Medical Missions Foundation

Random Thoughts and Shots

There is a lot to see in Antigua and the surrounding area.  Beautiful people, beautiful culture and customs  and beautiful countryside.  On our last day here there were several tours available to our group including climbing to the top of a volcano and touring the surrounding villages.  Perhaps at a later time we can post some of the great pictures taken of the lava flow atop the volcano photographed by members of that group.  Since I chose the less strenuous village tours, I will share with you some of those pictures as well as others from the week.  After everyone worked so hard this week it was great that there was an opportunity to enjoy the area and one another.

The Team; Part II

Today was the last day of surgery and a day of goodbyes at the hospital as we prepared for the next MMF team to come next week.  After lunch, the hospital staff gave everyone a certificate of appreciation for their efforts and some gifts were exchanged. When the planning for this mission began months ago, it started with names of potential participants on a piece of paper.  By the end of the week, the group worked together, shared the excitement of visiting a new country together and formed new working relationships and  friendships. From translating to running reports, it took a team effort to effectively serve the people as over 100 surgeries were performed. Tomorrow will be a relaxing day of shopping and sight seeing and will provide an opportunity to further explore Antigua outside of the hospitals walls.

The Team

Nine gall bladder surgeries in one day for Dr. Tammy Neblock-Beirne today. That would be equivalent

t o a weekly total for a surgeon in the United States.  If you know Tammy, you know she took it all in  stride, no big deal.  The same is true for Dr. Stan Augustin during this general surgery mission in Antigua.   Dr. Neblock and Dr. Augustin have started their days early, as they have performed thyroidectomies, hernias and gall bladder surgeries.  The supporting cast of players on this mission is equally astounding.  Pre-op, recovery, scrub nurses, and technicians are all important ingredients to a successful mission. It truly takes a team of players to make this happen and everyone has risen to the occasion.   

     

A Day in Their Shoes

Today’s blog is written by Carl Hagen and Abby Bernard who accompanied their parents, Doug Hagen, M.D. and Lisa Bernard, M.D. to Guatemala.

As we look into the operating room anesthesiologists appear to be spectators, but as we have learned in just a few short days of surgery they are just as important as the surgeons. Without the anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists, a surgery wouldn’t be possible. Josie Bell, CRNA and Judy Peck, CRNA are also part of the anesthesia team on our mission. Unlike surgeons and other medical team members that are only involved in one part of the surgery, anesthesiologists are needed throughout the procedure from putting the patient to sleep before surgery, monitoring their vitals during surgery, and finally, making recovery run as smooth as possible.

We are both thankful for this opportunity to not only see the importance of our parent’s occupations, but also the chance to travel and experience a different culture and all of its traditions. As part of the art team, our assignment has been to entertain families as they await surgery and clinical visits.  We sometimes think of pictures as a nuisance when people ask us to pose, we don’t even have a place to store all of our photographs. But to the people of Guatemala it is a once in a lifetime chance to have a family photo or even just a chance to see what they look like to others. Everyday we return to find new smiling faces and as soon as we print off the first picture we are bombarded with demands for more, but we are always happy to fulfill their requests and hope we don’t run out of supplies first.

Coming on this trip has opened our eyes to a new way of life, which we wouldn’t know existed if we hadn’t been given this opportunity by our parents. We think that our parents will benefit from bringing us on the trip as well when they notice our appreciative attitude towards things that previously were taken for granted. Seeing how little the Guatemalan people have, but how content they still are with their lifestyle, has broadened our perspective on what is a necessity. This has given us a new perspective that will be beneficial for years to come. Furthermore, we are both anxious to go on more trips so that we can continue to serve others. We always hear people talk about how much better off we are and how appreciative we should be, but it never really means anything until you experience it for yourself and see what these people suffer through everyday.

Dany

Seven month old “Dany” was born with a cleft lip and lives at the Obras nursery as part of their nutrition  program for malnourished infants.  The staff here has helped him gain weight and successfully readied him for surgery.  When I first saw Dany on Sunday during our tour, his brown eyes immediately drew me in.  I was able to witness part of the intricate surgical procedure performed by plastic surgeon Dr. Joe Cannova and the rest of his medical team including Judy Peck, Katie Parrish, and Vonnie Kane.  Also a Medical Missions Foundation Board member, this is Dr. Cannova’s third medical mission.  His surgery schedule this week is overflowing with cases ranging from cleft lips, burns, a nose reconstruction and even some hernia operations. He is enjoying the mission and finds giving back to others a humbling experience. 

Dr. Cannova believes that he takes away more from these mission trips than he gives and finds the people incredibly appreciative.  He also  enjoys working with medical students like Nick Wirtz, a first time mission participant.  Nick will start medical school this fall and is running the scheduling board this week.  In the recovery area, Dany was treated like a prince by nurses, Pat Allender, Sue Riddle, Jodi Bales, Yvonne Engelken and Anita Fournier.  He will stay at the nursery here until he is once again healthy enough to return home.  As part of the nutrition program, Dany will receive follow up care through home visits and his parents will receive advice on healthy eating habits to ensure his long term success.

It was a long, challeging day for all with complex surgeries and two short power outages.  But as you might guess, everyone rose to the occassion and tomorrow looks like an action packed day too.

A Day of Winners

Everyone was a star today.  Everyone was special.  Everyone was a winner.  The patients that were treated, the participants in the Special Olympics, the doctors, the nurses and all of the MMF volunteers were victorious.  The Special Olympics were part of the planned activities today for the residents at Obras Sociales  Hermano Pedro Orphanage commemorating their 27^th Anniversary. Beneath a beautiful Antigua blue sky, the Olympics were filled with spirited competition, emotion, and determination.

After screening over 100 patients yesterday for surgical procedures this week, the MMF medical teams got started early today, performed multiple successful surgeries and even added more surgeries to their workload for the remainder of the week.  From an 80 year old priest to a young child, the patients benefited significantly from the efforts of the doctors and nurses that came to Antigua to serve the less fortunate. 

 

There were similarities between the two vastly different experiences that I had the privilege to observe today.  The participants of the Special Olympics received gold medals; the MMF volunteers received personal rewards of immeasurable value.  Everyone worked hard.  Everyone was determined to succeed.  Everyone was a winner.

Long Lines and Great Volunteers

We began today with an overview and tour of Obras Sociales Herman Pedro Hospital. In addition to the hospital, it’s an exceptional place that provides a home for the elderly, orphaned, mentally challenged and chronically ill.  I was touched by all aspects of the tour, but particularly the malnourished infants smiling at us through the bars of their cribs. After our tour, Dr. Doug Hagen, Medical Missions Foundation Medical Director, presented our fearless mission leaders, Tammy Neblock-Beirne, M.D. and Stephene Moore, RN with personalized MMF lab coats.  A small token of thanks for the many hours spent planning and  coordinating this mission.

Following our orientation we walked up the stairs to find hundreds of people waiting in line for a chance at a spot on the upcoming week’s surgery schedule.  There were gall bladders, hernias, burns, and the list goes on and on.  Our volunteer nurses and doctors worked tirelessly to screen as many patients as possible.  Our translators, Diane and  Maria were invaluable as we tried to communicate with and reassure those waiting. 

And speaking of reassurance, the art team led by Abby Bernard and Carl Hagen was the hit of the day.  They took pictures of the kids and their families and provided them with art supplies to decorate frames.  They passed out toys, blew bubbles and provided not only a distraction but comic relief to help pass the time.  Art has always been an integral part of our missions and now I understand why.  Tomorrow the medical teams continue their mission of changing lives.

Beautiful Antigua

The Medical Missions Foundation group arrived in beautiful Antigua, Guatemala in time to enjoy the scenery, good food and great company.  The group ranges in age from 15 to 60 something and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm. For many of us, this is our first mission and first visit to Guatemala.  Several are veterans of multiple missions and mission participant Vonnie Kane, R.N. has served on 12 missions.  We are anxious for tomorrow when we will begin screening patients in the clinic at 7 am.

Photographs and blog by Jane Savidge

Guatemala Mission Trip Begins!

The Guatemala Medical Missions Team will be boarding their plane early Saturday morning (June 14th).  The team is excited about all that is in front of them and look forward to helping those in great need of medical care.  Be sure to checkthe MMF blog daily as they will be sharing information and pictures for everyone to enjoy back home.