Oh, technology

I am so sorry I haven't posted sooner. The computer we use to program hearing aids crashed yesterday. I had to download all of the software from the Internet (think a 4 hour download time). We did get everything fixed. We are moving slowly, but moving.

I am very excited to share that a school for the deaf has been opened in Antigua. A local artist, who is deaf (and a near and dear person to me) is very involved. As soon as we can contact the school I will fill you in on the details. Deaf culture here is poorly understood, and these individuals have little access to good education.

Additionally, we have expanded our referral sources. We are now able to send patients for auditory brainstem response testing in a nearby town.

One note to my colleagues--I worked with a older gentleman today whose Widex hearing aid stopped working two weeks after he received it... The battery door was not snapped.

Dana

Rain, Rain, Rain

It has been raining non-stop since we landed, but overall it has been very productive. Our clinic today began at 7 and ended when the clock hit 7 again. Most of our patients will be having surgery this week to repair their eardrums, remove their tonsils, or have other surgeries of the head and neck. Additionally, we fit several hearing aids and provided batteries to individuals who currently use hearing aids. Tomorrow, we will begin to see patients who have come for hearing aids.

Thank you to everyone who provided us with toys and small gifts. The children we worked with loved and appreciated them.

pictures to come....

Dana

Last minute preparations

Before we board our early morning flights tomorrow, I thought that I ought to introduce myself and the purpose of this blog. I will be traveling to Antigua, Guatemala bright and early tomorrow with a group of ~70 volunteer health care workers and their families. Our mission will be providing quality healthcare to those in need. My mission... hearing health care. Throughout the week, I will keep each of you posted on the patients we see and their stories.


I would like to offer a special thank you to the dedicated staff of Associated Audiologists for their support of this mission.

Dana