Jo's Nurses work in Chocola, Guatemala

2015 Jo's Nurses with Refuge International

Chocola is a remote village in the mountainous southwestern region of Guatemala where there is no government assistance in education, health or roads.  Sadly because of the country's political climate there is no help for the indigenous people.  They're abandoned.

Dr. Sergio Castillo and his wife Veronica first visited Chocola about 15 years ago.  They were shocked to encounter villages in deficient conditions with advanced illness including malnutrition, infection, and waterborne illness.  They found an abandoned building in the heart of the community and started a hospital catering to the indigenous Mayan people.  In 2005, after the devastation of Hurricane Stan, Dr. Castillo partnered with Refuge International to help expand the care to the region. "To have a complete team of surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists armed with medicine was like the answer to our prayers.  For me, it's an honor to be able to help our people.  Refuge allows me to help others.  I'm like a bridge for the people with extreme needs and the services of Refuge." Says Dr. Castillo.

Dr. Castillo is a very positive, inspirational, humble man.  He remembered all of our names and always greeted us with a big smile, thanking us constantly for helping his people.  I will never forget our second night there.  It had been a busy day, the usual torrential thunderstorms where playing their symphony on the tin roof.  After a delicious dinner cooked by Veronica we made our rounds in the hospital.  To our surprise the Inn was full.  Dr. Casillo had invited all the families to spend the night because they live so far away and the thunderstorms were so bad.  We had families sleeping in preop, postop, and even in the courtyard.  It warmed my heart to see such a gracious, giving spirit in action.

I would have to say that our first case was one of the most memorable and inspirational to me. He was an 80+/- (they don't know their exact age) old hernia case.  Hernia's are very common because they work so hard and do a lot of heavy lifting.  While I was caring for him his son came back and told us through the interrupter that he walks 8 miles two times a day to carry wood back to the village for cooking and their campfires.  Wow, was he in good shape.  He always smiled, never complained, took no pain meds and was so grateful for all we did.  On so many levels I feel that the indigenous Mayan people of Chocola have a lot to teach me.  They are truly an inspiration.  They are intelligent,

hard working, disciplined, humble, respectful, compassionate, loving people with a strong sense of family and community.  I feel that as we work together we can learn and help each other.  We can help them with our medical/ surgical and technical expertise and they can help us take a step back and realize what is really important in life.

Thanks again One Nurse At A Time for the scholarship that made this amazing opportunity possible to serve the people of Chocola, Guatemala.  Thanks also to Refuge International for their wonderful work in helping to provide healthcare, adequate nutrition, clean water and education to those in need.  I hope that other nurses will hear the call and want to help with the wonderful work that Dr. Castillo and his family are carrying out in Chocola.  Thanks again 

Bonnie Madeja

It's not about the numbers

Once again, it was a very rewarding trip to the tiny town of San Raymundo, Guatemala.  Having been there last year, I pretty much new what to expect; long days, tired feet, less then ideal working conditions, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of some Guatemalans.  Our group of 43 nurses, NP’s, Dr’s, and helpers was less then what we had last year but we all expected to work just as hard.  As you can see in the first picture, “it wasn’t about the numbers” but they showed just how much we accomplished in such a short time. 43 surgeries were performed (orthopedic, GU, GI, and GYN), 580 patients were seen in the clinic, 1,444 medications were given out, 227 labs were performed, and 11 minor surgeries (mostly debreeding wounds) were performed. 

I worked in both the pre-op and the post-op areas on this trip.  Pre-op consisted of getting a brief medical history from the patient, getting an IV started, and answering any questions I could about the procedure.  I was also able to help intubate a couple of patients prior to their procedure.  Post-op consisted of making sure surgical sites were

clean and dry, the patient was kept comfortable and free of pain, and that they understood how to take care of themselves when they went home.  This of course was an excellent opportunity to teach good nutrition and the importance of cleanliness.  The biggest obstacle to overcome was the language barrier.  Although I speak a little spanish and some of the citizens understood a little english, the translators that accompanied us on the trip were invaluable.  Because of them, I knew my patients would be able to take care of their wounds and understood our discussions.  

Most memorable moments for me were helping a 77 year old hip surgery patient walk,  intubating a patient before surgery, and meeting some wonderful people from all over the country who, like me, believe in helping out their fellow man.

This mission has made me appreciate the benefits we have living in the USA.  From our hospitals to the latest technology and equipment, we have the best at out fingertips.  Working in a third-world country and seeing what they have is an eye opener.  That being said, I hope to continue to be a part of the Refuge International Team and travel with them each year to help the people of Guatemala. 

Susan Callen

Tanya tells about surgical mission to Guatemala

In the five days that we actually treated patients our clinic team saw 1038 patients. Our team completed 206 surgeries in that same five days, including OB/GYN, ophthalmology, plastic and general laparoscopic surgeries. A lot of gallbladder removals, hernia repairs, hysterectomies, mass removals and some cleft lip/palate repairs were done. The eye team repaired a lot of cataracts, pterygiums and patients that were cross-eyed. Our outreach group saw 327 patients and our stove team installed stoves in over 100 homes. Each home received an indoor stove, an outdoor stove and a water filtration system.

There were so many things that I enjoyed on the trip, it is hard to put into words. I loved the people I met, the friendships I made and the patients I was fortunate enough to take care of. I especially enjoyed taking care of the children. Living in an area where medical care is far and few between, it seemed the children were even more apprehensive than typical, which made it all the more rewarding when they would warm up to you.

Having to say goodbye to all my new friends was the hardest part of the trip. Sure, the bathrooms weren’t five-star and the spiders came in extra-large sizes, but I knew about all that before going into the trip. What I didn’t foresee was the relationships I would build in such a short amount of time. The people I got to work with on the mission were one-of-a-kind. All there to help others, all there on their own accord; I feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to work with them for a week.

The people of Guatemala were extremely gracious. Every single patient (and their family), that left after a surgery, whether I took care of them directly or not, would give me a hug, a kiss, tell me thank you and God bless you. The amount of gratitude they had was overwhelming and it has made me crave going back.

They all appeared to have very close-knit families. Every patient seemed to have at least one or two support people with them-even the ones who had traveled four or five hours for the care. No one complained that there weren’t enough beds for the family members to stay in-they stayed in chairs, on the floor and shared beds with each other.

There were so many wild dogs. I was told that most of the people of Guatemala view dogs as a burden and it’s rare to have one as a pet. I guess because I was naïve to this, it came as a shock to see so many roaming dogs, semi-friendly but not tame necessarily.

Jello after surgery.

One morning, I was able to observe a bilateral cleft lip repair surgery on a two year old. It was interesting to actually see the process of this common procedure (instead of just the end result as a recovery nurse). I had seen the two year old boy the day before preoperatively, and obviously during surgery, but the best part was seeing him very shortly after his surgery. I was working in the recovery room and got to see him shoveling down jello, pushing his mom away in a, “I can do this on my own” way. Crying and whining for more jello. It was a moment I will never forget—the way the mom was tearing up watching him eat—without a cleft lip, and him without a care in the world that he had just had surgery.

Singing Happy Birthday to a patient.

Every evening a few of our co-workers who brought down their guitars would lead us in hymns that we would sing in the recovery wing of the hospital. Patients and their family members would occasionally join, and a lot of the songs we would sing first in English and then in Spanish. The first night they did this it gave me chills, and on the last night (when we only had four patients left spending the night), it made me laugh and cry. We transitioned from hymns to campfire songs and I felt as giddy as a school child at summer camp. We sung for hours into the late night, different people stopping by to join in or request a song. Here, I was once again amazed at how quickly I had become so close to the people I was working with.

One evening when I was on shift and the group had gathered around to sing to the recovery patients I was given the sweetest gesture by a seven year old patient. After I had finished rounding on patients I came to the group to sing along. This polite, small, seven year old boy, who I had gotten to know well over the last two days as he was recovering from his surgery, got up without hesitation and offered up his stool to me. Without any words, he stood up and patted the top of the stool for me to sit down. Not knowing Spanish very well, I got it across to him that I would not take his chair from him. He insisted and then ran off, quickly returning with a second stool that he sat right next to mine. We sat together while I sung and he listened. His dad looked on from the back of the room and gave me a quick smile. It was a small gesture, but it was grand in my eyes as I felt connected to not only him, but the other pediatric patients despite our language barrier.

Now that I have been on a medical mission, my nursing career will never be the same. I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to go help others, but I know I am blessed because of what the people of Guatemala gave me. It’s hard to put into words, but I feel like they gave me more than I gave them. They gave me a deep happiness as well as an appreciation for what I have. Their graciousness and spirit will never be forgotten, and I am thankful for all that they taught me about family, love and perseverance. I know that I will not be able to have this be a one-time event—I am hooked and can’t wait to go back as soon as I can. I will for now on, incorporate medical missions into my future planning.

Seeking Two OR Nurses for Project H.A.N.D.S Trip - November

Project H.A.N.D.S is seeking volunteers for a surgical trip in November 2013 in rural Guatemala. Applications are now being accepted.

Here is a little about the mission and about Project H.A.N.D.S.

Project H.A.N.D.S. is a group of people who want to do our part to help rebalance the scales. Our goal is to provide healthcare, education and support to those who, by chance of birth, have less fortunate lives than our own. We are a Canadian-based, registered non-profit organization working amongst the indigenous Maya in the rural regions of Guatemala. We have no religious affiliation.

What and When:
Project H.A.N.D.S is seeking 2 OR nurses to complete the November 6-17th 2013 team, the goal of the trip is to complete 50-60 general and gynecology surgeries.

Location:
The team will be working in Salud y Paz Clinic which is located in the small town of Camanchaj, about 30 minutes from Chichicastenango. The patients served are those who live in rural areas, most of them in extreme poverty, on less than $1 a day. Over half suffer from chronic malnutrition. Poor sanitation and lack of electricity and running water and open cooking fires are typical of their homes and lifestyles. Very large families are common and most births are unattended by medical personnel.

Here is the trip schedule:
Wednesday, November 6: Travel to Guatemala and drive 45 minutes to Antigua
Thursday, November 7: Free day to enjoy Antigua’s myriad historic sites, markets and restaurants

Friday, November 8: Drive 3 hours to Camanchaj, set up clinic, then drive to hotel in Chichicastenango
Saturday, November 9: Triage patients
Sunday, November 10 – Friday, November 15: Surgery
Saturday, November 16: Return to Antigua for overnight
Sunday, November 17: Travel home

The Team:
The team consists of a team leader, a medical director (anesthesiologist), 2 surgeons, a surgical assistant, 2 anesthesiologists, 5 OR nurses, 8 PAR/post-op ward nurses, a sterile processing technician, a sterile processing assistant, 2 Spanish interpreters, 1 administration and 3 kitchen crew.

The cost of the trip is estimated at: 
Airfare: CA$1100 (budgeted cost from Vancouver)

Participant contribution: CA$700 (covers accommodations for 10 nights, ground transportation and food). Not covered: food in Antigua (2 days), expenses of a personal nature, extra nights in Antigua, single supplement if desired.

For more information please click here: www.projecthands.org.

If you would like to be considered for a spot on the team please contact:
Debbie Jefkin-Elnekave
Project H.A.N.D.S Recruiting Officer
808-214-6053
debbie@projecthands.org

Thanks!!

ONAAT CREW

Barco's Nightingale Scholarship - Josephine Sullivan

Our second Barco's Nightingale's Foundation scholarship winner has left for her mission trip to Ecuador February 1st. Josephine is an Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) in Louisville Kentucky, where she has worked as an OR for the last 32 years. She has had the privilege of helping patients of all ages - children and adults in the operating room. 

Josephine started her love of travel and specifically the country Ecuador when she was 7 years old. Her family hosted an exchange student from the town of Quito, and from that moment on Josephine made a promise to herself that she would "Some day go to Ecuador". 

After forty or so years, Josephine finally held true to her promise and accompanied two Healing the Children (HTC) surgical teams to Ecuador in 2012. The two cities they traveled were Portoviejo and Bahia de Caraquez. In Portoviejo, the team accomplished 87 surgical procedures in two operating rooms in just four days. In Bahia de Caraquez, the team performed 70 surgical operations in four and a half days. With both of these trips, Josephine was hooked and she returned a better OR nurse because of her experiences and travels with these missions.

Healing the Children is a national organization that has provided medical care to children in need for over thirty years. There are 13 HTC chapters nationwide as well as many International Partners that are committed to helping children worldwide.     


February 1, 2013 Josephine left for Ecuador with Healing the Children thanks to the generous financial support from One Nurse At A Time and Barco's Nightingales Foundation. 



Have a great trip Josephine! We are looking forward to hearing about your trip when you return!

Thanks- 

ONAAT

Volunteer Opportunity - El Salvador

We were recently contacted by the Southwest Chapter of the National Healing the Children non-profit organization. This organization has been working for over 30 years to provide medical care to children in need. The organization has 13 chapters nationwide, and with many International Partners, they are committed to meeting the healthcare needs of children worldwide.

The Southwest Chapter is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since 1989 Healing the Children Southwest has supported three major programs -

- Hardship Relief Project - which is for children in New Mexico (formerly "Local Children Program")
- International Pediatric Surgical and Medical Trips - Latin America
- International Inbound Children - children who come to Albuquerque from around the world

Healing the Children SW Chapter is on the look out for operating room nurses for a surgical trip to Santiago Texacuangos, El Salvador. They are requesting that this is posted early, as El Salvador is a country that requires "Apostilles" which may take longer to obtain from some states. An "Apostille" is a form of authentication issues to documents for use in countries that participate in the 1961 Hague Convention.

The trip is specific to ENT and plastics for children to the age of 17. The trip will take place in March 9th-16th. All volunteers will pay for air, lodging and meals, there is a less expensive choice for lodging if you desire. The hospital that the organization will be working at is called La Divina Providencia - the organization has been returning to work there since 2006 and welcomes nurses willing to take on the challenge of operating in less-than-familiar settings.

If you are interested, please contact Bobbye at healingthechildren@comcast.net or call 505-401-8576

If there is anyone who has experience traveling with this organization, please contact us and let us know how your trip went, if you have any advice or suggestions, any or all information is welcome.

OR/Surgical and Post Op Nurses Needed

Cascade Medical Team is in need of OR/Surgical and PACU nurses for their June Trip to Solola, Guatemala.
Trip dates are June 16-27, 2012.
Please visit their website to download the application:  www.cascademedicalteam.org

This all-volunteer team, whose participants pay their own expenses, was formed in 2002 as a means to improve the health of the Mayan people of the Guatemala highlands. The team has provided medical and dental care to more than 14,000 Guatemalan adults and children and performed more than 1000 surgeries. The team has also installed hundreds of simple energy efficient cooking stoves in Guatemalan homes, helping prevent burns and lung diseases. In 2009, the team began installing HELPS Gravity Water Filters, an inexpensive in-home purification system desperately needed in a country where most water sources are contaminated.