| February 4, 2005 |
Can this really be the last day of the clinic? The week has gone by so fast, and everyone feels we were just getting the hang of it! Since we are heading to San Salvador for an arranged tour of the hospital at 2:00, we are only treating patients until noon. Announcements are being made; the American doctors will only be here for part of the day so everyone sees only one doctor for one problem, with the most serious cases going first. There’s definitely more of an anxious feeling outside the gate because of this. There are no orderly lines this morning; everyone is pressed up tightly against the gate.
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I’m getting requests for portraits; over breakfast Sister Margaret Jane said she had to
have one of her with her ‘boys,’ Rod, Barry and Dave. Patty has established a very
special friendship with Blanca, her pre-teen Salvadoran helper. We’ve spent a week
working closely together, I’m sure a number of the volunteers will keep in touch after we
return to the States. I hope so; I like these people very much.
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 Sister Margaret Jane Kling and the General Medicine boys; (l - r) Dan Engebo, Sister Margaret Jane, Dr. Rod Beaver and Dr. Barry Jarvis. I’ve enjoyed trying to capture in photos the different atmosphere of each of the clinics. One of my favorite places to hang out is with the women in the gynecology line. Young and old, the women always seem to be sharing a laugh, and the upbeat energy reminds me of being with my girlfriends. |
Inside the eye care room I always feel as if the people are in
awe; maybe it’s the equipment, or maybe the need is so great, I’m not sure. Pediatrics is
the high-energy place of the hacienda, with children running loose everywhere.
The young
moms sometimes seem overwhelmed; if I’d had that many kids before the age of 20 I’m sure
I would have felt the same way. General medicine is sometimes the most fun for me; the
seniors are so expressive when describing their symptoms that I could stay there shooting
photos all day. Pharmacy is a place of intense concentration, from volunteers and
patients alike.
For some reason I felt I was needed to take photos in pediatrics, and when I got there I
understood why. Dale was treating a lovely young girl in a blue dress; her name was
Claudia, she looked to be about 10 years old. Within the last few weeks her mother
abandoned her and her aunt has taken her in. Dale held her hands and with Lesley
translating told her, “It is not your fault that your mother left. You are a wonderful
girl, and if you lived with me in my house, I would never, ever, ever leave you.” I am
overcome, by concern for this precious girl and by the way Dale talked to her.
The clinic closes at lunchtime. It’s hard to think about the people not treated, we’re
trying to focus on all the people who were helped. The mayor of El Paisnal comes to
thanks us and says he has a diploma for each of us as a way of expressing their
gratitude.
 (l - r) Dr. Barry Jarvis, Barbara Bigelow and Dr. Carletta Vanderbilt study a patient chart at Hospital Rosales.
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We reach San Salvador mid afternoon; a big, crowded and bustling city, it reminds me of
Mexico City. Of course there are American fast food places everywhere, which for me is a
little disheartening. Our first stop is Rosario Hospital, founded in the 1800’s by
Sisters of St. Vincent De Paul. It is a fascinating visit, particularly for the doctors;
Barry and Carletta even got to check out a patient chart. Our hotel is pleasant, on a
quiet residential street. We even have a chance to send email home, and many of us take
advantage of this opportunity to say hola to the ones we miss.
Main Entrance, Hospital Rosales, San Salvador |
Tonight the hardy among us are off to join Jonathan for an evening of salsa dancing! It turned out to be a great evening; the club was called Malibu and the dance floor was packed. We danced all night, with each other and with a number of Salvadoran men (some of whom will not remember it tomorrow morning). Drunk or not, Salvadoran men can really dance, we were all impressed. And we really enjoyed watching an older couple put on quite a show on the dance floor. They started dancing to swing music but when it switched to rock they switched too, and never missed a beat. All the young people in the club cheered; we did too. The band was great, and in between sets the DJ played a broad range of rock music. While we were dancing, a number of young Salvadorans danced up next to us and smiled and said, in English, “Are you having fun?” All of us who went couldn’t stop smiling. It was a very memorable experience.