Heal the World ...... Make it a Better Place

This week has been a great start to our time here in Cochabamba. We have hit the ground running to say the least..... in both our spanish language skills and time spent in the hospital. After spending almost a full week here we have begun to unravel a piece of a mystery, by figuring out who does and does not speak spanish. Sometimes they are fairly tricky, speaking spanish to you for a few days to test your own knowledge, then switching to english after three days of solid confusion. Needless to say, we are becoming spanish speaking pros. Others would just call it being very good at charades and hand gestures.

Kim has been spending her time this week in the burn center. She's now become pretty comfortable in the operating room and even amputated a child's third nipple earlier in the week. Today she had the chance to take the lead in performing a skin graft on a child who was burned across his entire chest. Kim loves the kids (think back to the song "Trick love the kids")

Andrew spent time in the CRIN (child malnutrition clinic) learning the ins and outs of infant and pediatric nutrition. He was able to see the nurses and doctors measure each child and prepare a specific feeding program for each. After this he then had the opportunity to feed the children during the appropriate time.

Lauren has pretty much just been dominating life this week.

Tiffany has been spending the majority of her time this week in labor and delivery, as well as OB emergency. She has been able to witness numerous deliveries, both vaginal and caesarean. She was joined by Kim and Lauren for a night shift at the hospital in the labor and delivery ward. They witnessed the miracle of a twins being born via C-section. They were also able to avoid a large stream of urine from a newborn in one of the funnier moments of the week. They also witnessed two natural births.

This weekend we head to Lake Titicaca to celebrate the independence of our glorious country..... AMERICA!!! We are hoping to find fireworks and hot dogs to celebrate appropriately. Smores may also be an option.

Awards of the week:

Master of the Scalpel/Debridement- Kimberly Limentani
Chief nutritional resuscitator of children- Andrew Justice
Lead Spanish Translator - Lauren Marasa
Master of the female domain - Tiffany Tonismae

Ciao