Day 10: Medical Clinic Day 3 - Heat Wave

Day 10 of the 7G medical mission trip consisted of day 3 of the medical clinics. Leaving Saigon at 3:30am, we had to make our way to Tien Giang province. This was the earliest that we had to wake up, as it was a three-hour drive to get to Tien Giang. Along the way, we got breakfast to fuel us for the day of clinic.

Once everyone got on the bus, everyone just knocked out back to sleep.

Kevin and Katy are comfortably asleep.

Not a sound is made on the bus, as everyone is sleeping.

Ngan, Natalie, Kieu, and Alex make their way to breakfast.

Delicious rice noodle soup in the morning.

Once we arrived at Tien Giang, we soon realized that this rural area was not quite fit for a bus of our size. As the roads got narrower and narrower, we then had to get off the bus in order to cross the bridge. With us on the bus, it would be too heavy for the bus on the bridge. We then had to walk all the way to the local elementary school, where we would be holding our clinic. 

Upon arrival, we soon realize that the roads become narrower as we go closer to our destination.

Kieu and the rest of the 7G team walk over the bridge while the bus follows.

Anh Phúc and Ngan lead the pack when crossing the bridge.

The rest of the team follow along the bridge to get to the clinic.

Make way for the bus!

The rest of the trip would be on foot.

With the narrow roads, we occupied most of the road.

We soon arrive at the elementary school where we would be holding the clinics. We went straight to set up everything. Medical and dental teams went into their respective roles, performing the same services as the past two clinic days: (1) Intake, (2) triage, (3) dental services, (4) Ultrasound/EKG, and (5) pharmacy. However, this time, we did NOT have the help of the university students as we had during the first two clinics. Although there were still a number of dental, pharmaceutical, and medical university representatives to help us, we had to pick up the pace since we didn't have the luxury of the university students. However, we did our best to carry out the clinic day. Opening at 8am, we set out to provide free health care for the rural villagers. This day would be no different.

Lining up since 4am, the rural villagers await the free health services during this clinic day.

Because of the heat, elderly people were lead to the shade and into the cooler classroom.

Ranging from elderly people to young people, everyone came to receive the health services that are scarce in these areas.

The triage team goes to work.

Kelly of crowd control helps an elderly woman to the next station.

Dental team has everything set up and ready to go.

All of the hallways were crowded, especially the line for Ultrasound and EKG.

Dr. Phung consults a patient on her condition.

Dr. Duy talks with the patient about her chief complaint.

Alex, Julian, Lindy, and Christina enjoy the free coconuts that the local villagers provide for us. Since the day got hotter and hotter as time passed, such coconuts provide relief for our 7G triage team. Simply refreshing! 

Intake had their hands full, as everyone wanted to be seen quickly.

These young ladies wait in the shade, as they are listening for their names to be called.

Katrina scans for the left kidney using the Sonosite Ultrasound machine.

Spencer of crowd control leads these two young ladies to their next station.

Phoebe and her buddy outside of dental services.

Officer Ngan takes charge at the intake station, calling out the names when a spot was free.

Naomi and Nick of pharmacy help the university pharmacists with organizing the prescribed medicines. 

Jason acts as a dental assistant to the university dentist, while Amy and Alisha are on standby.

David guides this young lady to her next station.

Dr. Belville analyzes the left kidney of a woman using Ultrasound for any possible kidney stones.

Even though Dean was feeling under the weather, he still chugged through and helped with the dental team. Here he is with his buddy.

If the sheer number of people who came to the clinic made it bad enough for the 7G team, the heat also added a factor to the business of the clinic day. As the day passed overtime, the heat became enough for some patients to go home, as the heat was unbearable for them. Unfortunately, we were not able to see those patients as a result of this rise in heat.

The heat wave grew hotter and hotter as the day passed. Everyone remained in the shade when possible.

What made this clinic day stand out was in Ultrasound, there was a case of a liver tumor that invaded half of the patient's liver. Detected and analyzed by Dr. Belville, the liver tumor had grown so much that the estimated time for the patient to live was estimated 7-8 months. Although this was unfortunate, the tumor could have been contained if medical attention had been there sooner. The patient was then told the news and referred to the University Medical Center in Saigon for future steps. In addition, for EKG, there was a patient who was found to have cardiac dysrhythmia, which is irregularity in heartbeat. The patient was then referred to the University Medical Center for future care.

In the end, we managed to finish clinic day by 5pm. Because of the heat wave, people had to leave, giving the total number of people who we helped to 430 people for both medical and dental teams.

We then ate lunch and then went to check in at the hotel. For dinner, we ate with the university representatives on an island, where we had to take a boat to the restaurant.

The 7G team is excited to be on a boat!

For dinner, the team would be eating with the university representatives on an island. 

Aboard the boat, Ngan, Trang, and Katy are smiling with excitement!

Johnson, Tiffany, and Kelly are equally excited for the boat ride.

Julian, Clara, Mai Anh, and Ngan feel the wind of the boat in motion.

David, Alisha, Natalie, and Christina are excited to be on a boat. Kelly and Julian's arm are equally excited.

Natalie and Christina pose for the camera while on the front of the boat.

Jessica and Julian pose as well for the camera while on the front of the boat.

Not sure if safe or not, Katy gives Trang a piggy back ride while on the front of the boat.

With the signature Jack and Rose pose, Kelly and Tiffany hold the pose for the camera.

The university representatives were on the other boat next to us.

Captain Ngan takes the wheel.

Captain Alex points to the island! Land ho!

Captain Kevin looks into the horizon, pondering what is the next step in getting to the island.

Natalie sleeps on Christina, as we wait for the boat to start up again.

Alex makes a fish face.

The 7G team enjoy the meal after the long clinic day.

Overall, with the second to last clinic day over, it was time for the team to get some rest before doing it for the last time. More opportunities await over the horizon.

Written by Johnson. All photos were taken by David.