Clinic Update: A long Friday

Friday was a long tough day at the San Lucas Clinic. Starting with a woman being admitted the night before with mysterious abdominal pains. Doctor Tun ordered blood work to look for problems in the pancreas and the staff got to work trying to look for some answers. After which the staff started looking to an elderly woman who had signs of Peripheral edema, which they have been keeping an eye on the past few days. Having the patient walk a little each day. Friday Morning also brought the birth of twins and so much needed rest for that mother, along with paperwork that needed to be read over by Tun from the Health Ministry of Guatemala.

During the morning round of consults Doctor Tun had a patient come in who was a very special case. A young woman with mental disabilities, unable to speak or seemingly unable to understand much of what was happening around her was brought in by a cousin, because it was thought she might be pregnant.

The problem being the girl's mother didn't really think she was pregnant, since she the patient lived with only the mother and brother, which is why the cousin brought her to the clinic. After examining her even though her pregnancy was obvious she was found to be in her seventh month of pregnancy. Which lead the Doctor and Medical Student Mark Pittman to believe this could be a case of abuse. Later that afternoon she was again brought in by the family member for a ultrasound. During the exam the patients eyes wandered the room not paying much attention to anything happening. When Doctor Tun tried to show her the image of her baby she glanced over but returned to her constant eye wandering at times staring at me as I took photos.

After the ultrasound was over Doctor Tun was obviously bothered by the whole situation. However, with there being little to no social services for people with mental handicaps here in Guatemala the girl would most likely return to the situation she has been living in after the baby is born. (images below)

Clinic Update: Ricardo

Ricardo came in to the clinic on Thursday with sever abdominal pain, I followed him through treatment until we dropped him off at the Hospital at Solola (where I was asked to leave the ER, understandably). Doctor Tun suspected he was having a appendicitis. Which turned out to be the case.

Clinic Outreach: Quixaya

Flores...

Flower stalls line the walk way leading up to the entrance of the cemetery. Selling their flowers to all those who come to pay respects to the dead.

Chocolates on a bus and Some Young Lovers...

One for the Road...

Between seeing patients the medical students started up a soccer game on a near by field. The Medical team was trying to get the ball under toe of some of the local girls but the boys kept taking control of the game,the girls however held their own and would take possession of the ball frequently. Fun game to watch. Now I have to pack up my bags and catch a pickup to Santiago, heading home (to Xela) for the week.

Clinic Outreach...

Headed out with Parish Health Promoter Jesus Antonio and a group of fourth year medical students to a small village near San Lucas called San Gabriel to help facilitate the medical needs of the smaller communities farther out from the Clinic in San Lucas. The group handled everything from colds to vision care and everything in between.

Clinic Update...

Just a few images from my second day shooting at the San Lucas Clinic.

Clinic...

Today was my first day shooting at the San Lucas Perish Clinic, here in San Lucas Toliman. I am barely scratching the surface with todays images. I am going to be spending the next few weeks and months here documenting the clinic and its outreach programs. Dr. Tun and the staff here at the clinic are amazing. Dr. Tun's bedside manner is simply put some of the best I have ever seen. I am looking forward to really exploring the going on's in the clinic and surrounding area.

Lucha Nueva! SI!...

With Healthcare being a struggle here in Guatemala, the National Health Workers Union protested infront of the Governors office in Xela this past Wednesday with continued protests Thursday in Guatemala City.

Movable Work Place...

You see these kind of mobil snack stands and comedors everywhere down here. Some of the venders push these stands around for miles. I shot this after dropping my friend and fellow photographer Pinar Istek at the bus terminal. Early mornings here in Xela are pretty interesting spans of time, like anywhere parts of the city are still sleeping while others are already midway into a work day.