What we have encountered so far....

It has been a little while since we have updated everyone on what has been going on. We have been very busy working away 10-12 hr long days and by the time we get home at night it is just enough time to shower and call family and fall asleep. So I'll start at the beginning. The first day of clinic was very much a  learning curve on how to work with the new doctors and how they run clinics. Also it gave us a very good idea on what kind of kids we would be seeing and their oral health status. The doctors were also very much surprised to see the amount of decay present in so many young children, 6-11 years old. It has been extremely heart breaking to see the young kids in pain and for many of them this will be the FIRST AND ONLY time they will EVER see a hygienist, and possibly a dentist, as well as being the first time OWNING A TOOTHBRUSH!!!!!! The first week we saw roughly about 195 kids and we did about 174 extractions, with tons of fillings and cleanings in between.

Our very first day of clinic! 

 

The units we use. Adec (made in Newberg, Oregon). Pretty neat. 

Kyrstin getting ready to pass out toothbrushes to the kiddos  

Dr. Gloria teaching the kids oral health and showing them how to brush. This is also where the kids sit all day waiting their turn. 

Our sterilization set up. We are very grateful to have Armondo to do sterilization for us. He works for the El Mochito mine. He is standing in the background with Sharon.  

What some of the kids teeth look like.  So much decay that most of the time it is beyond the point of hurting anymore. Most kids have at least one or two teeth with decay like this.

This is due to multiple infections to that one area. 

The kids have been so much fun and are very excited to see us. They are so polite and listen so well. They sit in the gym waiting their turn and some kids wait 4-5 hrs before they are even seen. Most of the time you would have no idea they have been in their chair waiting for that long. 

Killing time by getting their nails painted. 

They love getting their picture taken. 

Getting their picture taken while waiting to be seen by the doctor. 

The last week many of us have been very ill and it is has been very hard working. We have found some time to nap between and try to get well. At this point we have all have been feeling a whole lot better! 

 

Inside the hospital. This is their doctors office. They do not go to a primary care physician like we do, you show up to the hospital and wait your turn to be seen. Sarah and Kenda were able to experience this due to being ill. It was a scary process that is for sure. You're not in America anymore. 

On Saturday we made our way to Tela beach for much needed relaxation. Dr. Gloria made sure we had ocean view rooms, which was amazing by the way. She is such an awesome person inside and out. Tela beach was so beautiful and the ocean was bath water warm and extremely salty! We were happy to lay on the beach and get some much needed sun. Driving to Tela was a very interesting thing. We do not know how people survive driving. Rules are: honk as many times as you can, pass when there are cars coming from the other direction, go as fast as you can, and drive with only one head light
working at night time.  

Quite a few people drive like this, with multiple people in the back of a truck. 

Our view from our hotel 

Enjoying the sun and warm water :) 

Kyrstin getting love from one of the local girls. The girls love getting hugs from us. 

Let me introduce you to our two amazing doctors we have the privilege of working with. These two have a very special connection with Oregon. They work regularly with a Hermiston dentist as well as our very own Jill Schultz from Oregon Tech.

This is Dr. Gloria. She is a mother of three and a wife. She lives in Tegucigalpa. She is the "momma bear" to all of us and all the little kids she works on. Her kind, soft tone and gentle touch helps all the little kiddos be at ease when they are with her. She likes to sing to her patients and make them feel safe. 

This is Dr. Jose. He is a father of two and a husband. Him and his wife met in dental school and have been together for 20 years (married for 13). He is a very kind and gentle man, who likes to sing to his patients as well. He also tends to make some funny jokes here and there, too. You'll never find him without his Oregon Ducks or Beavers hat. Also one of the hardest working man you'll ever meet. Both doctors are, they are truly amazing people. 

(He is to busy working nonstop to take photos)