Today was incredible. I think the best day I've had yet.
I am back in OPD this week and today saw around 20+ patients. I know I've said this in every post but I really have had the most amazing patients with great attitudes and so much personality.
What made this day so much better than the last you ask?
Three things:
1) getting '5 stars' today from the other C.O (equivalent to a PA here) for working quickly. I thrive off of encouragement I guess, because that confirmation was just what I needed.

2) This guy! In my top 2 favorite patients of the day/ever. He giggled every time I touched him with the stethoscope. Apparently he was adopted- meaning I'm too late :( 

3) Doing my first paracentesis all on my own... no numbing medicine or anything on a 20 yr old boy that I almost verbally mistook for a pregnant female.-Glad my translator kept saying "he". She knew exactly what I was thinking. She's kept me out of so many messes here. Anyway, the boy didn't even flinch as I bore this catheter through his abdomen wall to get rid of all the fluid he had accumulated. When I later asked Dr. Joan about this patient she said the only reason they can come up with is that he had severe liver scarring after a losing battle with schistosomiasis, a parasite that lives in the liver, and therefore caused some serious portal hypertension from the backup of blood behind the liver scarring. Its amazing how common schistosomiasis is here- 

I saw another kid this week who's only complaint was blood in the urine- urinalysis showed the parasite and we were able to treat him. Even so. it had been several months before his family brought him and now I'm praying that sweet 5 yr old doesn't develop the same problem.

Yesterday, we went on community outreach where we went out into the bush to do family planning education and AIDS awareness, vaccines, birth control, and antenatal care, it was only 4 hours but I've never felt so exhausted. I felt like a factory worker, where I would draw up the thick depo provera shots, check Blood pressure, and give the shot to what I assume was 100+ ladies and then oral birth control for others. The nurses warned me that it's important to check when their last menses was because if some ladies think they're pregnant then they will try to get the shot in hopes for abortion.

<- lime cookies and fanta as payment for some hard work- A deal I can't refuse!



Time outside of the hospital has also been so refreshing this week. Its so nice having Meg here.  Meg has been volunteering at Zimba for the past 6 months and sadly is heading back home next Monday. She will be missed! On the weekends we've taken trips into Livingston, only an hour away, to stay sane and visit a few of the surrounding countries just another hour away from Livingston. So far we've been to Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. I may complain in the moment of frustration and when I start feeling defeated but don't let me fool you- I'm really living here; life is full and abundant. God as always, is good!

Thanks for your love, support, and your continued prayers,

Goodnight from Zambia!