Clinic Update: laying of hands

Friday was my final day at the Clinic. During Dr. Tuns normal consult hours a knock came at the door from a nurse explaining a man had been struck by a vehicle while he was on his bike and the police had brought him into the ER. It took all of the staff to keep this man down on the gurney as they stabilized him so they could transport him to the hospital in Sololá. His face was badly injured and he was only slightly responsive as Tun tried to talk to him. To help keep the man calm Clara a nurse at the Clinic held his hand, which seemed to do the trick. Goes to show Human contact can really do wonders.

Clinic Update...

This patient waited quietly as Dr. Tun examined her x-rays and other paper work. She has what Tun thinking is a thyroid problem causing a growth in her neck. In the afternoon a man calmly walked into the ER leaving a trail of blood from the front gate to the ER doors, after he cut his hand open with a machete while he was working. He laid a gurney saying nothing unless he was asked to answer a question, but never making a sound when the nurses cleaned the wound.

First Procession of the Lenten Season...

Sunday marked the first procession of the lenten season here in Xela. The Procession of Jesus de Nazareno (Jesus of Nazareth) started at 4 pm and ended around 8 sunday night. The city seemed to come to a complete halt for this procession. It was impressive to see the different groups of Cucuruchos (carriers) hold up this massive float and every few blocks change bearers and continue to snake their way through the city. The Cucuruchos were made up of the different religious brotherhoods here in Xela. Each group representing different saints like Saint Nichols and San Juan de Dios. To read more about this tradition check out the Casa Xelaju website.

Street ball!

Seems like I always catch a good Fútbol match when I'm in San Lucas Toliman.