The Tea Fields - Village 3 Day 7
Mike Quinn
Third Village. Patthar-Jhora. The Tea Fields This a vil down on the flat land area, surrounded by Tea Fields. We left on time with a few new passengers one being a Dr and the other being a woman with a great sense of humor and a strong vision, much like Nandu (Mahima). I liked her the moment she got in the truck, we set off. Down the mountain we went, traffic was normal and so were the roads both very busy. This is going to be a 3/3.5 hour trip so we all set in for the adventure. We stopped along the way and picked up Dr Robin, I like this guy too, he is a general physician from Sikkim and does a very good job. The trip continues down with only a few stops for road blockages, small towns and crazy drivers. Once we hit Flat Land the speed picks up a little but the traffic gets worse, if possible.
We arrive at the village, get out and get our gear in the building, a block structure with a large central room, it is their church. I was in charge of setting up the medical areas so got to it. After the set up we got right to work, starting with a woman in labor. One of the Drs went to see what was up. She was very pregnant and about to drop the kid so the Tea Field Manager was to get a car and get her to hospital. We moved on. Byron and I were working together again in triage, the two Drs were in their spots, Kisha was Wound Care and Sara was moving right along in the pharmacy with the help of an Indian Male RN. Charles and Andy were guarding the door, the people started coming in. Women at first with kids, major complaints were lower Abdominal pain with low grade fever. I had spoken earlier with Dr Robin, and he said that we would see a lot of the ailment, mainly due to the bad water, "Worm Infestation". Second major complaint from this group was general body pain, working in a tea field is, after all, very hard work and women do most of the work. Third complaint, ear infections in kids, this is due to the fact that they play in the stagnant water that surrounds the vil and this water gets into their ears and the infection soon sets in. We of course had the ever present cuts and scratches or bad teeth. In this village though, it was the shear number of cases we had, the number was a surprise to us all. We did have one female about 9 years old that had a very Arthritic L knee, swollen very badly she also had what looked like conjunctivitis in both eyes.
They just kept coming, by the time we got a break, about two hours in, we had already seen more people than we had seen in the first vil about 50+\- and the line was long and the people kept coming. Lunch was very tasty, made by the Village People, not the Y.M.C.A. People, sorry I had to say it, you were thinking it too. Chicken, rice, a salad and some very good Tea, remember where we were. The line kept getting longer. I asked one of the vil chiefs when or if these people had seen any type of medical service, his reply was simple, "Maybe one or two but he thought not many more". Our ten minute lunch break was over and we went back to it, "once again into the breach".
By this time the men of the vil came calling, again lots of lower abdominal pain, general body pain and in this group some pretty good cuts and scratches. The line was holding, we were catching up. The plan was to be finished at about 4 and get on the road so we could get back just after dark. The six of us threw all we had into the battle and along with the Drs we overcame the line and won in the end and did get out just after 5pm, tired but very happy by a job well done. We were a bit battered, bruised and tired but we had seen 150 souls that day and sent all away with proper care and smiles on their faces.
As we were getting into the machines for the long drive back to Kpong, Charles and Nandu were both feeding us words like "Thanks and Well Done". For the medical team, it was as always, this is the thing we do, we do it not for a pat on the back or the praise of others but for the patient. Seeing them leave any place we work, wether it be big city hospital or Tea Field, it's the smiles on their faces, that's all.
PS, it was a girl.....
End day 7
Good job on the post Mike, and an amazing job to you all helping so many sick ones, being Jesus to them. So many beautiful faces in those faces; I mean the kids BTW Mike and Charles. Praying and praising from Huntersville. ~ Helen
Posted by: Helen Corley | 10/25/2011 at 03:30 PM
when i started reading the blog post i was under the assumption that Andy was the writer but as soon as i read 'she was about to drop the kid,' i knew it was my best buddy mike.
so excited for all the work you guys are doing.
i'm praying for you.
love
tracy
Posted by: Tracy Grubbs | 10/25/2011 at 07:16 PM