“Don’t leave food out, or the crocs will come and get it.”
Patients seen: 14
Active clinic time: 6.5 hrs
Doing about 90% extractions, and 10% fillings. There was a 7 year old covered in gnats. Struggling to be compassionate. Scared of him and how dirty he was. I feel like I should hug him, but scared to get near him, and not happy that his gnats are biting us. He is so poorly taken care of. Large dental infection with a fistula tract. Extracted the tooth and put him on antibiotics. This felt like it could have actually saved him from from something really awful.
Night: itching. Constant and vicious. Huge welts covering my legs and butt. They are going to scar. Don’t mind being dirty or covered in sweat, but the itching is maddening and keeping me from thinking straight. Next week is supposed to be worse. Worried that I won’t be able to push through, but not going to give up.
Pace is demanding. We break up and set up our clinic and tents every day in a new village. Hard day of dentistry, then manual labor packing and moving our supplies and belongings, then trek a half mile to boat, 15 minute boat ride, then set up everything again.
The group is great though. We laugh all day while we’re working. Keeping things light and fun.
Snapshots 