Life in Santa Clotilde

Hi everyone. Sorry it's been a while since my last post, but iPhoto has been giving me grief and so photo uploading hasn't really been an option.

It's been just over a week here in Santa Clotilde, and I've had no trouble settling in. Let me walk you through a typical day:

- Wake up around 7:15
- Take a nice cold shower (the only kind of shower available, really)
- Have a little bread and instant coffee, then head down to meet the team for rounds at 8:00
- See some patients in clinic, finish around 2:00 or 3:00, then have lunch
- If there's a procedure or C-section to do, do it, otherwise it's siesta time!
- Dinner in 'la calle', or cook with the team
- Enjoy some Spanish TV or read
- Lights out at 11:00 (the power actually shuts off at 11:00 - good thing I brought my headlamp!)

I thought I'd use my phone as an alarm clock, but no need - the roosters roaming the grounds of the centro de salud are kind enough to make sure I wake up early.

From left to right: dentist's office, prenatal health clinic, and outpatient medical clinic

One of the offices in the outpatient clinic

Siesta time!

This little boy is climbing the tree for fruit - behind him the residence where Doctors Toni and Brian live

It rains here. A lot. At least once day, but often more like half a dozen. It's nice because it cools the air down a bit, and makes an afternoon siesta that much more pleasant. Temperatures fluctuate around 32 degrees Celsius or so, but the sun is hot and most people lay low until dusk. At night, the streets of the pueblo are busy with people riding their motorbikes, selling food, and going for walks.

Rain shots

Some interesting medical cases so far:

Burn from methyl violet, often used in dyes

Meet Carlos - suffered a head injury in the past requiring osteotomy, and now presented in status epilepticus - lumbar puncture revealed cloudy CSF, and a diagnosis of meningitis was made. He recovered remarkably with IV Ceftriaxone.

This gentleman shot himself in the hand by accident when out hunting. Dr. Julio fashioned a makeshift pin with a needle to stabilize the fractured 4th proximal phalanx, and the patient is now awaiting transfer to Iquitos for reconstruction

Hopefully iPhoto continues to behave, and I'll post some more pics and stories soon. Stay tuned for details on Christmas in Santa Clotilde and an exciting visit from a heavyset bearded fellow from up North.