out on the streets

Last night out on the streets of down town Recife I had the most profound experience. We were approached by a man who needed first aid, which was nothing out of the ordinary as we carry a conspicuous whites box with a red cross on it and regularly give first aid.

On this particular occasion a man was needed to administer the help. as the patient was bleeding from the left butt cheek, which was evident from the large blood stain on his shorts. I was called over and asked to help, to which I agreed, after a brief initiation into what was in the first aid box, I took the man a little down the road to gain a little privacy. The moment had come and he dropped his shorts!! I was face to face with a nasty looking abscess, which was oosing blood and puss.

By this point so many things are rushing through my mind! What am I doing? I am so out of my depth, can I clean this up with out vomiting? how must this man be feeling? will he be able to keep it clean once I have finished? Any way I had to clean him up and disinfect the area. During this whole experience I felt completely out of my depth, but I also felt an amazing amount of compassion for the guy, I just wanted to help, I just wanted it to get better. I hope the expirience wasn't too humiliating for him and that he recovers soon, for me the experience has deeply effected me, and I'm not sure I'll ever recover!