This week was one probably the saddest week so far at Casa Juan Diego. The morning started out normally--hectic but still under control. As the people were checking in I was finding medical records and making we had everything we needed so that we would be prepared when the doctor showed up.
Before the doctors can see the patients, the volunteers who speak Spanish always interview them, taking their temperatures, blood pressure, and weight and asking them why they have come to the clinic. Usually the problems they are experiencing are not too extreme, but there was a very sick woman this week.
In the process of immigrating from Honduras, she was unable to eat for a long time, which really messed up her GI track. Since then she has been unable to eat at all, throwing everything up, and has become very sick. She should have seen a doctor earlier, but was too scared. The doctor at the clinic this week said that she really needed to go to the emergency room because she was doing so poorly.
Once again, my experience really put my life into perspective. It is so sad that some people do not have access to healthcare--it is so hard for me to imagine. My experience here shows me the real service aspect of medicine. When I am a doctor I think I will have the skills and training to serve the community, especially those who most need medical attention.
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