Medical Missions Foundation

Over 1,200 Treated During Romania Mission

September marked the eighth consecutive year that Medical Missions Foundation has traveled to Botosani, Romania.  This mission not only serves the needs of children and women in Botosani but also the many surrounding villages.  While many have been treated over the past years, 837 surgeries and 6271 in the clinics, the need is still there.  This years team performed 52 surgeries at the children's hospital, treated 725 children in the children's hospital clinic, performed 25 surgeries at the women's hospital, treated 525 women in the women's hospital clinic and treated 342 patients in village clinics.  

The Burn Prevention Program continues and seems to be working.  We are treating less "new" burns and more and more school children are aware of the basics like, Stop, Drop and Roll.  There were lots of art projects, fun at "Deb's House" and again a "baby shower" for the new moms. This years mission brings the total value of medications, equipment, supplies and services donated to over $10,000,000.00 in eight years!  A heartfelt thank you to the 2008 team, our translators and many friends in Botosani and most importantly to our donors without whom, none of this would be possible!

Abigail Hayo

Romania Mission Coordinator

Reflection On Romania 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

I'm sitting in front of my computer at home trying to figure out how to share one last experience from Romania – something that would summarize the entire mission. But even after sleeping a few nights in my own bed and getting my biological clock readjusted, I realize it really is impossible.

How do you describe the tears of a grateful mother; the ear-to-ear grin on a dirty little face when you
offer a piece of candy; the bear hug you get from a grateful father when you tell him his son’s surgery went perfectly; the look of pride and inner beauty as young burn victim poses for a picture, after yet another procedure;  or the look of gratitude and sadness on a sea of faces when you say your final goodbyes?

Like no other experience, this one is difficult to express. So, to our dear family and friends here at home, please understand if words escape us when you ask us to describe this mission. Once we have had a chance to process it a bit more, we’ll probably inundate you with stories and anecdotes - both joyful and sad. Surely the look on our faces and the tears in our eyes will tell volumes.

It was the experience of a lifetime.

On a personal note, it has truly been my pleasure and an honor to be the voice of this mission.  I would like to thank MMF from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to participate this year, and in particular, Abigail Hayo and Dr. Doug Hagen.

And to those of you who understand, I say, Good luck Mr. Gorsky.

Thank you and goodnight.

Brad  

Fire Safety, Clinics and Coloring Books

Thursday September 11, 2008

Traveling at one hundred and forty kilometers an hour on a two-lane road with no seat belts on, Ryan Beasly and I had a revelation.  Today is our last full day in Botosani. That, and we hoped the two firefighters in the front didn't choose a bad time to pass the traffic that was going less than half our speed.

Compared to last year it has been extremely hot.  The average temperature has been floating perilously close to 95ºF and by the time we reached our destination, a small village approximately fifteen kilometers south of Botosani, Ryan, Daniel (our translator), the two Romanian firefighters, and I were sweating so much we turned our car into a mobile sauna.  After getting out of the car and toweling off the five of us were blessed by a cool breeze that was so refreshing that I forgot about the ride there.  It was time to go to work.

Ryan and Daniel rounded up as many kids as they could find and went over the basic fire prevention techniques that they had been doing all week.  I, on the other hand, went into the local clinic to watch/help Krishna Kothandath, Val Thomas, Jared Pilsl and the others who had arrived earlier.

In total eight mission members had left earlier in the morning and set up a temporary outpost to screen and treat as many people as they could.  At the time the count was fifty-two not counting babies.  By the end of the day Dr. Koranda estimated that they would see "over a hundred, easy." He went onto say that they forgot to  pack any food for lunch or dinner, "but we are going to stay until there aren't any more people waiting.  I mean that's kind of the point isn't it?"

Outside the little examining room there had been a building noise that was approaching a full-fledged ruckus.  I opened the door and saw Krishna, Jared, and long time mission translator Stefan, handing out beanie babies and coloring books.  The appearance of toys had turned a rather well behaved group of children into a sea of shouts and out-held hands.  Krishna looked up at me and made an almost imperceptible shrug that said, "What are you going to do? Say 'no'? You try and do it, because I can't."  Stefan turned to Jared and translated what one of the children had said, "She says she doesn't want you to leave."

Tonight we have a full formal dinner with the local politicians and hospital staff plus a special guest surprise that will definitely bring the house down.  Tomorrow we have a half-day at each hospital and then will pack everything up.  Unfortunately like all good things this mission will come to an end.  The friendships, old and new, will live on forever.  The experience I truly believe has changed not only the lives of the people we came here to help but also every member of the 2008 Romanian Mission.

P.S. I would like to thank "The Sand Bar" for contributing to our mission party.  You guys made a great evening possible and we all greatly appreciate your contribution.

I've Got Sunshine...

Wednesday September 10, 2008

Today I did something that no University of Colorado graduate ever wants to do.  I admired a University of Nebraska graduate.  Just typing that makes me feel like I need a shower.  But I will swallow my pride and relay the experience…

When I arrived at the Women's Hospital, Dr. Greg Heidrick was already on his third surgery of the day.  There were three Romanian doctors watching his skilled hands perform, prepare yourself, an operative laparoscopic lysis of adhesions and fulguration of endometriosis.  Everyone get that?  Me neither.

Essentially instead of making a large incision into the abdomen Dr. Heidrick made three tiny cuts.  He slid in a camera and "had a look around." He then inserted two other devices that resemble a skewer with tiny scissors on the end and with the grace usually credited to ballet dancers moved organs and connective tissue aside.

Once Dr. Heidrick saw what he was looking for he stopped.  He turned to one of the Romanian surgeons, who had scrubbed in, and offered to teach her how to perform the procedure.  Although Dr. Heidrick could have just as easily let the Romanians watch, completed his cases, and left; he was compelled to share his knowledge.  From then on the pace was a little slower but with careful guidance the surgery was a success.

Then during a small break while Louise Davis CRNA was waking the patient back up and anesthetized the next, Dr. Heidrick disappeared. When he came back he had a mop in his hand and proceeded to mop the floor while singing, "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day, when its cold outside I've got…"

Everyone froze.  For a second I worried that I'd had a stroke and was hallucinating all of this.  And then in a wobbly harmony everyone joined in.  Romanians and Americans, Colorado grads and Nebraska grads"…I guess you'd say 'what can make me feel this way?'  My girl..."

Now which way to the shower?...

Andrea's Journey

Tuesday September 9, 2008

Earlier in the day I met Andrea Darie and Dr. Phil Gutek was about to spend over an hour and half reconstructing her left ear and releasing a burn contracture on the left axial.  Andrea's journey to Botosani began at her home in Racovât, a fifty kilometer trek.  I know what some of the people are thinking at this point fifty kilometers is roughly thirty miles, what is the big deal?  But you have to remember that she and her mother rode in a horse drawn cart, or if Andrea was lucky and her mother could afford it, they might have ridden in on a crowded bus that takes two hours.

Once she arrived at the children's hospital she had to wait in line for three hours.  Which she did. In a sea of chaos and noise Andrea was at peace.  Buddhist monks would have been envious.  But this scene is familiar to Andrea, two years ago she went through the same process with this mission.  Then she was a precocious six year-old with brown eyes that could "melt your heart."

Yesterday after getting through triage she was seen by Val Thomas, a nurse practitioner, and Dr. Frank Koranda.  They ran Andrea through the paces and determined, like two years ago, she was a surgical candidate.  Dr. Gutek came into the room and completed the assessment.  Then our "scheduling gods" from Cerner/First Hand Foundation arranged a time with Andrea's mother.  The entire process took all day.  Then she had to travel the fifty kilometers back home to Racovat.

Flash forward twelve hours and she is again in her Zen like peace sitting on a cot waiting for her turn in surgery.  By 11:00am the OR room is ready and with a kiss from her mother she stands and floats down the hallway.  After she wakes, she will cry for a few seconds and then realize that, for now, there will be no more waiting in lines, no more pokes from needles, no more strangers inspecting her.  At this thought a smile explodes onto her face with such force that I need to sit down.  Thirty minutes later I'm still sitting as she and her mother leave the hospital and walk out of my life. Now that I have regained my composure I look back at the sea of people that are at the hospitals each day.  Everyone of those people could be an Andrea.  And without MMF none of this would be possible.

                                 

Shared Experiences Bridge The Gap

Monday September 8, 2008


  Around me sit six men that share a bond that is deeper than most can imagine, even though they need an interpreter to communicate.  They are Firefighters.  Ryan Beasly, from station 9 in Kansas City, Kansas and Colonel Anton Radu, the County Commandant, discuss fire fighting technique and safety protocol.  Although some of the jargon and slang words elude me, the laughter of shared experiences is loud enough to shake the coffee cups on the table.

As the topic of fallen comrades overtook the conversation a respectful hush fell over the group silencing the raucous laughter of just minutes ago. After the reminiscing was concluded Ryan presented Colonel Radu with a plaque commemorating his support of the Romania mission.  We then discussed what Ryan would be doing for the rest of the week.  This includes driving over four hours out side of Botosani to a small village and teaching basic fire prevention techniques to the children and supplying smoke detectors to their parents.

Clean, Showered and Ready to Roll

Sunday September 7, 2008

The majority of our team arrived at 8:00 am this morning.  According to Dr. Tom Spiegel the train ride was uneventful in the best way possible.  "I got on,went to sleep, and got up, and got off, it was great."  And with amazing luck the water was back on a half a day early!  My roommate, Jared Pilsl, said he felt like a new person after the shower.

After Botosani's water table was lowered by forty-two showers, everyone gathered and met their new best friends - our translators. Almost all of the translators are local teenagers who learned English from school and movies.  Without their help this mission would not be possible.  One, "Tall dark handsome" Andre, took a week vacation from his job in Bucharest to come help us.When we got to the children's hospital at 9:45 am there were thirty families waiting to be seen in the clinic.  At 10:00 am Val Thomas and George Harberson waded into the pandemonium and had two days worth of surgery scheduled by the end of the day.  George and Val's hero, Tim Renz, set up the entire patient tracking system and described the day as "landing a hundred planes at O'Hare."  Even with the stress he was blown away by the kindness of the Romanian parents.

Rich Sinnett had the most intimate experience with the Romanian people so far.  As the triage nurse, he is the first person who interacts with the families.  After examining an eight-year girl he was slightly confused.  He turned to his translator, "Ask her mother again why she's here?"  After a few moments Rich had his answer.  "The mother just wants to know that her baby was healthy."  Rich turned to the mother and said, "Your daughter is perfect.  Her lungs are perfect and her heart is perfect." She instantly broke into a flood of tears, walked up, hugged him, and gently kissed his cheek.  He visibly fought back the tears and as she walked out still sobbing, he turned to me and whispered, "that confirmed the reason I came, that we make a difference."

Until Tomorrow – "Pina Maime"

A Sea of Boxes

Saturday September 6, 2008

It's amazing how a full night sleep makes all the difference. Nancy Day "couldn't take two steps with out needing to sit down," she was so beat, but now she feels good enough to be at the Women's Hospital by 7:30 am. The team to a person had renewed vigor and trust me, we needed it.  The boxes and I are now on a first name basis.  Len LaMourie put it this way, "After the third time you move a box it should unpack itself, it's just a courtesy thing."  Unfortunately even though we begged and pleaded the boxes were very rude.

By the time we were getting fresh with the boxes Doina, a long time friend of the missions, came with lunch.  Lunch today was Fresh stuffed peppers, deep-fried cauliflower, fresh tomatoes and peaches, from scratch cherry bars.  After pooh-poohing stuffed peppers yesterday Cindy Burke and Debbie Buchholtz have asked Doina for the recipe.  The thesaurus on this computer does not contain the words to describe how good the food is.

Although this is only my second year on this mission I have seen remarkable changes in the local hospitals.  Mission members who have been for many consecutive years have said that the improvements are unbelievable.  Even with all the improvements, the local staff is exceedingly helpful, grateful, and appreciative of our presence.

Tomorrow the main team arrives and the real work begins.  Although there will be amazing stories and adventures in the future, the relationships forged amongst those already here will last forever.

Advance Team Arrives in Romania

Friday September 5, 2008

Click-Clack… Click-Clack……  Click… Clack…  It is 6:00 am and the sound of the train is hypnotic.  Outside the window the Romanian countryside slides by.  Beneath me George Harbeson lightly snores and in the cabins next to me twelve other people are taking a well-earned nap.  After sitting on the runway for an hour in Memphis and over three in Amsterdam we were in the homestretch.  By 7:30 we have arrived in Botosani (pronounced Botoshan) and getting our room assignments at the Hotel Maria.  Our translators arrive in short order and we walk under azure skies to the women's hospital.

Unfortunately no situation is perfect.  For the next five hours we moved and sorted 4,615 Kilograms or 10,153 pounds of supplies.  It's now 4:21pm Friday and I've had three hours of sleep since leaving Kansas City on Wednesday.  At this point I'm falling asleep as I type and drink my Romanian beer.

Until Tomorrow,  La revedere.  (Good-bye)

p.s.  The utility company shut off the water to the entire city for two days and we have been profusely sweating all day.

Bradley Thomas