It is hard to believe that the "mission" part of the mission is over - it went sooooo much faster than Kenya - partially because it was a 4 hour flight instead of a 24 hour flight, only a 2 hour time change from Calif., and 2 less days of surgery...I enjoyed this mission alot - it was very different from Kenya in some ways & much the same in others.
Differences: the hospital, supplies & equipment here were alot nicer & more plentiful, I didn't have as many "traumatic type patients or experiences" in Mexico as I did in Kenya...
Similar: The days were just as long & we worked just as hard, the patients & families were still very poor & in desperate need of the medical care & just as humble & grateful for our care, the teams most of whom only met on arrival worked so well together all in behalf of the kids, AND...once again I had experiences that confirmed to me I was supposed to be here this week - for my own learning & growth & hopefully to also touch lives.
Today was a little bittersweet....in the morning we took our team picture in front of the hospital & then went up to the post op ward to check on the kids from yesterday. Again I got to see some sweet patients & take some pictures. We also checked on Rosa...I was happy to hear that her mom Juana had gotten some sleep on the hospital floor on a blanket while the grandma (her mother in law) was there with the baby. The nasal trumpet we put in was fine but we needed to see how she would do if we took it out & she didn't do well at all. The nasal tube was replaced & a decision made to bring her back to surgery today & see if the plastic surgeon could do anything to improve her ability to breathe well on her own. Before that thought we had a full schedule of patients & the first round on all 5 OR tables were all babies so I was able to give away almost all the baby clothes I brought & the ones I had left over I gave to the nurses who had babies or grand babies :)
We took lots of pictures today of the team, patients , with the Mexican local team, with our translators & that was fun. Rosa came down about 2 pm & we got her settled on the table & all was well & I went out for a break - I was only gone about 15 min when I was found in the break area & told to come back things weren't going well with Rosa - the surgeons tried all maneuvers to help her to breathe but her nose passages were just too tight & for the last 2 days she had been working to breathe & hadn't had many calories in IV or by mouth so she was weaker & that caused some problems too...in the end they ended up placing & sewing in nasal trumpets (airways) into both nostrils & then also Intubating her (putting a breathing tube in) & I came back as we needed to take her to the floor under the care of a Local NICU Nurse. Juana - Rosa's mom was in a heap on the floor, it was a chaotic transfer, their "NICU ventilator & equipment" was soooo old (like 25 years old stuff I remember from when I graduated from Nursing school - but at least they had it), & their practice is just much more simplistic. Christoph (the Intensivist & I ) tried to get as much in order to our liking as we could but ultimately at this point we had to turn the care over to the local team. The plan is just to keep her sedated & on the ventilator overnight then take the breathing tube out in the morning & she will go home with the nasal airways in & be followed by Dr. Blas the local Plastic Surgeon here who runs a Cleft Lip/Palate Clinic at this hospital. So not every Op Smile mission patient gets the fairytale ending to their story & I was really sad that this was happening to Rosa & more upset that her sweet young mom had to go thru this. I was able to spend about an hour with her after everything got settled but still my heart was broken for her - I just wanted to bring them both home with me & get them more advanced care & some emotional support - it was a tearful good bye.
Luckily after that I went back down to the Recovery room & we still had about 10 patients to go & our very last patient was absolutley darling - 5 year old Jesus. He had a pretty big surgery & rough go of it post op in the recovery room so he was with us for about 2 hours (most are only there 30 -60 min). He needed alot of oxygen & we needed to get that down so he could go to the floor - I stood by his bed & told him "respire profundo con mi" (Deep breathe w/ me) & he tried so so hard - even if I moved to get something he would keep breathing so well. Finally we got him to a good level & were ready to go & as we were wheeling him out he noticed the white Operating room hat her wore into surgery & he must've thought he needed to wear it out so he put it on himself...it was so darn cute. Katrine & I got a picture of the 2 of us with him in the hallways before they took him upstairs. That end to the day was perfecto! & it was coupled with a baby being born in the one Operating room we left open for deliveries - hearing that cry of a healthy newborn was magical :)
Hard to believe it is over...I still need to process some things. I miss being away from my family but one week was lots easier than 2 & I definitely was to go again...I just have no idea when or where - I guess wherever I am needed & where I am sent. Clearly my blog is inadequate in expressing the miracles that occur as surgeries happen & children's lives are changed....how blessed I am to witness this & be a part of it! I also know that God loves his children all over the world & answers their prayers as I have myself seen it happen at home, in Kenya & now In Mexico & I know it happens everywhere everyday
Tomorrow is our "team day" it should be fun & mostly I am just excited that I wont be getting a 5 :30 am wake up call!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
OR Day #2 Thursday
Well I thought I was up late but poor Katrin & Christoph were on call for Recovery & had to go in at 2 am for a pt that had to go back to surgery...then when they were done at 4 the hospital elevator was broken & the patient area was up 4 flights of stairs & this was a BIG boy so they ended up staying there all night & then leaving at 7 am when we all got then only to shower, eat & return about 9 - I am on call tonight :/
I went to the Post Op area this morning - that is one of my favorite things to do cause when the kids come to me they are pretty sleepy but the next day they are smiling & look great! I first went to Rosas family - she had a rough night & her poor mom didn't sleep at all - the Drs are going to re-evaluate her later today. Oh & our mission was on the front page of the Tlaxcala News - it was all in Spanish of course but I could figure out the basics & one of our translators Sergio helped w/ the rest. I am bringing a copy home!
The Operating room seemed very chaotic this morning - there are 14 Plastic Surgery residents from Guadalajara here so about 3 at each table plus the "real doctors" nurse etc. I did get asked to help start 2 IV's in one room on the 1st cases of the day & I was quite proud of myself that I got them both in - it has been AWHILE since I started IV's - a little tender mercy I think for both the patients & me...yep I am a REAL NURSE :)
One of the most darling 5 year olds EVER had surgery today...Diego - he was a little guy I screened on Monday w/ his mom so I met them for the hand off into the OR & went into the room with him then recovered him...he was SO PRECIOUS & SO BRAVE!!! He had some airway problems after surgery so he had to stay in recovery awhile but it all ended well & I passed him off to his mom across the "magic line". I took some good pictures of him!
There are the nicest "Pink Ladies" here - they seriously wear candystriper uniforms like I wore in high school but also have fun hats etc & they help entertain the kids before surgery - I took pictures of them - you will see what I mean!
This morning the local recovery room nurses went out to a street vendor about 9 am to buy tamales & bought me one...I was a little nervous but didn't want to offend them & they were being so kind so I ate it - it was really good! There seems to be no differentiation between meals here - rice, beans, meat, tortillas, tacos, tamales are pretty much an option at every meal....another bright spot in a BUSY day was that the Colgate people brought in 2 volunteers to give us 5 min massages - those really might have been the best 5 min of my day :)
Since Katrin had been up all night I sent her home at 7 & we still had about 6 cases to go....one of the last cases was an 18 year old boy who has no family as I understand...I didn't have all the details - he had a smooth Cleft Lip Surgery & all was well - when he woke Up & I was caring for him & talking to him in my broken Spanish I asked if he needed anything & finally thru a translator he asked me if he had to pay cause he didn't have any money....I told him no were were all here as volunteers & it was free & he just needed to go & do something good for someone else...as he left the Recovery Room I took a picture of him & he gave me the thumbs up sign! Other later patients were Grey...a cute & very brave little girl who was so so happy when I gave her a sticker pack for being so good about taking deep breaths so I could get her off oxygen & up to the floor and also Diuyrth...I had the hardest time pronouncing her name! She had both a cleft lip &v palate repair.
Cristoph & I got done about 11 pm - so from the 5 :30 am wake up call until my 1:30 getting to bed it was a 20 hour day...at times I was a bit tired but for the most part I know I am being blessed in my endurance & ability to do what needs to be done. I cant believe that tomorrow is our last surgery day - this is really a short mission but I am having a wonderful time serving the children of Tlaxcala Mexico & their parents. I really am SOOOO grateful to be able to be here. More updates tomorrow....Adios!
I went to the Post Op area this morning - that is one of my favorite things to do cause when the kids come to me they are pretty sleepy but the next day they are smiling & look great! I first went to Rosas family - she had a rough night & her poor mom didn't sleep at all - the Drs are going to re-evaluate her later today. Oh & our mission was on the front page of the Tlaxcala News - it was all in Spanish of course but I could figure out the basics & one of our translators Sergio helped w/ the rest. I am bringing a copy home!
The Operating room seemed very chaotic this morning - there are 14 Plastic Surgery residents from Guadalajara here so about 3 at each table plus the "real doctors" nurse etc. I did get asked to help start 2 IV's in one room on the 1st cases of the day & I was quite proud of myself that I got them both in - it has been AWHILE since I started IV's - a little tender mercy I think for both the patients & me...yep I am a REAL NURSE :)
One of the most darling 5 year olds EVER had surgery today...Diego - he was a little guy I screened on Monday w/ his mom so I met them for the hand off into the OR & went into the room with him then recovered him...he was SO PRECIOUS & SO BRAVE!!! He had some airway problems after surgery so he had to stay in recovery awhile but it all ended well & I passed him off to his mom across the "magic line". I took some good pictures of him!
There are the nicest "Pink Ladies" here - they seriously wear candystriper uniforms like I wore in high school but also have fun hats etc & they help entertain the kids before surgery - I took pictures of them - you will see what I mean!
This morning the local recovery room nurses went out to a street vendor about 9 am to buy tamales & bought me one...I was a little nervous but didn't want to offend them & they were being so kind so I ate it - it was really good! There seems to be no differentiation between meals here - rice, beans, meat, tortillas, tacos, tamales are pretty much an option at every meal....another bright spot in a BUSY day was that the Colgate people brought in 2 volunteers to give us 5 min massages - those really might have been the best 5 min of my day :)
Since Katrin had been up all night I sent her home at 7 & we still had about 6 cases to go....one of the last cases was an 18 year old boy who has no family as I understand...I didn't have all the details - he had a smooth Cleft Lip Surgery & all was well - when he woke Up & I was caring for him & talking to him in my broken Spanish I asked if he needed anything & finally thru a translator he asked me if he had to pay cause he didn't have any money....I told him no were were all here as volunteers & it was free & he just needed to go & do something good for someone else...as he left the Recovery Room I took a picture of him & he gave me the thumbs up sign! Other later patients were Grey...a cute & very brave little girl who was so so happy when I gave her a sticker pack for being so good about taking deep breaths so I could get her off oxygen & up to the floor and also Diuyrth...I had the hardest time pronouncing her name! She had both a cleft lip &v palate repair.
Cristoph & I got done about 11 pm - so from the 5 :30 am wake up call until my 1:30 getting to bed it was a 20 hour day...at times I was a bit tired but for the most part I know I am being blessed in my endurance & ability to do what needs to be done. I cant believe that tomorrow is our last surgery day - this is really a short mission but I am having a wonderful time serving the children of Tlaxcala Mexico & their parents. I really am SOOOO grateful to be able to be here. More updates tomorrow....Adios!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Working in the Recovery Room to the sounds of TYPEWRITERS?????
We had a really good 1st day & not too late...I was back at the hotel by 9:30 :) Bil Rancic carried in the 1st patient as cameras rolled & the official mission surgery Day #1 started. We ended up doing 24 cases (patients) who had 36 procedures (yes some pts had 2 or more). One case was postponed at the end of the night & another one was cancelled.
The first cases on all 5 tables were babies & they all came to the recovery room within a 15 min span....so 5 patients 5 recovery room nurses each patient w/ a nurse, anesthesiologist & surgeon to give report & YES each pt w/ a 2 Medical Records Clerks to type the Operation report with carbon paper so they have 2 copies so another 10 people & typewriters not to mention a few crying children made for a very noisy & busy recovery room - it was a bit crazy to work all day as people typed - the unique experiences you have on a mission!
I appreciated so many things - like the fact that we had enough sheets to change them between patients & we had blankets & oxygen masks & running water - it was great :) The morning cases were mostly babies so I did get to give away some of the clothes I brought. The littlest patient Rosa the 3 month old (who they typically wouldn't do) had her surgery & had a rough go of it - we had to do quite a bit of interventions & thought we might need to send her to the neonatal ICU for the night but we kept her with us in Recovery all day & by evening took her to the floor on a monitor, oxygen with an airway & IV fluids. Her young parents were pretty scared & I got to spend some time talking to them. I found out that the moms mother had passed away recently just before Rosa was born so it has been a hard few months for this new young mom - to be grieving the loss of her mother, pregnant & have a baby with a Cleft lip & be a new mom w/o her own mom for help which is important in all cultures but especially so here. The young mom was on the verge of tears all day & everytime I saw her I sat down & just held her hand as we talked. I stayed after most of the team left at the end of the night to spend a little extra time with her just to reassure her all was going to be okay - I also gave her 3 dresses I had that were size 6 mos since I didn't think we'd have any other tiny babies!I will go back & check on them first thing in the morning :)
By the end of the night after being on my feet for 15 hours my feet were killing me - there was only one chair in the entire Recovery room & a few stools that the local nurses used....by about 8 pm we had the mission coordinator get us 4 folding chairs from the screening area & I don't think I have ever been so excited to just sit for a few minutes!!!
There were 3 handsome high school boys from a private school here who came to volunteer as translators & were very helpful but the best moment with them was when all 3 were in the recovery room & we had a fussy 4 year old boy & the Mexican nurse got these BIG boys to sing a Mexican preschool type song with hand motions to this little boy - it was a priceless sight :)
The system here is a bit different - in the Surgery area there are "magic lines" & "half walls" where no one can cross unless they are in scrubs & surgery attire. So the parents walk or carry their child down to surgery & then hand them across the line to the nurse...very odd & at the end the patient is brought out on a gurney on one side of the line/wall & then transferred to another gurney on the other side of the line/wall or babies are handed back to their parents. Also once you change into scrubs you are to sit on a bench & put one shoe cover on & swing that leg across the line then put the other shoe cover on & only then are you ready to be in the surgery area (as long as you have a cap & mask on too!) Top it off with the fact that the shoe covers here are like putting pillowcases on your feet that you have to roll down & tie around your ankle....just a few more things to appreciate about Western medical centers :) I guess those germs know not to cross that line!!!
Katrin is the other recovery room nurse with me & she is wonderful & Christoph is our intensivist & as a team with the Mexican nurses all went well. We came home tired & just had dinner at the hotel.
After 3 days on this mission I'm beginning to realize how many unusual & unique experiences I had on my Kenya mission - so many patients & events that are not typical - but all of which were very meaningful to me. I already know I will have similar experiences here but perhaps not as dramatic - whihc is fine by me.
I was able to get on Facebook & saw that Sarah had a good 1st day of school so that made me happy from afar - thanks to dear friends who made her day by bringing her cookies after school :) Gotta get to bed its after midnite again & the 5:45 or 6 am wake up call will definitely come way too soon!!! Buenos Noches mi familia y amigos!
The first cases on all 5 tables were babies & they all came to the recovery room within a 15 min span....so 5 patients 5 recovery room nurses each patient w/ a nurse, anesthesiologist & surgeon to give report & YES each pt w/ a 2 Medical Records Clerks to type the Operation report with carbon paper so they have 2 copies so another 10 people & typewriters not to mention a few crying children made for a very noisy & busy recovery room - it was a bit crazy to work all day as people typed - the unique experiences you have on a mission!
I appreciated so many things - like the fact that we had enough sheets to change them between patients & we had blankets & oxygen masks & running water - it was great :) The morning cases were mostly babies so I did get to give away some of the clothes I brought. The littlest patient Rosa the 3 month old (who they typically wouldn't do) had her surgery & had a rough go of it - we had to do quite a bit of interventions & thought we might need to send her to the neonatal ICU for the night but we kept her with us in Recovery all day & by evening took her to the floor on a monitor, oxygen with an airway & IV fluids. Her young parents were pretty scared & I got to spend some time talking to them. I found out that the moms mother had passed away recently just before Rosa was born so it has been a hard few months for this new young mom - to be grieving the loss of her mother, pregnant & have a baby with a Cleft lip & be a new mom w/o her own mom for help which is important in all cultures but especially so here. The young mom was on the verge of tears all day & everytime I saw her I sat down & just held her hand as we talked. I stayed after most of the team left at the end of the night to spend a little extra time with her just to reassure her all was going to be okay - I also gave her 3 dresses I had that were size 6 mos since I didn't think we'd have any other tiny babies!I will go back & check on them first thing in the morning :)
By the end of the night after being on my feet for 15 hours my feet were killing me - there was only one chair in the entire Recovery room & a few stools that the local nurses used....by about 8 pm we had the mission coordinator get us 4 folding chairs from the screening area & I don't think I have ever been so excited to just sit for a few minutes!!!
There were 3 handsome high school boys from a private school here who came to volunteer as translators & were very helpful but the best moment with them was when all 3 were in the recovery room & we had a fussy 4 year old boy & the Mexican nurse got these BIG boys to sing a Mexican preschool type song with hand motions to this little boy - it was a priceless sight :)
The system here is a bit different - in the Surgery area there are "magic lines" & "half walls" where no one can cross unless they are in scrubs & surgery attire. So the parents walk or carry their child down to surgery & then hand them across the line to the nurse...very odd & at the end the patient is brought out on a gurney on one side of the line/wall & then transferred to another gurney on the other side of the line/wall or babies are handed back to their parents. Also once you change into scrubs you are to sit on a bench & put one shoe cover on & swing that leg across the line then put the other shoe cover on & only then are you ready to be in the surgery area (as long as you have a cap & mask on too!) Top it off with the fact that the shoe covers here are like putting pillowcases on your feet that you have to roll down & tie around your ankle....just a few more things to appreciate about Western medical centers :) I guess those germs know not to cross that line!!!
Katrin is the other recovery room nurse with me & she is wonderful & Christoph is our intensivist & as a team with the Mexican nurses all went well. We came home tired & just had dinner at the hotel.
After 3 days on this mission I'm beginning to realize how many unusual & unique experiences I had on my Kenya mission - so many patients & events that are not typical - but all of which were very meaningful to me. I already know I will have similar experiences here but perhaps not as dramatic - whihc is fine by me.
I was able to get on Facebook & saw that Sarah had a good 1st day of school so that made me happy from afar - thanks to dear friends who made her day by bringing her cookies after school :) Gotta get to bed its after midnite again & the 5:45 or 6 am wake up call will definitely come way too soon!!! Buenos Noches mi familia y amigos!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Screening Day #2 & Recovery Room Set Up & 1 Surgery
It was a busy but manageable day....I did screening again from 8-10 then went to set up the recovery room w/ the Pediatric Intensivist from 10-2 then helped with the last hour of screening & we did one case (more info later) so I was in the OR & recovery room for that. I am reminded of something I already knew....that often life is all about perspective. Before going to Kenya I had only medically experienced hospitals in the USA & while they vary there is a basic "standard of care & facilities". Then in Kenya I learned that sometimes you just do your best with what you have. Now in Tlaxcala I was SOOOOO THRILLED to walk in a "real recovery room" - of course it isn't at all like the recovery room we have for CHOC patients but there were 6 gurneys with clean linens that can be changed between patients, 3 oxygen & suction outlets in the walls (a bit antiquated & challenging to work with but still) & a REAL CODE CART & most of the supplies we would need - I was ecstatic!!!! Now had I come to Mexico before going to Kenya I am sure I would have looked at this recovery Room much differently & just seen all its deficiencies...but having had much less I appreciate all. Sometimes I think we need a "Kenya" in many aspects of our lives to appreciate so many things we take for granted to to realize how great all our "everydays" really are :)
During screening there were a few "special patients" that - stuck out to me...Alma a 17 year old girl who was the oldest of 6 children & had a cleft lip that they could never afford to repair - she was such a sweet girl - I took her picture - told her she was already beautiful but that we would make her smile even more perfect...I am excited to see her after surgery & to think of the change this will make in her life. There was also Lupita - she was dressed in boys clothes & wrapped in a blue blanket & I thought she was a boy & had beautiful thick black hair - I took some pictures of baby & mom before I screened them. At screening I fund out the baby was a girl & was 7 months old & was the 5th child & only girl of a very poor family. They were actually from an Indian (vs Mexican) village 6 hours away & left their 4 boys & the parents had gone without food in order to travel with her to Tlaxcala - not having baby girl clothes for her was the least of their concerns. With the help of volunteers we got the parents some food & she will be having surgery this week :) Again perspective...did I ever realize that I had 20 or 30 new outfits for each baby before they were ever born? I am so glad I brought some baby clothes & will be sure this family get 4 or 5 outfits for Lupita.
We have a VIP visitor/financial donor on this Mission - some of you may know him but I didn't...Bill Ranscic? He was on the 1st Celebrity Apprentice & his wife Julianna? co hosts E News w/ Ryan Seachrist? Anyways he is a supporter of Op Smile & was here to film footage & take photos for awareness & a donation campaign in LA. He sat with me in screening - I didn't get any pics but Op Smile did & was really nice. He is why we did one case today...so that he could scrub in & observe a repair BUT we weren't set up for post op children so we did a 30 year old mom & mother of 2. It went well & I recovered her & Bill did a very nice interview about Op Smile & his experiences 1st hand at seeing what is done vs just donating $$$. He was very genuine & sincere.
I have to admit that after this trip I will be a little more positive in my feelings towards the Pepsi company :) They are HUGE supporters of Op Smile not only w/ Volunteers but all the chairs & EZ ups we had for screening was from them, they have an endless supply of water, gatorade & soda for us & it is nice to see companies who do this. Their South America Exec VP Jim has been here each day & been a translator or done whatever was needed from moving supplies to translating or stuffing charts. He told me that Pepsi's primary customers here are the owners of the small "tiendas or shops" that sell Pepsi Products - they don't sell to big grocery stores cause they don't exist & there are tiendas everywhere - so part of him being here w/ employees is to also connect with the tienda owners in the area to let them know they support this project in this pueblo - so cool! He also told me the ethnic mix in this area is both "indians" & "mexicans" & that in Mexico in general there is a small middle class, a smaller upper class & largely a "poor" population & that is who we are seeing.
His comments were reinforced by one of the volunteers who had helped me the past 2 days. As I was finishing screening she got a translator so she could talk to me at the end of our time together. Her name was Rosario & she was a sweet woman probably about 60 just here to volunteer. She had sat by me for all my screenings & when I finished with a family she would take them to the next area - while I practiced my Spanish on her - I must admit our communication was pretty basic. Thru the translator she said that she wanted to Thank me from the bottom of her heart for leaving my country & may family & coming to help these families & children who were from the poorest of the poor many without food to eat on a day to day basis ...she just said with tears in her eyes - which then caused tears in my eyes - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you & gave me a giant hug & kisses on both cheeks...moments like that make the long days & hard work so meaningful...the opportunity to lift another is a tremendous blessing & can be done anywhere.....I want to remember that when I am not on an Op Smile mission.
Its late & we were just told out wake up call will be 5:30 as we have a full day tomorrow so I better get to bed - its almost midnite...TeAmo from Tlaxcala
During screening there were a few "special patients" that - stuck out to me...Alma a 17 year old girl who was the oldest of 6 children & had a cleft lip that they could never afford to repair - she was such a sweet girl - I took her picture - told her she was already beautiful but that we would make her smile even more perfect...I am excited to see her after surgery & to think of the change this will make in her life. There was also Lupita - she was dressed in boys clothes & wrapped in a blue blanket & I thought she was a boy & had beautiful thick black hair - I took some pictures of baby & mom before I screened them. At screening I fund out the baby was a girl & was 7 months old & was the 5th child & only girl of a very poor family. They were actually from an Indian (vs Mexican) village 6 hours away & left their 4 boys & the parents had gone without food in order to travel with her to Tlaxcala - not having baby girl clothes for her was the least of their concerns. With the help of volunteers we got the parents some food & she will be having surgery this week :) Again perspective...did I ever realize that I had 20 or 30 new outfits for each baby before they were ever born? I am so glad I brought some baby clothes & will be sure this family get 4 or 5 outfits for Lupita.
We have a VIP visitor/financial donor on this Mission - some of you may know him but I didn't...Bill Ranscic? He was on the 1st Celebrity Apprentice & his wife Julianna? co hosts E News w/ Ryan Seachrist? Anyways he is a supporter of Op Smile & was here to film footage & take photos for awareness & a donation campaign in LA. He sat with me in screening - I didn't get any pics but Op Smile did & was really nice. He is why we did one case today...so that he could scrub in & observe a repair BUT we weren't set up for post op children so we did a 30 year old mom & mother of 2. It went well & I recovered her & Bill did a very nice interview about Op Smile & his experiences 1st hand at seeing what is done vs just donating $$$. He was very genuine & sincere.
I have to admit that after this trip I will be a little more positive in my feelings towards the Pepsi company :) They are HUGE supporters of Op Smile not only w/ Volunteers but all the chairs & EZ ups we had for screening was from them, they have an endless supply of water, gatorade & soda for us & it is nice to see companies who do this. Their South America Exec VP Jim has been here each day & been a translator or done whatever was needed from moving supplies to translating or stuffing charts. He told me that Pepsi's primary customers here are the owners of the small "tiendas or shops" that sell Pepsi Products - they don't sell to big grocery stores cause they don't exist & there are tiendas everywhere - so part of him being here w/ employees is to also connect with the tienda owners in the area to let them know they support this project in this pueblo - so cool! He also told me the ethnic mix in this area is both "indians" & "mexicans" & that in Mexico in general there is a small middle class, a smaller upper class & largely a "poor" population & that is who we are seeing.
His comments were reinforced by one of the volunteers who had helped me the past 2 days. As I was finishing screening she got a translator so she could talk to me at the end of our time together. Her name was Rosario & she was a sweet woman probably about 60 just here to volunteer. She had sat by me for all my screenings & when I finished with a family she would take them to the next area - while I practiced my Spanish on her - I must admit our communication was pretty basic. Thru the translator she said that she wanted to Thank me from the bottom of her heart for leaving my country & may family & coming to help these families & children who were from the poorest of the poor many without food to eat on a day to day basis ...she just said with tears in her eyes - which then caused tears in my eyes - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you & gave me a giant hug & kisses on both cheeks...moments like that make the long days & hard work so meaningful...the opportunity to lift another is a tremendous blessing & can be done anywhere.....I want to remember that when I am not on an Op Smile mission.
Its late & we were just told out wake up call will be 5:30 as we have a full day tomorrow so I better get to bed - its almost midnite...TeAmo from Tlaxcala
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Happy Labor Day from Mexico!
Happy Labor Day from Tlaxcala Mexico!
Aside from my technology challenges which are improving this has been a wonderful day :) The schedule for the week is the same each day - wake up call at 6, breakfast at 6:30, leave the hotel & walk to the hospital at 7, arrive at 7:15 for a team mtg & then let the day begin.
I was in "screening" all day & with all the rain we saw less patients then anticipated...about 75 & 55 of those were scheduled for surgery...I really liked screening - there were 2 of us - me & a nurse from Sweden Andrea -who had just arrived at 4 this morning as her taxi ride from Mexico City took her 5 hours because of flooded roads) & we each had a translator (mine was Tony a wonderful woman & volunteer from Colgate) & a Mexican Volunteer nurse (my new friend Sylvia) from the hospital here. I would get the patients history, take vital signs then pass the info to Sylvia who copied it all on their chart. It was a very efficient system :) I screened some REALLY CUTE patients & the beauty of screening was that if I thought they would be a surgical case I introduced myself to the parents in more depth & told them I would be with their child in the recovery room. I also got to take some pictures....I had several "favorites" Patient #1 was a 13 year old who had a repair before but had problems w/ scarring so we will revise that for her...when she finished several hours later & had a surgery time she gave me a big hug & we took a pic together. My other favorites were 2 tiny babies...one was 3 mos & the other 4 months. Typically 6 mos of age is required for surgery but both of these little girls were well nourished & met the weight requirement so I think they will both get surgery. One was all the way from Puerta Vallarta - a long trip & the other was from a tiny pueblo 6 hours away & the parents were young (early 20's) & this was their 1st baby & I could just feel the love they had for their little girl & how they wanted her to be able to "grow up normal" - yep at the end of the day when we were talking as a team about her & the decisions was YES I got a little teary. I took before pictures & told her parents I would be in recovery with her so I will for sure get after pictures - she is ADORABLE & had a big smile that will even be more beautiful when our team is done!
There were quite a few patients waiting for us when we arrived but we were done by 3 on our end & then I helped move them thru the back end. One other thing I took pictures of was the "Medical Records" staff from the hospital here dressed in white uniforms each of whom walked out to the tables they were at carrying their own typewriter to complete the forms...I am actually not sure when the last time was that I saw a typewriter???? The bubbles & toys Vicki got for me were perfect & the kids loved them as they waited for long hours in the screening process. We were assisted today by local volunteers from Pepsi & Colgate - both sponsors of Op Smile & while I am a "die hard diet coke girl" I was happy to have Pepsi Light with my Pepsi friends at lunch :) We even wore Pepsi T Shirts today each w/ Spanish words on them saying "Abrazo" (hug), "Todo Bien" (all is good), "Animo" (Pick up your spirit - that was the one I had) & "Sonrie" (Smile) Yep learned a few new Spanish words today & actually as the translator spoke more & more came back to me & IN understood more than I expected & could even say all the Vital Sign #'s to Sylvia in Spanish so she didn't have to wait to copy them down! A small success! The Pepsi Volunteers were from the local factory here so it was cool to see them helping in their own community & the Colgate volunteers were from Mexico City. Speaking of lunch it was actually delicious - chicken, a Mexican version of cole slaw, yummy bread & cantaloupe - which was great because at breakfast I was a bit nervous when I saw rice, beans, tortilla chips w/ melted cheese & salsa (yes Nachos) all of which I am sure was good but just didn't match my idea of breakfast - there were some eggs too but they looked a lil scary - I opted for fruit & yogurt & was fine!
Mexican Independence Day is coming up on Sept 15th & the country is in full preparation mode with red, green & white everywhere, flags & decorations on every building etc. Also at 6 pm right outside our hotel I heard a band playing taps & walked out to see a FULL Military Ceremony to take down the flag - which I am told occurs all over the country at 6 pm in town squares. Tlaxcala is a quaint little area there is a big park outside the hotel w/ 3 big fountains & trees & I am told there is another one around the corner connected to a beautiful Convent & church - we explored the square outside the hotel tonight & 10 of us got dinner at an outside cafe. One of the locals told me that Tlaxcala is the smallest "state" in Mexico & the nearby areas are some of the poorest in the country.
Tomorrow I will set up the recovery room w/ Christoph the Pediatric Intensivistalot of "in country supplies" We will see how it goes. I am SOOOOOOOOO GRATEFUL to be here & have the opportunity to serve the people of Mexico - I love them already - they are a gracious people. The team is wonderful & we will change lives by changing smiles. It is a blessing to be here & I appreciate the support from family & friends - love & miss you all. If all goes well from the technology side I will blog again tomorrow :)
Aside from my technology challenges which are improving this has been a wonderful day :) The schedule for the week is the same each day - wake up call at 6, breakfast at 6:30, leave the hotel & walk to the hospital at 7, arrive at 7:15 for a team mtg & then let the day begin.
I was in "screening" all day & with all the rain we saw less patients then anticipated...about 75 & 55 of those were scheduled for surgery...I really liked screening - there were 2 of us - me & a nurse from Sweden Andrea -who had just arrived at 4 this morning as her taxi ride from Mexico City took her 5 hours because of flooded roads) & we each had a translator (mine was Tony a wonderful woman & volunteer from Colgate) & a Mexican Volunteer nurse (my new friend Sylvia) from the hospital here. I would get the patients history, take vital signs then pass the info to Sylvia who copied it all on their chart. It was a very efficient system :) I screened some REALLY CUTE patients & the beauty of screening was that if I thought they would be a surgical case I introduced myself to the parents in more depth & told them I would be with their child in the recovery room. I also got to take some pictures....I had several "favorites" Patient #1 was a 13 year old who had a repair before but had problems w/ scarring so we will revise that for her...when she finished several hours later & had a surgery time she gave me a big hug & we took a pic together. My other favorites were 2 tiny babies...one was 3 mos & the other 4 months. Typically 6 mos of age is required for surgery but both of these little girls were well nourished & met the weight requirement so I think they will both get surgery. One was all the way from Puerta Vallarta - a long trip & the other was from a tiny pueblo 6 hours away & the parents were young (early 20's) & this was their 1st baby & I could just feel the love they had for their little girl & how they wanted her to be able to "grow up normal" - yep at the end of the day when we were talking as a team about her & the decisions was YES I got a little teary. I took before pictures & told her parents I would be in recovery with her so I will for sure get after pictures - she is ADORABLE & had a big smile that will even be more beautiful when our team is done!
There were quite a few patients waiting for us when we arrived but we were done by 3 on our end & then I helped move them thru the back end. One other thing I took pictures of was the "Medical Records" staff from the hospital here dressed in white uniforms each of whom walked out to the tables they were at carrying their own typewriter to complete the forms...I am actually not sure when the last time was that I saw a typewriter???? The bubbles & toys Vicki got for me were perfect & the kids loved them as they waited for long hours in the screening process. We were assisted today by local volunteers from Pepsi & Colgate - both sponsors of Op Smile & while I am a "die hard diet coke girl" I was happy to have Pepsi Light with my Pepsi friends at lunch :) We even wore Pepsi T Shirts today each w/ Spanish words on them saying "Abrazo" (hug), "Todo Bien" (all is good), "Animo" (Pick up your spirit - that was the one I had) & "Sonrie" (Smile) Yep learned a few new Spanish words today & actually as the translator spoke more & more came back to me & IN understood more than I expected & could even say all the Vital Sign #'s to Sylvia in Spanish so she didn't have to wait to copy them down! A small success! The Pepsi Volunteers were from the local factory here so it was cool to see them helping in their own community & the Colgate volunteers were from Mexico City. Speaking of lunch it was actually delicious - chicken, a Mexican version of cole slaw, yummy bread & cantaloupe - which was great because at breakfast I was a bit nervous when I saw rice, beans, tortilla chips w/ melted cheese & salsa (yes Nachos) all of which I am sure was good but just didn't match my idea of breakfast - there were some eggs too but they looked a lil scary - I opted for fruit & yogurt & was fine!
Mexican Independence Day is coming up on Sept 15th & the country is in full preparation mode with red, green & white everywhere, flags & decorations on every building etc. Also at 6 pm right outside our hotel I heard a band playing taps & walked out to see a FULL Military Ceremony to take down the flag - which I am told occurs all over the country at 6 pm in town squares. Tlaxcala is a quaint little area there is a big park outside the hotel w/ 3 big fountains & trees & I am told there is another one around the corner connected to a beautiful Convent & church - we explored the square outside the hotel tonight & 10 of us got dinner at an outside cafe. One of the locals told me that Tlaxcala is the smallest "state" in Mexico & the nearby areas are some of the poorest in the country.
Tomorrow I will set up the recovery room w/ Christoph the Pediatric Intensivistalot of "in country supplies" We will see how it goes. I am SOOOOOOOOO GRATEFUL to be here & have the opportunity to serve the people of Mexico - I love them already - they are a gracious people. The team is wonderful & we will change lives by changing smiles. It is a blessing to be here & I appreciate the support from family & friends - love & miss you all. If all goes well from the technology side I will blog again tomorrow :)
Monday, September 5, 2011
Made it to Tlaxcala :) Sundays Post
Okay I made it to Mexico City but I have no internet....so I am typing on wordpad & will then cut & paste it to my blog but I am afraid if I dont write it now I will forget!!! Today was really a travel day & not bad at all I left Salt Lake at 10 a.m. I was certain when I read the AeroMexico Website I could travel with 55 lbs of luggage in 1 bag....well that is within Mexico not to Mexico???? So my 59 lb bag required some last minute readjustment & I got it down to 52 lbs but I am pretty sure that my carry on & my backpack were pretty close to 50 lbs each as well!!! Yes packing light is not my strength! But I brought a bunch of baby outfits, plus some toys (thanks Vicki!) & paper & stickers to label the kids beds (thanks to TT & MAMBI) & medical stuff. SO I will be MUCH lighter returning.
My nephew Marc met me at the airport & got me to the other terminal, helped me exchange $$ & brought me 12 pack of "Coke Light" aka diet cokes - for the week :) We found he Op Smile meeting place & then he & I went & had a nice "real mexican" dinner - Mole it was great. Then I had to get on the bus to come to Tlaxcala in the pouring rain - I guess it rains her most every afternoon or evening - it was actually nice. The bus ride was supposed to be 1 1/2 hours but it took us over 2 hours - there was crazy traffic that could compete with the 405 on a bad day. I spent most of the drive trying to get my phone to work....seems there was a system upgrade I needed to allow me to text so once again after I told everyone to text me cause its only 5 cents I havent had much luck - despite a lovely 45 min conversation with the verizon help desk! But I did just get a few from Doug so maybe there's hope.
The little pueblo (town) of Tlaxcala seems nice although it was dark when we arrived & we went direct to a 2 hour team mtg.....people that were here earlier said we are right in the middle of the pueblo & its very quaint. Supposedly there are some internet cafes near by so maybe tomorrow I will go there cause the internet at the hotel isnt working. Our team will have 80 people & 68 are from Mexico...yep wishing I had some spanish I could speak!
Tomorrow is our screening day & we are going to be set up outside a hospital under ez ups supposedly the hospital is "nice" but I have learned that word means different things to different people & cultures They expect only about 100 at screening tomorrow so we will see.
My roomate is Janet & she is an OR nurse from Florida & has done 8 missions so I am sure I will get some tips from her I am fairly certain that the man in the room next to us is a Mexican Opera Singer & he was practicing with his coach for about an hour tonight...sounded like he was right there in our room :) We just finished unpacking & Between Janet & I we can feed most of the team with the snacks we brought & several of the little ones will have a cute outfit & blanket from us - I brought outfits & she brought blankets....Its after midnite so I better get to bed....Buenos Noches!
My nephew Marc met me at the airport & got me to the other terminal, helped me exchange $$ & brought me 12 pack of "Coke Light" aka diet cokes - for the week :) We found he Op Smile meeting place & then he & I went & had a nice "real mexican" dinner - Mole it was great. Then I had to get on the bus to come to Tlaxcala in the pouring rain - I guess it rains her most every afternoon or evening - it was actually nice. The bus ride was supposed to be 1 1/2 hours but it took us over 2 hours - there was crazy traffic that could compete with the 405 on a bad day. I spent most of the drive trying to get my phone to work....seems there was a system upgrade I needed to allow me to text so once again after I told everyone to text me cause its only 5 cents I havent had much luck - despite a lovely 45 min conversation with the verizon help desk! But I did just get a few from Doug so maybe there's hope.
The little pueblo (town) of Tlaxcala seems nice although it was dark when we arrived & we went direct to a 2 hour team mtg.....people that were here earlier said we are right in the middle of the pueblo & its very quaint. Supposedly there are some internet cafes near by so maybe tomorrow I will go there cause the internet at the hotel isnt working. Our team will have 80 people & 68 are from Mexico...yep wishing I had some spanish I could speak!
Tomorrow is our screening day & we are going to be set up outside a hospital under ez ups supposedly the hospital is "nice" but I have learned that word means different things to different people & cultures They expect only about 100 at screening tomorrow so we will see.
My roomate is Janet & she is an OR nurse from Florida & has done 8 missions so I am sure I will get some tips from her I am fairly certain that the man in the room next to us is a Mexican Opera Singer & he was practicing with his coach for about an hour tonight...sounded like he was right there in our room :) We just finished unpacking & Between Janet & I we can feed most of the team with the snacks we brought & several of the little ones will have a cute outfit & blanket from us - I brought outfits & she brought blankets....Its after midnite so I better get to bed....Buenos Noches!
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