Medical Missions Foundation

Mission Nurse...Unsung Hero

So you have two weeks of vacation a year, and the other fifty are spent taking care of other people who are ill, dependent, and needy.  What do you do with your two weeks?  Most would cry out for either a vacation on a warm beach, mai tai in one hand and romance novel in the other…. or a stint of solitude at home…. Not the case for the nurses that joined the Medical Missions Foundation team to Mali, West Africa this year.  I want to take this "blog-ortunity" to say hats off…. to the nurses.  We love all our volunteers, but these gals (and guys) deserve a special round of applause.  Mission trips in general could not happen if it weren’t for them.  They spend months saving, preparing, gathering, and planning…. From the warehouse days that are spent organizing the many supply needs for the trips, to the gathering of a few unused sutures that they know might help a needy Malian someday, to the plans that are made to care for their families while they’re away…. These nurses do it all....check it out....

So you’re a pediatric nurse by day but you’re asked to start an IV in the operating room…or screen a 2-year-old patient out in the courtyard who’s been crying for an hour.... Thanks Kaleena Bauck.... ER nurse at home but preop in Africa?  Just call Jessica Schlotzhauer... she’ll get the job done, no questions asked.  

You normally work in the recovery room but have been asked to circulate in the operating room for the week… Thank you, Carol Widner.  Job well done.  12-hour day spent scrubbed in under a hot gown with no A/C?  No problem for Cindy Cummins.  Need a clinic nurse that can also run crowd control? Jean Seem is your gal.  The list could go on and on.  You were all FANTASTIC!  

Thanks to all the nurses who have made a very difficult job look easy… Whether or not it was in your job description, you made it happen.  MMF thanks you. Mali thanks you, and I thank you. 
-Josie Uecker, Mali Mission Coordinator

The Story of Sira Bah

A couple of months back my friend in Mali saw on my facebook post that Dennis and I  were planning a trip with the Medical Mission's Foundation to Mali. When she heard that we were traveling out with a plastic surgeon she asked if there was any possibility that this Dr. could fix the cleft palet and cleft lip of a little 5 year old friend of hers named, Sira Bah. I inquired with the team going to see if this was even a possibility. I didn't want little Sira to make the three day trip to Oulessebougou if it wasn't even possible.

After talking to Abby Hayo I was given the green light to invite this little girl and her family to make the 1,000 km. trip and that she would be able to be seen by Dr. Kriet.  After evaluating Sira, Dr. Kriet scheduled her for surgery to repair her cleft lip; the palet would have to be done another time.  January 27, 2009, Sira had her surgery.  As she arrived into the post-op room her family was called in.  It was then, for the first time, that they saw Sira all repaired and looking great.  The Uncle was amazed that this surgery was even possible and praised Dr.Kriet for the good job that he had done.  Sira's mother was overcome with emotion and cried and cried, as she was so happy that now her daughter would be able to find a husband.  This surgery changed this little girl’s life forever.  I'm thankful to Abby who encouraged them to come, I'm thankful for Dr. Kriet who used his talent and expertise to make a difference in this little girls life, and I thank God for bringing little Sira into my life.  

~Cindy Wiens~

Translator

The Best Team

Well gee, where do I begin.... I have about 15 "potential blogs" that didn't get written, but let me just inform you that they sounded really good in my head.  We were all SOOOO busy, there wasn't a spare minute to write, before we collapsed onto our cots (under our mosquito nets) tired from each day's work.  We had THE BEST team, and I am not just saying that.  Each and every person had something unique to add to the group, and collectively they really rocked!  Despite poor working conditions, exhaustion, hunger, thirst, a hole for a bathroom, intense heat, sweat and toil (and all the accompanying smells that go with that), uncomfortable cots, nausea, 3 way language barriers, and a seemingly unattainable workload, everyone kept their servant hearts the entire time.  I can't say enough to thank them for their hard work this week, all with smiles on their faces.  The people of Ouelessebougou will never be the same.  I'll fill you in on the rest later.  The numbers are impressive,
over 100 surgeries and over 1300 clinic patients, but somehow that just doesn't do it justice.  In amongst all the numbers are so many stories of peoples' lives that have been changed, by my friends, "the Americans".  I am so proud to be one of them.  More later....

The American Doctors

Josie called this evening to say that all is well and everyone is exhausted but doing great. 

Dr. Sabrina Shih submitted the following blog entry:

 

I am so tired that I can barely hold my pen. My head is spinning with all that I have seen and done.  Andrea Bottenberg and I have spent the last four days in the pediatric clinic at the public hospital seeing 50-60 patients a day.  We have seen everything from healthy kids to those with severe malnutrition, congenital lung disease and malaria.  There is a constant flow of families but dozens more clamoring at the door hoping to see the “American Doctors”.  There are some we can treat for acute infections but many more that need medicine and procedures that they will never be able to afford or have access to.

 

No matter what the diagnosis or prognosis is, the families and patients we have treated are so grateful and gracious to us.  I hope that we have impacted their lives as much as they have touched ours.

Malian People Full of Gratitude

This blog entry was called in to the MMF office today as written by Cindy Wiens:

Five hundred miles south of Timbuktu the Mali Medical Missions Foundation Team of 2009 landed in Bamako.  All 40 were weary after 24 hours of travel.  We received a VIP welcome and 36 hours of sharing ensued due to the lost baggage.  A remarkable thing happened though. While most of us had no clean clothes, personal items or bedding, no one complained.  We all realized that it is not about us, but for those we came here to serve.

On Sunday, the consultations and screenings began. On Monday surgeries were scheduled, but we still didn’t have the suitcases containing all of the surgical instruments.  Right before the first surgery was scheduled to begin, Josh arrived with over 50 bags piled high on a vehicle.  Everything was quickly organized and the surgeries took place as scheduled.  The Malian people are full of gratitude and blessings.  Many lives are being changed by this competent, talented team that I am so happy to be a part of.

 

First Full Day a Success

I just received a message from Mali Mission Coordinator Josh Uecker, CRNA.  He said the first full day was very productive. The medical team of volunteers treated over 200 patients in the clinic and completed over 15 surgical cases.  He sounded great and said they were building momentum and are expecting an even busier day tomorrow.

The Main Team Has Arrived

I just received a message from Dr. Tammy Neblock-Beirne and she said that the main team has arrived safely and they are all enjoying some time with their Mali pal, Boi.  Tammy and Abigail Hayo visited Boi in his village last night and brought him back to Ouelessebougou to join the rest of the team.  Tammy reported one minor inconvenience in that 57 of the 72 bags from the group flight are still in Paris.  They assured them that the bags will be delivered tomorrow so we'll keep you posted. 

Not only did the team arrive safely but the container also arrived safely at 3 am this morning. It took about 4 hours to travel 50 kilometers - not exactly I-35, but it is now unloaded and everything was there.  For those of you that don't know, the Medical Missions Foundation team packed a 40 ft. container in October and shipped it to Mali where it has been stored.  It is filled with enough medical supplies and equipment to fill 4 operating rooms.  Tammy promised to call again tomorrow night so stay tuned for more updates.

Jane Savidge

Mali Mission Team's Journey Begins

One year ago two MMF volunteers - Dr. Tammy Neblock-Beirne and Abigail Hayo - traveled to Mali, West Africa on a scouting trip. Aside from the great need for medical supplies, education and services, they found a sweet seven-year-old boy named Boi (pronounced Boo-waa).

He had traveled with his family to seek treatment for an extremely large tumor that had been growing in his face for three years. The tumor was so large that it not only distorted his face, but was threatening his life as it began to compromise his breathing and ability to eat. Upon examination, Dr. Tammy Neblock-Beirne knew that because of the severity and complexity of the surgical procedure, Boi’s best chance of survival would be to bring him to the United States for treatment.

Thanks to the assistance, generosity and compassion of an entire “village” of Kansas Citians, Boi came to the United States and received this life-saving surgery last spring at The University of Kansas Medical Center.  After a few minor setbacks, Dr. Neblock-Beirne and Abigail Hayo, personally returned Boi home to his remote village.

Today, a team of 40 Medical Missions volunteers begins their journey to Mali for the organizations first-ever mission to the continent of Africa. It is truly amazing how through the Foundation’s relationship with this one little boy, hope and help will soon arrive for hundreds.

Because of the remote location and lack of infrastructure in the region, we cannot be certain that our mission blogger will be able to send daily reports and photographs. Our hope is that we will be receiving updates throughout the next week via telephone and e-mail and when we do, they will be posted here. Please, check back frequently and keep our volunteers in your thoughts.