30/46 of daily Lenten blog…

Today, I cared for a patient that really got to my heart.  It’s easy to become numb to all the cancer and advanced disease processes we see routinely, but no one could be immune to this young lady’s plight. Continue reading →

29/46 of daily Lenten blog…

We live about an hour and a half trip away from La Ceiba, which is the 3rd largest city in Honduras (although only population of around 200,000).  Half the trip is made on a dusty, pothole-ridden dirt road.  Just before arriving at our hospital on this journey, one passes a town called Balfate.  It’s a cute little village on the beach, with a quaint plaza and close knit community.  Today, the president of Honduras decided to visit this little town. Continue reading →

28/46 of daily Lenten blog…

It has come to my attention that I need to come clean with everyone:  My daughter is not, in fact, pregnant. This was my attempt at April Fool's humor.  Some may have seen it as crass, but I feel it was a   bold joke.  (think of this as the Sarcasm font)

Quick update on my 3 amigas: Continue reading →

27/46 of daily Lenten blog…

This morning, one of the triage patients that arrived at the hospital in hopes of care caught my attention.  6 year old Gothel (not her real name) was accompanied by her mother, who said that Gothel appeared ‘swollen’ the last few days.  I looked at her and saw a darling, big eyed, slightly chubby little girl with dimples (see pic below).  I didn’t appreciate swelling, but mom was convinced she was.  She reported difficulty getting her sandals on. Continue reading →

I had sumptin’ real nice cookin’ for ya’ll today.  It was so clever, and interesting.  But I’m on call today for the hospital, and the day got out of hand.  Not much time to catch my breath.  So instead I’m putting that on the back burner, and changing gears. Continue reading →

Day 25/46 days of daily Lenten blog posts

A quick update on 2 special patients.  There is 3 year old ‘Marion’ from my earlier post, see Day 21 link here.  There is also 4 year old ‘Elsa’ from another post Day 23, link here.

They are in the same room together, so I am calling them ” Las Gemelas,” or “the twins.”  They are both so stinking adorable. Continue reading →

Day 24/46 days of daily Lenten blog posts.  Over the hump.

Heidi reminded me of this next story.  She remembers it well because she was entrusted with hailing the community with an emergent radio announcement, which we call ‘Code Blue.’ Continue reading →

Day 23/46 days of daily Lenten blog posts

Half way there!

Quick update, the Vampire (day 20) is being discharged, she is doing well!

Cute little Elsa (not her real name), 4 yrs old, came in about 9 days ago with a limp.  Mom said she didn’t want to walk.  4 year olds don’t fake limps.  If they are limping, there is something wrong.  Adult men may limp, but it can sometimes be because they are trying to garner the affections of their woman, or they are trying to get out of helping their friend move, or rarely they are cooking up a nice little L & I case at work.  Sometimes, it’s just because they are weenies.  But 4 yr olds, no way. Continue reading →

Day 22/46 days of daily Lenten blog posts

Lets take a quick break from medicine:

Awhile back, we were home in the States and we had to run an errand.  Will, Owen and I decided it was a good idea to run this errand at a store called ‘Walmart,’ you may have heard of it.  It’s a really big store.

We haven’t spent a lot of time in this store.  However, we have spent a fair amount of time wandering around in the jungle.  So, navigating Walmart shouldn’t have posed any great problem.  Surely this chain megastore is no match for a jungle-savvy family from the North Coast of Honduras, right?  Hmmphhh… Continue reading →

Day 21/46 of daily Lenten blog posts

I’m hoping this will be a ‘Beauty-from-ashes,’ post, retrospectively.

This morning I had a 3 year old come in.  Here story was a little confusing, but apparently she had fallen and injured her ankle.  She went to a doctor near her home for evaluation, and he focused in on the swelling she had around her ankle.  If their story is correct, he proceeded to cut open the swollen tissue around the ankle, to ‘clean out the infection.’ Continue reading →