say it’s a ratio of 45:55 mellow and relaxed versus chaos.  Today was definitely in the 55 department.  I was not even on call for the hospital, but found myself busy for a couple hours.  It’s like a black hole sometimes, if you get too close to the vortex it sucks you in. Continue reading →

It is getting hot, again.

Luckily, we have fans.  At night, I just pop the fan on and point it right at us.  The sweat evaporates, cools us off, and we sleep.  Another benefit is that it keeps the bugs off. Continue reading →

Day 37/46 of Lenten blog, in the home stretch…

Just before he was dragged off to prison, Owen composed the essay below about his family life, as assigned to him in his grammar class.  Owen (yes, this is his real name) is our 12 year old middle child, and he attends an online school, called TPS–The Potter’s school (no, not a wizarding school in London, it’s actually a reference to Isaiah 64:8).  Here is his guest appearance: Continue reading →

36/46 of the daily Lenten blog…

The 50 year old gentleman, Barney (not his real name), went out of his way to get my attention in the hall today.  “Doctor, I want to thank you all.”  I looked him in the eye as we stood in the hallway.   I recognized him, but couldn’t quite put his face to the scenario.  I noticed he had crutches, and so my eyes worked their way down the aluminum shafts and settled on his feet.  His right leg looked fine, but coming out of his left tennis shoe was a metal prosthesis. Continue reading →

35/46 of the daily Lenten blog…

Almost every day we have to ‘Admit’ someone to the hospital.  ‘Admit’ sounds like a privilege, right?  Like you’ve been accepted into a prestigious university or club.  I think it’s our way of hoodwinking patients into staying overnight.  The patient thinks “Oh, I’ve been approved to the medical ward?  I have been recognized as worthy to stay the night?!  Does this mean that I, too, can have an IV jabbed into my arm? Continue reading →

34/46 of the daily Lenten blog…

Not gonna lie, today hasn’t been my favorite day.  Between a busy ER and clinic, difficult patient situations, struggles with my own competency as a doctor and Spanish speaker, and questions about the future, I’m ready for Tuesday…  But enough pity-party.  🙂

My colleagues said that it couldn’t be done.  They said it was going too far, even for me… Continue reading →

33/46 of the daily Lenten blog…

Remember the Vampire  (Day 20)?  Well, she did great after almost bleeding to death, and we were able to release her.  But would you believe, we still haven’t been able to discharge her son, we’ll call him Gordito (Little Chubbo—Not his real name).  He’s been here for almost 2 weeks now. Continue reading →

32/46 of the daily Lenten blog…

Still got these two young men from yesterday on my mind.  I saw them this AM in the hospital.  Both were sober and solemn, but doing well.  In fact, I was able to discharge them home.  Their family was with them, mom, sister and youngest brother. Continue reading →