End of week 1

Just finished the sixth day working at the UN compound...
Best moment... the docs read our notes regarding assessment of the patients condition as they are too busy to thoroughly reassess things like neuro status.. one young partial spinal cord (showing signs of returning function in his legs) worked so hard with me, never complained and had the most amazing attitude, but he had a serious infection in his wound. I carefully documented his tremendous progress and potential and daily improving neuro status, and on day five 6 air force medics in full gear come marching into the tent carrying a stretcher... "Stimphat is going to America!" and they whisked him away for proper treatment in the states. At least for now he has a break from hell and has a real chance...would like to think I had something to do with that. That was one of the few times I cried as they carried him away and he was waving to me the whole time. Can't wait to post pics
Worst moment...
The sadness of having a paraplegic come to us for medical threatment, he has been a para for 5 years but never received a wheeelchair or any rehab. He has crawled on his belly for 5 years, tremendous skin breakdown on the front of his body. To live in squalor and lack even basic mobility is the ultimate cruelty. That is what this organization is all about.
Most of us here have gone through the cipro and immodium treatments and now feel really good and ready for week 2! Only 2 on IVs and I wasn't one of them! Woo hoo! Mind over matter...

Food for thought... the 358 richest people in the world have the same collective wealth as the 2.5 billion poorest...

Also, the annual gov't budget here for 9 million people is the same annual budget for a city of 100,000 in Massachusetts....

Check out the book "Pathologies of Power" by Paul Farmer...