Casa Del Adulto Mayor

Today was another early 0630 start with breakfast, but the coffee and food is amazing! We have had good luck so far with weather: sunny, humid, and 90’s but tonight is our first storm. Luckily it only rained for a short time. Today we were based out of a senior community center. We saw mostly 50 and older but we also had some families with kids come through. They had wounds, acid reflux, arthritis, upper respiratory infections, and high blood pressure today. We saw a few patients in their 90’s which was impressive as we learned that 56 years old is the average life expectancy here. We were able to see almost 300 patients again today and provide them with care and medications they would not have otherwise been able to get. Many issues that are treated or curable in the States are unfortunately not a priority here as they are seen as terminal. We have seen patients with cancer tumors whom in the US would have been treated and most likely cured, but instead the focus here is on pain management. Women are sent home within hours of birth, if they can even get to a healthcare clinic to have their baby. These realities make it evident why the Nicaraguan people are so grateful for the littlest of cares we can provide. Most of us would say we are picking up a decent amount of Spanish, at least enough to make the Nicaraguan people laugh when we try. Many of the individuals requested reading glasses (some just to look cool) and we were able to provide them to many of those in need. Plumbing is a luxury we have been given at the hotel, but we were not so spoiled in the field the last two days. We have had outhouses and “flushable” toilets that you add a bucket of water to in order to flush. Needless to say it has been an experience we will never forget! We are all reminded how lucky we are to have such amenities back home! We were heavily rewarded this evening with a special Moto Taxi ride to the local ice cream shop. It was the perfect way to reward our hard work for the last three days of clinic.