June 21:

John and I went to Chupaca in the afternoon (to avoid the crowd of volunteers that are usually at the hospitals/clinics). It turned out to be the best day in the clinic yet! We both gave our first shots, and we helped deliver a baby (it was only the nurse and us!) First we saw the technician stitch up a few men, and also clean up an infected stomach wound. After we had watched her give several shots/vaccines we asked if we could have a try. John went first, and he gave his first shot to a woman in the butt. He told her after that it was her first shot, and she said it didnt hurt at all. Then surprisingly a 19 yr girl went into labor, and John and I were the only ones there to help the nurse and technician deliver the baby. At first we were just standing watching, but as the baby was crowning the nurse shouted to us and asked why we didnt have gloves on! John was so frazzled he ripped his gloves...but he regained his composure enough to grab the baby from the nurse and hold it on the mothers stomach just after it was born! We then took the baby the the heating table where John suctioned the spit from the babys mouth and I rubbed it to keep the baby warm. After the nurse was able to remove the placenta she came over and prepared a vaccination, which she let me inject into the babys thigh! (My first shot!) It was a baby girl, and regrettably the mother did not want the baby and the father of the child was not in the picture. John accompanied the nurse to the hallway with the baby, where the 19 year girls parents were waiting for their grandchild. John says they were ecstatic by the birth of the baby. After all this John and I decided to call it a day...we didnt think it could get any better!