Clinic DAY 3 – ROUGH DAY
Today was a rough day. For a lot of reasons.
Firstly, the weather is ghastly, It continues to rain and the temperature is in the low 50’s. Our clinic is actually ‘in’ the clouds and we can see them pass by around and below us as we look out to the expectant patients. Still they come. They come by bus. By car. By being carried up the final hill to the clinic by relatives. A surprising number are being accompanied only by neighbors. Some arrive by pick-up truck. Some have covered backs. Some don’t. The patients and their caregivers huddle under tarps against the rain and wind. Why do they come in this weather? They come because the next FIP team might not come here for 2 years or more and they can’t miss out. FIP delivers excellent care and the patients can’t afford to get care anywhere else. I ‘tip my hat’ to them but as well to the brave volunteers who help these patients come from up to 4-5 hours away to get our help. Then they take them all the way back home What love!.
Secondly, I have rarely seen, in my 12 year and over 40 trips with FIP, such evident suffering and tragedy. The vast majority of our patients on mobility teams are made up of the elderly and infirm. Those with stroke and amputees for diabetes. Today was different. Today we saw young patients struck down by unusual ailments far beyond their making. A young woman carried in by her husband and his back (their sole means of her transportation for the past year) (see photo) who has been confined to bed because of uncontrolled diabetes. She is blind because of diabetes. She has an atonic bladder (doesn’t work) needing an in-dwelling bladder catheter because of diabetes. She cannot walk because of diabetes. Her blood sugar is over 500 (normal is 100). Why? She can’t afford the medication to control her diabetes and still eat.
A young 40-year-old woman was active in all ways until 9 months ago when she had a brain tumor removed from the base of her brain. She now can’t see. She can’t speak. She can’t eat (is being fed by a tube in her stomach). She can’t walk. She has been confined to bed unless two people are available to carry her on the bed or on a plastic chair.
Another young woman is 33 years old. She had a job at a bank 2 years ago. She has MS (multiple sclerosis). In 2021 she was able to mobilize with 2 canes and then she fell. She was able to have neighbors help her get to work but since 2023 she has dropped down a further level with her MS and now is confined to her house unless 2 people can help her. She is a vibrant, intelligent person who yearns to be independent
As heart-rending as all these situations are, each one was able to be fitted to an appropriate wheelchair today. They can now look out and see the world as we do and interact with it as much as they are capable. Some are in tears. Family members smile and cannot express their gratitude to the therapists and the FIP team because they, too, have gained some independence.
It has been a rough day. But. How thankful I am to all the donors and volunteers who have made their contributions so that these people could have some relief and peace. Donations make it possible for these chairs, their transportation to Guatemala and this clinic, their medication, the local FIP staff all culminating in a patient feeling some compassion – feeling that they are still valued – still loved. Thank you so much and God bless you all!
Dr. Joseph Austin, Team Doctor, Team Leader & Blogger
