Wednesday

Life here in Thimphu is moving along. I thought I would share some hand injuries that I deal with. These people receive free care, but the quality of care varies. It depends on the volunteers that are here who specialize in hand or they get sent to India. The ones that are sent to India for repair are very delayed because they have to raise money to go. This one particular gentleman had a spaghetti wrist and it was fixed 8 months later when a woman from Australia sponsored him. The outcome as I stated before will not be perfect but will be functional. He has terrible scarring and adhesions of his tendons and so we work a lot on scar massage and gliding as well as block and bend. He is very compliant and the hospital puts him up in housing. He is from eastern Bhutan and we are in the West. Another teenager lost his ring finger in a saw accident. He was fixed right away and is doing quite well, he has some moderate scarring and adhesions and I told him today that the only way he would have power in his hand again is if he worked really hard on the small finger. He is convinced now, I think. :) It is really fun to work with a wide range of diagnosis as well as age group. I saw a 4 year old yesterday and made him a little splint for his radial nerve palsy. He cried every time we looked at him, but today…he did whatever we asked him to do and smiled ear to ear!! He also injured his elbow… he too is from eastern Bhutan and the hospital is housing him and his mother. Pretty amazing what the the government  does for these people.

On a lighter note, I received another gift ! This time it was a traditional silk jacket… it is gorgeous and the girl I work with insissted I buy a Kira to match, but a traditional woven one. It is beautiful!!  I have finally gotten to to run, as I am used to the altitude and don't get so short of breath!! The run is extremely hilly, because Thimphu is only hills but it is absolutely beautiful.
For you foodies, there is a lot of indian find here and I am enjoying aloo paratha and chickpeas and other yumminess. I also am addicted to mustard oil, which adds some kick to veggies. And everything is served with chili sauce… I LOVE it!!!!

 Spaghetti wrist who was fixed in India.

 Teenager who cut off his finger. He laughs when there is pain, we pretty much laugh the entire hour!!!

 These are scenes from my morning run.. daunting switch backs but gorgeous views every turn!!!

And… aloo paratha with chickpeas. Paratha is a wheat indian bread stuffed with potatoes and spices. Yum!!!