Another Day at the Orphanage

Last night about nine of us went back to the hospital and worked until after midnight.  I put in a couple IV’s by myself on the first try and got to do a lot more hands on stuff.  Two patients came in two had been in a stab fight.  One was badly injured and stabbed in the lower left abdomen; he had to be taken up to major surgery right away.  The other one was stabbed in the hand on his fingers, not as severe.  I helped out on the hand injury and even administered lidocaine for the first time.  I attempted to try my first sutures but there wasn’t enough skin left to do more than two.  We dressed his wound and sent him on his way.  Last night was a nice way to end a day at the hospital.

This morning we woke up and made our way to a different orphanage/school that was within walking distance of our compound.  We made our way there and the kids welcomed us with open arms.  We sang and dance within their school house learning about the school’s history.  All the walls were made of mud and this is the school we are actually coming back to work on next week.  We are going to plaster around all the mud with cement to make permanent structured walls. The kids performed many songs, dances, and poems for us and even encouraged us to dance with them.  It really does make you feel so happy because they are so appreciative of you being there.  After three hours we prepared to leave.  We took a couple pictures and the kids loved seeing themselves on cameras.  It was soon time to say goodbye.  Some of the kids walked with us back to the compound because they were having swimming lessons in our pool here.  While they got ready to swim, us students made lunch, ate, and then made our way out to the pool.   

                                           The kids dancing and singing for us

                                          What the dirt walls of the school look like

                                                         one of the kids and I

I just woke up from a short siesta and showered to be ready for dinner.  Some of us might go to the local cinema and see the Dark Knight Rises.  Tomorrow it is back to the hospital for the last time this week before we leave for Safari on Thursday!