Peruvian Hospitals

Alan After Interplast
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Many of these families come several miles, and frequently travel for hours or even days to come to Cusco while the Interplast team is there. The mothers and/or fathers stay overnight in the hospital, usually in the same bed as their child, or sometimes on the floor. There are no hospital gowns to speak of, and the mothers will bundle their children in 3-5 woolen sweaters, then wrap them in a colorful hand woven blanket and walk around the floor with them on their backs.

Recall Alan who underwent successful surgery yesterday for his cleft lip. Here he is in the hospital recovering, fully swathed by his mother. He was released, and they are now making the long trip back home.