Trusting the Painter

Being in multiple locations simultaneously has never been a skill, though try as I might, I have been able to master. Rather unfortunately, because it would come in quite handy periodically, and this morning was one such time. My clinic patients waited and watched as I ran in and out of the consultation room. I would just manage to see a patient, when someone else would come knocking on the door. In the midst of all that was a small boy with a broken wrist. I gave instructions on management and moved on to the next item needing attention.

By morning's end I had finally made it through my clinic patients for the day and feeling semi-caught up I circled back around to the boy. Checking in with the doc managing his case, seems like busy was the status across the board and the fractured wrist was yet to be reduced. I solicited some help and some ketamine and attempted. and then attempted again. and then had some one else attempt. and then we called in for muscle reinforcement and tried again, and again. In the end, we had all sweat through our scrubs, and without a reduced forearm to show for it.

Surgery was the next option. Talking with the boy's parents, they immediately responded that they couldn't pay. The cost we had quoted them would have been roughly $160 USD. I was thankful one of the Honduran docs who had been helping was able to explain the options available to them, and they consented.

The boy had last drank some juice at 4am and therefore we did not have to wait long to be able to administer anesthesia and proceed. Surgery went well and the stubborn radius finally submitted and reduced. Talking with the family peri-operatively, more of their story was slowly revealed. Why was a child awake and drinking juice at 4am? The family had left home at 1am in search of medical care. They had stopped at two previous clinics before arriving in Balfate. Each time they were told there was no one there able to help them. So their arrival at Hospital Loma de Luz at 9am was already a long and tiring journey.

One of the other docs made a comment that God had prevented us from reducing the wrist while in the ED. Knowing the boy had a bumpy 8 hour ride home, the likelihood that a closed reduction would have stayed reduced... unlikely.

It's a good reminder to me to simply Trust God. I don't always know the reasons for things. I don't always see the bigger picture. From my limited view, a nice closed reduction and sending the boy on his way home, was much cheaper for the family as well as more efficient and less time consuming for all involved in his care. God cares, and knows those things. He understands the reasons and He sees the bigger picture. He is, afterall, the master artist. We just need to trust.

God painting a sunset while a few play a game of futbol at the Children's Home.