Home Visit #1: Elizabeth

The week of June 22-28, 2008

Home Visit #1: Elizabeth

It is important to follow up with women who give birth, to check on them and on their babies and to help them adjust to family life with a new member. So it is not just for their physical welfare, but to continue relationship and establish ourselves as an ongoing resource that we go to the women for a 1 day and a 3 day postpartum visit. After that, unless there is a special concern, the families bring the babies to the clinic weekly and then monthly for checkups.

I was so fortunate to go with Kate to see "Elizabeth" again, and her son AJ and her husband "Edward". They live across the bay from Puerto Galera and are reached by a small boat (a banca). If you look at my picture gallery, you can see how small these boats are! But the bay was quiet and fairly shallow. We passed a school, with children boarding bancas in droves to get home. It is sweet to see them all in their uniforms and then you remember that their families must pay for the uniforms before they can attend school; must pay for books and supplies and transportation. These families are the same as everywhere I am sure; wanting a better life for their children and knowing that education is key to that goal; working very hard to provide the means.

We disembark along a narrow plank and I bang my head on an outrigger post. I am unusually tall and trying to remember to watch my head is a constant for me here. We wander along the beach and find Elizabeth's family outside barbequing and making sticky rice for an anticipated fiesta that night. I met Edward in the birth room and recognize him. He is smiling so widely that my instincts are making me watchful--I was right to be! He pulled out a snake from along the wall and made a little shriek. As the scream was followed by laughter immediately, I was lucky to recognize the snake as a rubber toy. I passed the test. I didn't jump. I laughed at him. But had he not looked so mischievous, I may have flunked--I really really am NOT fond of snakes.

We enter the house and are greeted by female relatives who escort us to the bedroom. Elizabeth is happy to see us. She calls me "Mommy" and holds out her hands, smiling her beautiful smile that lights up her face. Her boy is doing well and sleeping peacefully, even through most of his examination. Then he has had enough of Kate and fusses for his mother, who picks him up and offers him the little snack he wants (merienda). Kate helps her with her breastfeeding questions, speaking mostly Tagalog. Of course, as the Filipino people are famously hospitable, we also have our merienda--Sky Flake crackers and Coca-Cola in glass bottles.

I am sad to leave. Edward flags down a banca for us and tells the boatman to treat us as Filipinos and not charge us the tourist rate. Another big compliment from this man, who has been doing all of the chores for his new little family. Yes, I considered the trick to be complimentary -- I have not set myself apart from them in serving them.

This family is special to me. Will I fall in love with all of our patients? Probably. I hope so.