First day in the clinic:
The team started the day with our daily devotion. The message, your heart is how you see Jesus, and his heart for the people of Guatemala. With that message in our minds and hearts, the team set off to work through the last piece of yesterday’s devotion, getting out of our comfort zones. When we arrived at the clinic site, a long line of people had already formed at the gate of the church. As the buses pulled in, many people waved to us in excitement.
Then, the day began. Patients began the process of checking in and being placed in the best specialty for their needs. The services offered are general, pediatrics, gynecology, pharmacy, optometry, ultrasound, lab, and mobility. The patient needs ranged from general check ups to address pain, to severe injury and deformity that was debilitating for them and their families. In no time at all, the waiting rooms were full of people looking for help for themselves or their children and family. One patient I talked to, got a gynecology general check up. She was very excited to be at the clinic, since a doctor check up in the city was much too expensive for her. She showed me her paperwork, with a big smile and her hands in prayer. The check up showed that she was healthy, and she was able to leave the clinic with peace of mind. In the mobility clinic, a 13 year old boy who could not walk, received a wheel chair. His mother had been transporting him by carrying him for his whole life. At 13, he was almost as big as she was. With the wheelchair, this boy and his family’s life was instantly changed. He was not the only story from the mobility clinic. An entire van full of people who could not walk came to the clinic and all received wheelchairs. As the physical therapist was adjusting the chair to fit one of the men, he was smiling and crying at the same time. With the gift of mobility, he would be able to live a different and more rewarding life. One young man came in for a check up at 16 yrs of age. He was barely able to walk, the doctors x-rayed his hip and found that his hip socket wasn’t developed. If this had been diagnosed as a baby, he would have been put in a splint which would help to grow the socket. Now, he is referred to an orthopedic surgeon, with hopes of help. In the meantime, he is given crutches to help him walk.
Reflecting back on the day, I felt that the overall feeling in the clinic was gratefulness, excitement, and anticipation. Medical staff worked hard to see around 170 patients, and many times, stepped out of their comfort zones to assist people with complex issues. The heart of Jesus was clearly seen with the care delivered by the medical staff to the patients of the clinic on day 1.
Jordan Gurgiolo
Team Blogger
