First Day of Clinic

     At 0700 the gates to the compound were opened.  There was an initial rush of people running to the clinic which is located at the far end of the compound.  This was followed by a steady stream of patients that collected in front of the clinic. There was somewhat of an organized line.  Pastor Jean Marie then arrived and led the crowd in song and prayer.  Again, all in Creole, but I recognized The Lord's Prayer and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  The crowd then started to line up in the appropriate lines- two different general medicines, dentistry, pharmacy and surgical. 
     Clinic started at 0800 and was immediately busy.  I spent time between gyn consults and surgical.  The gyn was fairly routine, but the surgical patients were much more intensive.  Most were wound follow-ups involving debridement of ulcerated wounds, fracture follow-ups with many involving external fixation.  The orthopedic surgeon and prosthetist (Jim and Dave) did most of this with others helping out. 
     My big case was on an 'older' lady who was a paraplegic from quake injuries received when her house collapsed.  She had a deep area of necrotic tissue about 5-6 inches across in the area of her sacrum  Cleaned it, packed it antibiotics and back home tonight.  I wonder what her future will bring.
     Around noon, a UN convoy arrived bringing a unit of Jamaican soldiers and a medical team.  The medical team started to work at our side while the soldiers set up camp on the undeveloped second story of the clinic.  They will use this as a base camp as they pass out food in this area.
     The afternoon clinic was more of the same with many infected wounds.  Although I wasn't with the other teams that much, I know they all worked hard at their given tasks.
     After clinic, another cold but refreshing shower.  Dinner is being cooked by a very large (that's not fat) Jamaican corporal.  I saw rice, corned beef and an assortment of local vegetables.  It smells good and I am looking forward to it. 
     Also looking forward to tomorrow and whatever it brings.
(Posted by Lori for Ian.)