Easter Sunday and the Burial

On Easter Sunday a patient I recently started seeing, died. He was 48 years old and had been ailing for about 5 years (CVA x2). While I was sad for the family members who lost their loved one, I was reflecting on the day we were celebrating (Easter), and began to think to myself, "if I had to choose a day to die, Easter would be the perfect day". Ok, don't get me wrong, I am not wishing death on me, my family or any of my friends, but Easter is such a significant day, that [if] we knew our last day, I think Easter would be the day I would want. Think about all the pain and suffering Christ endured on the cross for me and you and then how He was mocked. But He told the crowd "in three days I will arise from the grave". As soon as He died, the very ones that were mocking him and torturing Him, knew He was the Lord. When He ever did rise on that third day, He fulfilled His promise! And to think of my patient who died on the Resurrection Day, how he will be pain free, no more suffering, because of the Risen Lord! It just amazed me.

Anyway, the family couldn't afford the mortician to prepare the body, so they asked me to help. So, Tuesday afternoon me and Ivy, the OT, went to the morgue and got the body. We had to bathe and shave him and then clothe him. While I am familiar with post mortem care, I wasn't really sure on pre burial care. It took about 45 minutes to prepare the body and the entire time, the family members were standing outside the door. They had a wooden coffin in the back of a borrowed pick up truck. When the body was prepared, I called two of the son in laws in to help get the body into the casket and they just looked at me and Ivy. So, Ivy and I did it ourselves. Because the man had been sick for some time, he had advanced wasting and weighed maybe 75 pounds. Me and Ivy were able to transfer the man to the casket by ourselves. We then had to travel in the back of the truck with the coffin, sons and sons in law, back to the house set up the coffin for the wake.

Sadly, when we got back to the house there were other family members there, ready to start conflict. The deceased wife laid her son to rest 3 weeks ago after he was stabbed to death in Belize City I couldn't get over how strong this lady was. She had taken care of her husband for 5 years. Not one area of skin breakdown on his body. He was clean and well cared for. Her home was neat as a pin. No electricity, and a wooden house on stilts. When I heard of all this woman had been through in such a short amount of time, I thought of the life of Job in the bible.

The whole thing was quite an experience I will surely not forget anytime soon.

I saw the wife at a friends house today and she has a lot of support and is feeling the love and encouragement from the local community.

Current Needs

Hello Everyone,

Many of you have emailed or written to ask what supplies are needed here at the clinic. If any of you are interested in sending some of the following supplies down, here is what were are in need of. We may be able to connect you with someone coming from the states and you can ship to them. Will save on shipping costs. Thank you for all who are interested and that you for your support! This is not a complete list, so if you have something you would like to send down, let me know!

Over the Counter:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) meltaways 60mg
Acetaminophen meltaways (Tylenol) 180mg
Calcium carbonate 500mg (TUMS)
Chewable MVI for children
Prenatal vitamins
Aspirin 81mg
Iron Tabs
Neosporin/Bacitracin cream
Fiber Suplements (tabs or powder)



Supplies:
Glucometer test strips for Medisense Precision Xtra glucometer
Glucometer test strips for One Touch and Acucheck
Alcohol swabs
Large BP cuff
Pill boxes (weekly, monthly)
Ace Bandages
Dressings supplies (gauze, tape...)
Bandaids


Prescription Pharmacy Needs: Average Usage Per Month
Glyburide 5mg 3000 pills/month
HCTZ 25mg 2000 pills/month
Permethrin cream or ivermectin oral 100 treatments/month
Simvastatin 80mg 1000 pills/month
Carbamazepine 200mg 50 pills/month
Enalapril 10mg 2000 pills/month
Losartan 50mg 500 pills/month
Cephalexin liquid 250mg/5mL 5 bottles/month
Simvastatin 40mg 1000 pills/month
Losartan 100mg 500 pills per month
Albuterol Nebs

Placencia Weekend: March 14-16

This weekend, myself, two of the pediatricians (Sarah far left and Jackie, back) and two PA students (Kristin, middle, Rachel, far right front), took a bus to Independence and then the Hokey Pokey Water Taxi to Placencia. We had a great time of rest and relaxation. Saturday, Sara and I went snorkeling at Laughing Bird Caye. Mark, our tour guide, caught a HUGE lobster. I would say it was probably about 6-7 pounds. Mark swam around with it for about 20 minutes and then let him go. I think he wanted to take it home for his birthday dinner, but realized the Ranger was keeping close tabs on people. It is not lobster season for one and secondly, nothing is to be taken off the Caye. Some of the other sightings was of a nurse shark, sting ray, barracuda, conch and many colorful, tropical fish.

On our water taxi ride back to Placencia, we encountered a group of dolphins swimming. There were about 10 in all. I think if the motor on the boat was a bit quieter, we may have been able to watch them for a while longer.

I shared my tin of almonds with a guy I was sitting next to on our bus ride back to PG. In the beginning of the trip, he was trying to sell me a jaguar tooth. While it was very interesting, I politely declined. As we were nearing the end of the trip, he pulled out a jaguar tooth and handed it to me. If anyone wants to send some almonds, I may be able to use them in future bartering techniques!

Dr. Kirk's Farewell Party: March 13

Dr. Kirk spent 6 months at Hillside Clinic. Here we are at his farewell party

Dr. Kirk holding the conch lamp, a traditional Hillside farewell gift for long term volunteers


Jeff with a goodbye charge to Dr. Kirk. Patricia, NP to the left.


Ian, is 8 years old and has had a bit too much partying tonight! He is the son of Jeff and Ivory.



Some of the Hillside staff: Back: Alberto; Assistant to Executive Director,Far left: Amelia; Housekeeping, Orlan: CNA Sofia: Translator, Far right: Ernesto, Night Watchman

Big Falls: March 13th

Thursday, I spent working at the clinic in Big Falls. This is run by the Ministry of Health, and every Thursday Hillside volunteers help out. This week, the trend was influenza. Children, mothers and young babies were coming in with fevers (one boy 103.1), cough, headache, and malaise.

Mixed between influenza patients, I saw a lady who had her thumb bitten off by her sister in law. Apparently, there was a land dispute going on between the families and the sister in law attacked the patient while she was bathing in the river. The “accident” happened on Feb 23rd and the stitches were still in the finger. Removing the stitches was an experience. The remaining thumb was filled with infection and the stitches were embedded. I had to remind the lady to breathe as I was trying to carefully remove the stitches.

Attempted Break In: March 11th

Phew, I am glad last week is over and Monday is almost here to start fresh. As many of you know, me and my housemates experienced an attempted break in on Tuesday night.

Thankfully, no one was hurt and nothing was stolen. I had just been dropped off from another volunteer when I heard loud banging inside my house. I stepped away from my door and then saw the guy coming from behind my house. I yelled to him, he looked at me and then fled to the back of the house and jumped the barb wired fence. Unfortunately it was getting dark and I didn't get a good enough description (other than dark skin, 5'6", petite build...that doesn't narrow it down to much here).

I live on one side of a duplex and on the other side are short term volunteers.

The police were notified and came to investigate . Fingerprints were taken off the sliding glass door.

We had a burglar bar that was ripped out of the frame. On the other side of the duplex, the door handle was broken right off. Who ever it was, was very determined to get in. The ironic thing is, is we are all volunteers. We don't have a TV, phone, or any electronics. No money either. So, who knows what they were going for. Maybe just the fact that they knew we were non Belizean was enough to make us a target.

The two other volunteers are staying at the convent. I am staying with another long term volunteer family. I must say, it is a bit nicer since it's right on the water.

I am asking for your prayers as the board decides how they are going to proceed with things. (i.e. housing).

Please know that I am safe and the neighborhood is irate about this. They know the house I live in is for the "Hillside Volunteers". We are well known in the community.

San Antonio

Yesterday, I went on a tour to San Antonio to see the Cacao farm. The cacao is grown in Belize and then sold to Black and Greens, a fair trade ($2.50/pound) in the UK. Eventually, the chocolate ends up in stores in the US. Below you will see a few pictures of the fermenting process. Once the beans are dried, they are bagged and taken to the local fair trade area at which point the beans get turned over and the cacao owners get a check.

The Cacao tree


Junior getting ready to bust open a cacao seed


First stage of fermentation process


Drying the cacao beans

Charlotte

Ok, I found this as I was moving some books from the shelf on the veranda. Now, I can't find it. I don't know who was more scared, me or the spider. Since our little "meeting", I have been doing nightly sweeps of my floor. Thank goodness the coast is clear. However, I am looking to name this spider in the event I should ever encounter it again. Any ideas?

33 years with this foot

I met this lady when I was checking out Belize and the organization back in January. Now, she is my patient. She doesn't have any pain, but it is quite the eyesore to look at. 2-3 MD's have recommended the leg be amputated, but the patient see's no need since she is still able to function with it. Initially, she was treated for Leishmaniasis and the most recent dx is mycetoma. A US MD will be down next month to biopsy and take back to the states. The patient and her husband are praying for a miracle. I am too, but I also have to be realistic. It's a fine line to balance.

March 5th Journal Entry

I am not able to get to blog as much as I would like, so I have been saving word documents and bringing my laptop to the internet shop. This is a bit dated, but you may be interested.

Yesterday, I had a PA student working with me for the day. I am making my way thru my list of patients. I think I’ve seen 20 of the 30 now. Even though I had never met these patients and had to try to figure out where they live (this could be challenging since they don’t use street numbers and not all streets are marked), we managed to squeeze in 6 home visits.

PJ is 72 year old man, In 2000, he suffered a stroke which left him with right sided weakness and slurred speech. He was sitting on the porch when we arrived and began to cry while we were talking with him and his son. A lot of education needs to be done with families surrounding their family members who have suffered a stroke. I try to paint a picture for the family members and have them try to imagine one day being completely independent and the next, having to rely on someone for total care. Even though these patients may not be able to verbally express how they feel, they are aware of their circumstances.

I was sitting in church on Sunday and a little Mayan girl came and sat by me. She was about 6 years old and said “I love to look at your hair”. You see here in Belize, all these children are brown hair and brown eyes, so I really stand out in the crowd with my blond streaks and blue eyes! I guess I should stop complaining so much about my hair and “bad hair days”.