Day 6 & 7 March 13 & March 14th




 What a blur these last two days have been, and March 14 may be one of the longest yet.

On March 13 we had the opportunity to do a soapstone carving, and Jesy along with another Global Brigades worker shared some of the crafts their family makes. We also had time to explore the beautiful mountains, river, and trails near where we were staying and celebrate student leader Francisco’s 26th birthday.

Around 11 p.m., a student knocked on my door to tell me my son had been stung by a scorpion. They weren’t sure what type it was, and Cameron’s finger had become numb with the sensation moving up his arm, so we headed to a medical center with Olivia, an RN who speaks Spanish. After traveling quite a distance, we arrived at a facility that unfortunately didn’t even have a doctor on site or soap in the bathroom. By the time we were seen by intake, nearly two hours had passed. Cameron remained calm through the pain and eventually signed himself out.

The experience opened my eyes to the challenges some communities face accessing care. Thankfully, the scorpion was not the dangerous Tityus pachyurus, a species in Panama known for medically serious stings. After the five-hour window passed without severe symptoms, we were incredibly relieved.

Now it’s March 14 and we are heading home soon. We walked around Panama City for a few hours before heading to the airport, and I’m grateful to sit with an iced coffee and pizza while reflecting on the week. I’m especially thankful for the safety of my son and all the students.

This experience with the scorpion also reminded me that when we work with others especially in healthcare people can sometimes be like scorpions (our peers, patients or even visitors). We all have the potential to be toxic, but the key is controlling our own reactions and not letting negativity spread. Staying calm, focusing on facts, setting boundaries, and avoiding escalation helps keep the “venom” from spreading through the whole group. The patients that we encountered were very different than many that we encounter in our more developed country they didn't have as much access and also didn't come off entitled. This was a humbling experience which I am grateful for as well as looking forward to my cozy bed and hot shower.  :)


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