Juggling

It's been another full and challenging week at the Healing Home. With only nine beds available (and that is counting the three wheel-out spare ones) we are very aware that every bed must count.

So this week we've been juggling to maximise what we can achieve here. That has meant sending two brothers home yesterday until they need to return to the clinic - and possibly an operation - on Monday next week. Another young guy who has been helping look after his mum gladly headed home at our suggestion (our girls are up to emptying the bedpan!) Again another family member headed out today.

Incoming - we have had four in two days: Long's (the little crippled guy who now walks and runs) mum who fell out of a tree, a young guy with stomach problems, a mum with her very sick little son and an auntie. That totals seven patients plus a mum and two other children (including little Long) tonight - all good.

As we say out here 'nothing is as it first appears'. We were waiting for 'a very sick lady from Prey Veng province' - only to have a 21 year old guy turn up! In Khmer language there is only one word for 'he' or 'she' so this is not the first time we have gender confusion!

Another inferior phone picture sorry - Long's mum on the left; our very new lady on the right with her baby and her sick son.

We're expecting the boys back Sunday or Monday. They will have to couch-surf for a day or three. It will be a fresh challenge to establish a second home next year - but we must pursue. The Cambodian people are far too beautiful to ignore!