Burns

I couldn't work with Dr Ed this week because he had a medical team visiting and there wouldn't have been room in the clinic. I walked the Ravine with Sam and Casey as my able-bodied assistants and spent the rest of the week helping out at the house. I got heights and weights on all the children to track their growth progress; I also tested nearly half our children from HIV and tuberculosis. We rearranged the furniture in my room, we took Kevs and 2 of his friends to the park at the church, and we bought and assembled 3 new cribs. I've been trying to spend more time with my Johnny J and I'm seeing the results. This week, I've gotten him to smile and laugh many times, and he has crawled across the room to me twice! Big steps for a little baby who was so weak he couldn't even cry when I first met him.

This morning, I delivered my absentee ballot to a team that was visiting Sherrie at the Ravine. One of her school children got burned by a kerosene lamp on her abdomen, her thighs, and her right forearm. I have never taken care of such a large burn, so I spoke to a friend who works at a burn center and got some tips. And with the assistance of my loyal DIT (doctor in training), Sam, I bandaged the girl up. She was in intense pain and was yelping and crying the whole time. Even though I know how important the bandaging is, it was still difficult to ignore her cries. I will see her again tomorrow morning to redo the bandages.