Guatemala - Day 7

Dear Evan and Nathan,
     We arrived in Antigua today.  It took about six hours to get here, but the PT group had our own van so we could stretch out a little, which made the ride more tolerable.  Antigua is a beautiful city nestled between two volcanos.  It was settled in 1542 and many buildings were destroyed by an earthquakes in the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s.  The architecture is truly astounding.
     I have tons of pictures today.  I love you.  Good luck in your games tomorrow.  Have fun!
Love, Mom

La Merced Church

Façade of the Cathedral of Saint James



Hacky sack in the main plaza under the shadow of a volcano



Inside the Cathedral of Saint James



You can lunge anywhere.

And perform a manipulation, too.

Note the handicap sign on the sidewalk.  Not sure how this helps someone with challenges in mobility.  

 

The façade of the San Francisco Cathedral, which was damaged in an earthquake in 1565 and continued to be damaged until the earthquake of 1773.

Nuestro Senora del Carmen Church, destroyed in earthquakes in 1917 and 1918

Getting ready for the processions during Santa Semana

 

Guatemala - Day 6

Dear Evan and Nathan,

     This was our last day treating patients.  I haven't done the count of how many patients we had yet, but it was a little lower than other days.  This morning it rained, which kept people away.  We were back at the clinic in Gualan and saw a few patients that we saw there on Monday and a few follow-ups from our mobile clinic in Morales on Sunday.  The patients from Morales had to drive nearly three hours to get to us. 

     I am so proud of how well my students have done this week.  They have worked long, hard, hot days and have treated patients of all ages with a wide variety of diagnoses - some of which (diagnoses) they may never get to see again.  This is true direct-access, and they have spotted zebras in with the horses.  They deserve their time in Antigua.

     I miss you and can't wait to see you on Monday morning!  Here are a few pictures from today.

Love you, Mom

 

This kid, Henry, was so fun!  He is full of energy and enthusiasm and worked hard.  By the end of this treatment (his second with us this week), he was sitting erect and rotating through his trunk.  Becca will be able to continue working with him.

Aquatic rehab on the coldest day Gualan has had in a very long time.

Reviewing treatment for BPPV with Becca so that she can follow-up with a patient I treated in her clinic this week.  No comments on body mechanics.  We do what we can with what we have.  Becca is an amazingly flexible and resourceful PT.

 

 Where does this rod go?  To the second rib?  The dark spots are bullet fragments.

 

I am so blessed to be working with these future PTs!

Guatemala - Day 5

 Dear Evan and Nathan,
     Whew!  What a busy day!  Our clinic saw 39 patients - 27 of them by my group of students.  We are sure worn out at the end of every day.  We saw a wide variety of patients of all ages and diagnoses.  We also got to walk through the hospital and two students even got a tour of the hospital.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  We never lack for specialists or equipment or space.  The hospitals we have been in are luxurious compared to the one in Zacapa, which is the only hospital in the district.  Patients are resourceful with their own care and the care of their loved ones, though.
     Tomorrow is our last day of patient care and then we are off to Antigua.  This has been a terrific experience and I feel like we are making a difference for a lot of people.  There is a severe shortage of rehabilitation specialists in this district and in Guatemala.  Even though we won't be here to continue caring for the patients we see, other groups of PTs and PT students will follow us so the patients will continue to be cared for.  Until more PTs are trained in Guatemala, it is better than no rehabilitation at all. 
    I miss you so much!  Here are some pictures from today.
Love you, Mom
    

Co-treating with speech therapy.

Kaitlynn and Hannah hard at work.

 

This is the x-ray of a patient that Hannah and Kaitlynn saw on Sunday.  He had almost no flexion and absolutely no internal rotation of his hip so we suggested an x-ray.  He got it at the hospital this morning and brought it to us.  Can you spot the hip joint?  We can't, either.  Beyond the poor x-ray quality, there is no joint left.  Looks like possible necrosis, too. 

Is there a better exercise than the lunge?  

Pediatric PT is fun!  Danny had crawling and crab walking races with this kid while Hannah corrected his (the patient's) form and acted as the judge.