Day 7

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

When we arrived at the orphanage, we found part of the building had fallen due to the earthquake. We later learned that there had been orphans in the structure at the time.

All, spare one child, had died in the collapse.

The remaining children from this orphanage & children from three other orphanages were brought in to the clinic.

People from around the neighbourhood also lined up

to seek medical care

Soon, the clinic was filled with patients to be seen & we became very busy. We saw much of the same medical issues as the last clinic, such as respiratory infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, GI issues, diarrhea, worms. Although food is still scarce in these areas, there was less chronic malnutrition, & more issues related to the earthquake that involved physical aches & pain, as well as emotional & psychological issues. Many of these children had recently become orphans, losing their parents & families to the earthquake.

Nursing students & EMTs taking vital signs

Chelsea & Andrew

The pharmacy

Beth & Alan

Carol, one of the handful of amazing nurses the Union group had brought with them

Heather assessing a patient

Jenny, interpreter, working with Carissa

Germaine 'Gino', interpreter, working with me

Laura, Union group nurse hard at work

Amy, nurse from Union group examining a child

Gail, another Union group nurse, administering medication

Alon Unger, pediatric & internal medicine resident from UCLA

Carissa drawing up a pain med for an intramuscular injection

Again there was an area for children to play games, make crafts, & of course, blow bubbles!

Ann, Solomon's lovely wife

After the clinic we handed out items that were donated to us for distribution.

This was the suitcase given to us by Heather's

generous mother in-law & her class.

All of this was given to the children in the orphanage.

Thanks so much, class, for doing such a great job on this!

The Union group gave toys, food, & clothing

And we handed out Timbits T-shirts.

Thanks to Tiffany Fontaine for this generous donation!

(Tiff does her own incredible work with her organization,

Fontaine Children's Charity Foundation)

More shameless plug for our Timmy's here.

In the end, the children sang songs for us

It was an amazing day

Heather, Ryan, Alan, Carissa, Me

Jenny, Carissa, Alon

Heather, Nelson, Carissa, Gino, Me

... & girls' bathroom (filles bain) ;)

Heather, Gino, Me

Me, Heather, Solomon with fresh mango, Carissa

Carol & Don Abby

That evening, the Union group took us out to dinner at a hotel restaurant in Auberge Du Quebec. A break from dehydrated/rehydrated camping meals, dried fruit snacks, granola, & energy bars. Pizza & cold beer never tasted so so delicious. Thank you Union group!

The boys went straight for the pool

Mmmm