When we first got there, there wasn't much to do - just examine los pacientes (patients) and check their vitales. Let me make this clear - there's two different areas in the emergency rooms. Una es el área de Emergencía y el otro es el área de Urgencía (one is the emergency area and the other is the urgency area). The emergency room is typically where the older kids are, as well as cases that require immediate atención (attention). The urgency room on the other hand (where I have been hanging out), is more babies and cases that require frequent attention. Also, the kids are generally there for a longer period of tiempo (time). With not much to do, we eventually head to a meeting which is nothing but a few cases studies regarding bullying and the effect it has on mental health. I must admit, I was hoping for a study about a child who's condition has been troubling them, or a child with a rare disease. I was disappointed to find out it was bullying - don't get me wrong though, bullying is a serious issue and attention does need to be called to it as well as its traumatizing effects.
Anyway, after the case studies, we head to lunch. Coming to La Dominicana, one of my favorite dishes was empanadas. I'm beginning to enjoy them less and less. I've had empanadas every day, in almost every way you could imagine - con queso, con pollo, con carne, con vegetales (with cheese, chicken, meat, vegetables). I mean what's next, just fried bread? Also, I'm slightly disappointed en la comida thus far. I expected dishes that were muy deliciosa (very delicious), and all of the food is somewhat bland. There's not a whole lot of flavor when there's no sauces involved - I can't wait to have some ranch when I get home. On top of that, I had very high expectations for el café (the coffee). Not only have we not had any for breakfast (which I desperately need for these early mornings), but I was surprised at what I got when I ordered some at lunch. I ask for a CUP of coffee, and although it was a cup that my coffee was in, it was a cup that you see at the dentist...you know, the ones you put mouthwash in. Barley enough for a pick-me-up. And no cream. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted my black coffee and found they had already added azúcar (sugar). Now, don't get me wrong, the food is good and satisfying despite what you may think. On top of that, my entire lunch meal has been less than 80 pesos a day, which is barely $2 US.
So back to work. After almuerzo (lunch), we had to the radiology department again. It's funny how easily things can get lost in translation. The doctor begins to show us a case where a little boy was in un acidente (an accident), and his spine had been displaced. It looked kind of like he had two spines, with some of the vertebrae actually overlapping. The doctor begins to explain what happened, and my heart dropped. I couldn't believe that this little boy was hit by a train, and the worst damage he experienced was the loss of feeling and use of his legs! Turns out, he was only trying to explain what happened to the boy's spine in relation to a train being derailed. Wow. Thank God I was wrong!! It's amazing the things you can tell from simply looking at an x-ray, MRI or a CT scan. We check out some x-rays of children who have pneumonia, or simply fluid in their lungs. By simply seeing what areas are darker than others can indicate anything, from fluid in the lungs, to air in the stomach, to the pathway of liquid through the body. By having a patient drink a fluid generally known as 'contrasto' (contrast), you can watch how that fluid flows and where in the body there is blockage based on where the contrast stops flowing. Pretty cool, huh?
Sadly, there was no blood to be drawn today or bodies to sew up. I have high hopes for tomorrow though. I mean, the doctor doesn't want us to learn how to do these things on babies or small children. With this, I am totally ok with - babies scream and small children squirm too much. No thanks! We'll likely head over to Emergencía tomorrow and learn some hands on skills with some of the older kids.
I promised some pictures today, so here's a picture of the crazy traffic from this morning. It was a bit rainy so there were less people wandering through traffic, but look closely and you'll find a few crazies amongst the cars. (Our driver, José, actually made one of the guys with us jump out of the car in the middle of the traffic! Los Dominincanos están locos!) Also, you can check out my "cup" of coffee! Hasta mañana!
Anyway, after the case studies, we head to lunch. Coming to La Dominicana, one of my favorite dishes was empanadas. I'm beginning to enjoy them less and less. I've had empanadas every day, in almost every way you could imagine - con queso, con pollo, con carne, con vegetales (with cheese, chicken, meat, vegetables). I mean what's next, just fried bread? Also, I'm slightly disappointed en la comida thus far. I expected dishes that were muy deliciosa (very delicious), and all of the food is somewhat bland. There's not a whole lot of flavor when there's no sauces involved - I can't wait to have some ranch when I get home. On top of that, I had very high expectations for el café (the coffee). Not only have we not had any for breakfast (which I desperately need for these early mornings), but I was surprised at what I got when I ordered some at lunch. I ask for a CUP of coffee, and although it was a cup that my coffee was in, it was a cup that you see at the dentist...you know, the ones you put mouthwash in. Barley enough for a pick-me-up. And no cream. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted my black coffee and found they had already added azúcar (sugar). Now, don't get me wrong, the food is good and satisfying despite what you may think. On top of that, my entire lunch meal has been less than 80 pesos a day, which is barely $2 US.
So back to work. After almuerzo (lunch), we had to the radiology department again. It's funny how easily things can get lost in translation. The doctor begins to show us a case where a little boy was in un acidente (an accident), and his spine had been displaced. It looked kind of like he had two spines, with some of the vertebrae actually overlapping. The doctor begins to explain what happened, and my heart dropped. I couldn't believe that this little boy was hit by a train, and the worst damage he experienced was the loss of feeling and use of his legs! Turns out, he was only trying to explain what happened to the boy's spine in relation to a train being derailed. Wow. Thank God I was wrong!! It's amazing the things you can tell from simply looking at an x-ray, MRI or a CT scan. We check out some x-rays of children who have pneumonia, or simply fluid in their lungs. By simply seeing what areas are darker than others can indicate anything, from fluid in the lungs, to air in the stomach, to the pathway of liquid through the body. By having a patient drink a fluid generally known as 'contrasto' (contrast), you can watch how that fluid flows and where in the body there is blockage based on where the contrast stops flowing. Pretty cool, huh?
Sadly, there was no blood to be drawn today or bodies to sew up. I have high hopes for tomorrow though. I mean, the doctor doesn't want us to learn how to do these things on babies or small children. With this, I am totally ok with - babies scream and small children squirm too much. No thanks! We'll likely head over to Emergencía tomorrow and learn some hands on skills with some of the older kids.
I promised some pictures today, so here's a picture of the crazy traffic from this morning. It was a bit rainy so there were less people wandering through traffic, but look closely and you'll find a few crazies amongst the cars. (Our driver, José, actually made one of the guys with us jump out of the car in the middle of the traffic! Los Dominincanos están locos!) Also, you can check out my "cup" of coffee! Hasta mañana!
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