February 12th, 2016

Imagine the best way to give a flavor of life here is to share a few patient experiences with you. Yesterday, I went into our "intake" room and noticed a woman talking to our nurse and Orfe in hushed tones. With tear-filled eyes, they completed getting her BP and blood sugar and weight. And then they did a pregnancy test which was positive. She broke down crying and then "passed" into my exam room. 
 
She recounted the story. The day before was the one month anniversary of her 14month old baby s death. She described in great detail what happened - a day just like any other - she was caring for her 5 children as well as her 2 nieces. Her sister had "fled" to Guatemala City years ago and so the 2 nieces were left to her care. She was selling her tortillas and the 14 month old was running around feeding chickens. Suddenly the baby couldn t breathe and they frantically went to the hospital - a 30 minute drive. Sobbing, she described what happened then. Panic, doctors and nurses racing around, tubes being put in arteries and blood spewing in the air, tubes being put down the babys throat.  And then the news that the baby was dead.
 
And now she is pregnant again. You might think she would look at it as a gift in this situation. But consider...she is caring for 6 children every day, little money, constant stress, never being given even a moment to grieve. Instead of everyone gathering around her to love and care for HER in this terrible time, now she faces one more trial - another pregnancy, another "mouth to feed".  So all we could offer was love. Cydney  treated her as if she was her sister - listened without judging - encouraged her to just talk about it all....talk about everything that happened....talk about her fears for the future. Orfe came and cried with her and prayed with her. We all acknowledged that in these times of great pain, it is only a loving God who can give us the strength that is sometimes hard to find. And that God acts through us. I felt so happy to have such a team of people here who genuinely care...who are willing to give their time and their hearts to right the wrongs, to be there for others in times of greatest need. I was glad we were there. At least we could give her an ultrasound so she could see the new baby and at least know when it would be born. We could give her some vitamins, some advice. The new psychologist will be starting with us next Monday and she eagerly made an appointment with her. In as society where women are looked up as expendible, I am so happy that we can be part of a change.