Coming to an End

Anna and I can't believe that we only have one more day left in the hospital. Our month has gone by so quickly! It seem like only yesterday that we stepped off the plane in Namibia. It is difficult to put into words the impact this trip has had on us. I can definitely say that our experiences have changed who we are as people as well as pediatricians. I will go back to the United States with a much greater appreciation for the resources that we have available not only in medicine but also in every day life.
This month has significantly enhanced our training in pediatrics. Here, we have to rely more on clincial skills and not simply lab values or imaging studies as these are not available when the diagnosis and treatment plan is formulated. We have been able to see diseases here such as TB, HIV/AIDS and even measles which are illnesses that we do not see often in the United States.
As we have described in this blog, we have experienced firsthand the devastation of HIV/AIDS. It has been very difficult to see the suffering of these children who are simply innocent victims. This has had one of the greatest impacts on me personally. I could not get used to the idea of so many innocent children dying from this disease.
As I reflect on this month, I believe that the memories that we made here will be ones that will last a lifetime and have a lasting impact on our practice as pediatricians.