'La Gran Chucha' literally translated means, "the big dog." A closer translation might be 'holy toledo' or 'oh, my goodness'. Well, today has been quite a day so far, and all we can think to say is, "La Gran Chucha!"
The day started off with the kids getting up about a half an hour ahead of schedule - at least our schedule that is. The day just seems to go better after time with the Lord and when the kids get up earlier, that time is cut short.
Clinic started a little early as well today. A patient showed up at 7 am with an asthema attack. Clinic actually starts around 8 am. After three breathing treatments she was much better. Our bedroom is connected to the clinic by way of our bathroom. Lori was in the shower when they arrived and was a little surprised to find company when she stepped out of the bathroom. La Gran Chucha!
Once clinic started, things just kept getting more interesting. For some reason, the crowd was a little more impatient than usual and needed to be reminded to wait their turn to be seen - patients kept trying to 'sneak in' before it was their turn. La Gran Chucha!
Then the goat got delivered. Little Ben doesn't tolerate cow's milk, so we thought that goat's milk might work. Well along with the goat came a truck full of people. One of those people was a frail old woman with oxygen sats in the 70's working hard to breathe. The living room - where Lori was teaching school - turned into a makeshift hospital. The Oxygen tank was set up and an IV started. School was moved to an extra bedroom and cut a little short. The kids took off before something else could be figured out. We weren't sure how well she was going to do, but after a liter of fluid and some antibiotics, she looked much better.
All the while, Lori had little Ben - who was constipated and crabby - and I was muddling through with my usual 'Spanish headache'. La Gran Chucha!
Then I did an ultrasound on a pregnant woman at around 30 weeks. Three months ago, the baby's head had been small and hard to measure. The mother went to Joyabaj to get another opinion. That doctor heard a heartbeat and reassured her that everything was fine. Today, on ultrasound, I could not see a head at all. I diagnosed her baby with anencephaly, which means that it will not be able to survive. Leslie and I prayed with her and Leslie hugged her to do her best to comfort her. It was the saddest thing that I have done since I have been here.
Right now, Lori & I are sitting for a few minutes. Soon we will start getting ready for a wedding. Rosa, one of the translators from the San Andres clinic is getting married tonight. The wedding starts at 6:00, and we aren't sure when it will end.
So, after a day like today, all we can say is, "La Gran Chucha!"
1 comment:
What a day! I'll have to remember that phrase, I love it! Is that a cousin to "Ay chihuahua"?
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