Clinica

Much to say, trying to mentally pare it down.  Is it best to share one story?  Nah, several.  I'll start with the adventure of Monday.

For the last week and a half, we have had a men's team, plus two lovely ladies, visiting from Kentucky and Arkansas.  It was awesome watching the girls as the team loved and celebrated them!  Most of the individuals on the team have been here several times before and are VERY involved with the work Prince of Peace is doing.  So, you can imagine the relationships that have been built over many visits and how excited the girls are when these people show up!!!!  Not to mention the time some of the older girls have spent in the US with these folks.  Anyway, about Monday…

After breakfast, several of us jumped in the van, headed to the grocery store, and then made our way up the mountain.  "Up the mountain" refers to a more economically depressed area situated up the hill from the POP home.  Many of these families living up the mountain come down and use the clinic at POP.  And, over time the team(s) and older girls have built relationships with these families taking them food and other necessities.

It didn't take long to arrive at our planned destination, a family of 30 (or so I was told) living in a complex of lean-tos.  Darrell asked the grandma of the house how she was and said her face was just white.  Apparently we had arrived just minutes after one of the little girls, six year old Melanie, had fallen and gashed open her forehead just above her brow line.  Kevin quickly grabbed her and carried her back to the van as mom followed along with the rest of us.  We made our way back to the clinic and thus began a process I have NEVER encountered before!

I'd love to share pictures of the wound with you, but I think only 4 of you would appreciate seeing those.  Suffice to say, the wound was about an inch long, through the dermis, and maybe a quarter of an inch at its widest point.  Dr. Jim went to work!  The anesthetic was the worst part- Kay, Mom, Dr. Jim and I held her, but as Kay said, "You can only do this because you know it's for their good."  Verdad!  After the anesthetic, Dr. Jim used 3-5 (my mind was not on the number, but the process) subcutaneous sutures and then 7-8 on top.  Those were actually the more difficult because it was obvious she could feel them.  Ugh!

I had the best possible perspective.  I was standing at her head, holding the light for Dr. Jim and literally 18 inches from her face, watching every little thing.

One brave little girl. 

We returned to the mountain with a sewed up little girl and these faces were waiting for us!  They love having their picture taken and then instantly want to see it.  

Maybe love at first sight?  Yes, I think! 

She looks much happier here! 

Love again! 

Today, Sonia, Edgar, and Melanie returned to the clinic.  I greeted them as I entered and was SO HAPPY to see a wide smile on her face.  I told her I like seeing her with a smile instead of a sad face.  She kept smiling. 

And mom, I kept thinking of you and Kathy and Shirley…where are the EMTs?!