Friday was our final day at Cambridge for the combined team. By the end of the day, we were sorry to see the week end, but we knew we had helped a large number of people who would not have received medical and dental care without this week. It was even more fulfilling, given the fact that we lost half of our medicine to the Jamaican Customs authorities. The biggest problems involved a lack of pain medication for all of the dental patients who had teeth extracted. For the week, our Medical doctors saw almost 700 patients, the pharmacy dispensed over 1,400 prescriptions; the volunteers did almost 500 lab tests; and the Cardiology Team performed over 100 echocardiograms. The Dental Team had a record week. They saw over 175 patients and extracted 405 teeth in the five days. There was a light moment in the middle of the day when a little visitor (rat) showed up in Dr. Bridgett’s examination room (she never missed a beat; she continued right on interviewing her patient). Dr. Tom A came to the rescue (see the photo today) as he captured the rodent (it is a whole new side of Tom that many of us have never seen…animal control officer). We ended the day with a combined dinner at a local restaurant with all of the Medical Team Members and our Jamaican Helpers. We became a Family this week and ended the night breaking bread together! We are all honored and feel privileged to have been part of this team effort.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Thursday Clinic
Thursday started with devotions and another great breakfast at the New River Resort. Most of the medical team went to Holland for a second day, although Dr. Tom A came back to Cambridge for a half day. The Dental Team had a record day! They saw 42 patients (including 10 from Holland) and extracted 115 teeth. The team at Holland saw over 120 patients and the pharmacy dispensed 222 prescriptions. The other volunteers (Lori, Sidna and Michael) did over 80 lab tests and the Cardiology Team did about 20 echocardiograms. That evening we were treated to a wonderful meal at one of Pastor Gerald’s church members and the political discussions were quite stimulating for some members.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday Clinic
Today was a major disappointment for the team! The Jamaican Government has decided not to return our medicine and we are struggling to meet the needs of the people here without the pain medication, vitamins and other medicines that were seized at the airport on Saturday. The people we serve in Black River are the ones who are truly losing here. Even with all of the challenges, we are touching lives in Jamaica and being blessed in return. Most of the team traveled to Holland to hold the two-day clinic at the Holland Church, while the dental team and a number of nurses carried on a mini-clinic at Cambridge. The dentists and assistants (Lila may have found a new career field) saw 31 patients and extracted 79 teeth in a shortened day. The lab team did 88 lab tests at Cambridge and XX at Holland. All of the doctors went to Holland, and they saw 157 patients. The pharmacy at Holland (Hollis and Alanna) dispensed 278 prescriptions. Three additional members were fighting the stomach problems and one was injured trying to show a bunch of school girls how to do a cartwheel. (We can’t mention Lila’s name or she would kill us!) On Wednesday evening we went to Treasure Beach and celebrated three birthdays on this trip (Tom A, Stewart and Lori).
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