San Cris Mexico, Visa Run...

Had to jump over the line and head into Mexico again for a Guate visa extension. Camera gear wise I went light camera body and a 35mm lens. A good time was had!

Processions

This time of the year in Xela, processions are all over the place. I'm sure Semana Santa will be fun!

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.

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.