Where to begin....we left the hotel at 7:30 to get a tour of the hospital & a sense of who will be where & to go "set up" our areas within the "hospital"-mine being the recovery room - PACU. Our PACU area didn't look too bad until we were told we would get about 1/3 of the room while the hospital used the other 2/3 which is a potential challenge but on a mission you just work with whatever you have. We started going thru our supplies but were told we couldn't really "set up" until tomorrow morning so other than checking crashboxes & seeing if the typical PACU supplies were there we couldn''t do a lot. The PACU space was tight for 4 gurneys & I am a visual spatial person so I moved the gurneys around to be more of a U shape in the room & we all think that will work & will give us some floor space for walking etc - we will see. Space design is becoming a new skill for me:) I have also realized that after 10 missions there are some things you just roll with like no running water in the PACU, people with respirator masks on coming in to fumigate the room but saying its ok to just leave for a minute & come back in, etc.
The OR was really the only area that could totally set up, the Pre Op & Post Op areas couldn't do much either & they are kind of spread apart. I had a few flashback moments as I saw a nurse typing a report of a typewriter - yes they sill exist!!! Photo to follow-no Electronic Health Records here!
Since the plan was for the team to go to the patient shelter after set up & we were waiting we walked across the street to where we can buy diet Coke & got some - well we did have to go past a guard & gate to get out but didn't plan that when we got back the guard would be gone & the gate flooded with people & we could not get back in....only for about 10 min when one of the OSI coordinators came by & had someone let us in - note to self do not leave the premises during the mission you may not get back in!!!
We got on the bus to go to the Patient Shelter - the US Ambassador to Nicaragua was going to come by & they wanted some team members there & we were going to have lunch with her.Lisa, Erika & I had a great little chat with her & later her photographer asked if it was ok if they used our picture on the Managua or Nicaragua Consulate Facebook Page-we of course agreed - no royalties required so if anyone finds the page & the photo go ahead & tag me!!!
At the patient shelter I FELL IN LOVE WITH MILAGRA (no need to be jealous Doug). She is 1 month & 3 days old & since she is not eligible for surgery we didn't see her at the gatekeeper station on Friday-with the long wait they left. Her mom is 18 & her grandma brought them here to get Milagra help. She was SO SO TINY & no more than 5 lbs I bet...I saw her in her moms arms & went over to talk to them. Lunch was being served so I offered to hold her so the 2 of them could get in the line & eat & I promised I would stay right there where they could see me & they kept watch to be sure I didn't go anywhere! I found out they live on a little island & took a boat & bus to get to Managua over several days. Because the grandma brought them here she was fired from her job. when they found out Milagra couldn't have surgery they wanted to leave ASAP to see grandma could get it back but they convinced them to stay one more day so that a molding appliance (kind of like the tip part of a retainer) could be made so she wouldn't put her tongue in the palate opening & cause it to get bigger & more importantly so that she could eat better & gain weight. The local volunteer dentist came over to the shelter on Sunday to make the mold for her - she was truly a lifesaver to this little baby. The molding seemed giant for her little mouth but it fit & I gave her to mom to feed her because she is the one who needs to know how to do this each day. Little Milagra drank 1/2 a bottle so quickly - I think she has been hungry for a month! Typically a baby like this would be followed up every week but because they live so far away she will need to come back every 3 weeks for a new molding. I talked to the person in charge of the local clinic here where she will go & asked if I could help with her transportation for the appts & also with some formula again with some money from a kind friend. we talked to the mom & instead of giving her the money the clinic person will keep it & each time the mom comes she will give her the money for the full transportation at the appt. They said that will keep the mom coming to the appts which made sense.
At the shelter they had a party for the patients with 3 pinatas & games & coloring etc - just doing all the things that kids all over the world like - having FUN!!! It was nice to see them like that :) BUT boy was it HOT outside!!!
We got back to the hotel about 3 so it had already been an 8 hour day. On our way back there was a man walking to all the cars begging & he came by our bus. He literally had an odd shaped basketball size tumor or mass of some sort in his stomach with an open wound...visuals like that always cause me to pause...why cant he get medical care or some kind of help? Jordi who is with OSI & from the US but covers part of Central America says that there aer many reasons...the government health care has wait lists for everything, even if you do get treatment before you can come if they think you will need blood a family member has to go & donate blood & they will also give you a list of everything you need for the hospitalization & you have to go & buy it before you can get the care - including IV fluid, meds, dressings etc - so financially most people cant afford even the hospital care provided by the country - such a sad thing compared to what we have & what people complain about....
At 5 pm I met Sis Solbalvarro & her other daughter Stephanie at the hotel - they had invited me to church but I couldn't go so they asked if I wanted to come meet a few people & I said yes. I got into their car & it was fun to hear familiar church music in Spanish. Stephanie had been a missionary in Arizona & spoke wonderful English so we chatted all the way. The high school kids here have seminary at either 5 am or 6 pm at their teachers house & there is one teacher for each ward. She said that teen pregnancy is a BIG problem here. Outside the church about 80% of girls have a baby between the ages of 14-18 & within the church still about 50%. They may have 450 members on the church records & about 100-125 typically come each week. For as long as she can remember her dad has served extensively in the church - she knows she was blessed with wonderful parents. The stake center was about 20-30 min away They have 12 wards (congregations) in the Managua area & each has its own building. At the church I saw Ricardo in passing with some of the missionaries serving in this area - one from Logan! & one from Arizona, another from Texas & 2 from Guatemala. I gave Ricardo another gift & a note to let me know where he is called on his mission. Stephanie said she had seen him at church that day & he was still so happy. She also told me he is the only member of the church in his family & that he gets himself to church via severla buses & is always helpful to others. That made me love him more & she said he doesn't earn $2 an hour only $200 a month & half of what he earns he gives to his family.
When I got to the church I saw the stake President & he had all the groceries they had purchased & were going to give to 8 different families this week. He gave them to one to a family that he wanted me to meet & he just asked me to tell them why I was here & why I wanted to help them - that got emotional. Then he said he had all 12 Bishoprics in the chapel & he wanted to tell them my story about me reaching out to him & helping Ricardo & buying items for future missionaries. I was SO not prepared for that & the FLOOD of emotions. fortunately Stephanie was a wonderful translator. I told them this was not from me but from many of their brothers & sisters in the United states & especially in my ward-that I was just the person who got to be here to give the gifts from others. I talked a little about Op Smile & that I am happy to go anywhere in the world to help Gods children. I told them that in the church we are all one & we want to help people who are in other countries & have different needs that we can assist with. I told them that I knew if I was here & something happened to me they too would help me. I finished by saying that when I have these opportunities I am simply following the example of the Savior & I was humbled by their faithfulness & it was a honor for me to meet them & help any of the people of Nicaragua. As if I wasn't already emotional before I left he had all 12 Bishops come by & shake my hand & thank me for the help I was leaving them...it was very tender & then we took a quick photo so while I remember it in my heart I can also remember it in print. wow..that was not what I expected at all - I was truly blessed to see these wonderful men & know that worldwide there are so many people trying to do Gods work.
I barely got back by 7 for the mtg. Stephanie asked me if I noticed that she took many different routes to & from the hotel (which I didn't) & told me it was because the police here are corrupt & they could stop you for no reason & impound your car if all your paperwork isn't perfect etc...I am glad she told me that as we were arriving back at the hotel & not before!
The pre-surgery mtg was brief -which was such a pleasant surprise. Tonight is my time to get all my things organized to go to the hospital including all the clothes that I have to give away & the crazy 16 hour days start tomorrow so I need to get a good nights rest but before I sleep I want to really just pause to think about how tremendously I have been blessed to be able to be here and be able to be an instrument in Gods hand thru the generosity of others-I could have never imagined all of this. The person being blessed and changed the most from all of this truly is me.....
The OR was really the only area that could totally set up, the Pre Op & Post Op areas couldn't do much either & they are kind of spread apart. I had a few flashback moments as I saw a nurse typing a report of a typewriter - yes they sill exist!!! Photo to follow-no Electronic Health Records here!
Since the plan was for the team to go to the patient shelter after set up & we were waiting we walked across the street to where we can buy diet Coke & got some - well we did have to go past a guard & gate to get out but didn't plan that when we got back the guard would be gone & the gate flooded with people & we could not get back in....only for about 10 min when one of the OSI coordinators came by & had someone let us in - note to self do not leave the premises during the mission you may not get back in!!!
We got on the bus to go to the Patient Shelter - the US Ambassador to Nicaragua was going to come by & they wanted some team members there & we were going to have lunch with her.Lisa, Erika & I had a great little chat with her & later her photographer asked if it was ok if they used our picture on the Managua or Nicaragua Consulate Facebook Page-we of course agreed - no royalties required so if anyone finds the page & the photo go ahead & tag me!!!
At the patient shelter I FELL IN LOVE WITH MILAGRA (no need to be jealous Doug). She is 1 month & 3 days old & since she is not eligible for surgery we didn't see her at the gatekeeper station on Friday-with the long wait they left. Her mom is 18 & her grandma brought them here to get Milagra help. She was SO SO TINY & no more than 5 lbs I bet...I saw her in her moms arms & went over to talk to them. Lunch was being served so I offered to hold her so the 2 of them could get in the line & eat & I promised I would stay right there where they could see me & they kept watch to be sure I didn't go anywhere! I found out they live on a little island & took a boat & bus to get to Managua over several days. Because the grandma brought them here she was fired from her job. when they found out Milagra couldn't have surgery they wanted to leave ASAP to see grandma could get it back but they convinced them to stay one more day so that a molding appliance (kind of like the tip part of a retainer) could be made so she wouldn't put her tongue in the palate opening & cause it to get bigger & more importantly so that she could eat better & gain weight. The local volunteer dentist came over to the shelter on Sunday to make the mold for her - she was truly a lifesaver to this little baby. The molding seemed giant for her little mouth but it fit & I gave her to mom to feed her because she is the one who needs to know how to do this each day. Little Milagra drank 1/2 a bottle so quickly - I think she has been hungry for a month! Typically a baby like this would be followed up every week but because they live so far away she will need to come back every 3 weeks for a new molding. I talked to the person in charge of the local clinic here where she will go & asked if I could help with her transportation for the appts & also with some formula again with some money from a kind friend. we talked to the mom & instead of giving her the money the clinic person will keep it & each time the mom comes she will give her the money for the full transportation at the appt. They said that will keep the mom coming to the appts which made sense.
At the shelter they had a party for the patients with 3 pinatas & games & coloring etc - just doing all the things that kids all over the world like - having FUN!!! It was nice to see them like that :) BUT boy was it HOT outside!!!
We got back to the hotel about 3 so it had already been an 8 hour day. On our way back there was a man walking to all the cars begging & he came by our bus. He literally had an odd shaped basketball size tumor or mass of some sort in his stomach with an open wound...visuals like that always cause me to pause...why cant he get medical care or some kind of help? Jordi who is with OSI & from the US but covers part of Central America says that there aer many reasons...the government health care has wait lists for everything, even if you do get treatment before you can come if they think you will need blood a family member has to go & donate blood & they will also give you a list of everything you need for the hospitalization & you have to go & buy it before you can get the care - including IV fluid, meds, dressings etc - so financially most people cant afford even the hospital care provided by the country - such a sad thing compared to what we have & what people complain about....
At 5 pm I met Sis Solbalvarro & her other daughter Stephanie at the hotel - they had invited me to church but I couldn't go so they asked if I wanted to come meet a few people & I said yes. I got into their car & it was fun to hear familiar church music in Spanish. Stephanie had been a missionary in Arizona & spoke wonderful English so we chatted all the way. The high school kids here have seminary at either 5 am or 6 pm at their teachers house & there is one teacher for each ward. She said that teen pregnancy is a BIG problem here. Outside the church about 80% of girls have a baby between the ages of 14-18 & within the church still about 50%. They may have 450 members on the church records & about 100-125 typically come each week. For as long as she can remember her dad has served extensively in the church - she knows she was blessed with wonderful parents. The stake center was about 20-30 min away They have 12 wards (congregations) in the Managua area & each has its own building. At the church I saw Ricardo in passing with some of the missionaries serving in this area - one from Logan! & one from Arizona, another from Texas & 2 from Guatemala. I gave Ricardo another gift & a note to let me know where he is called on his mission. Stephanie said she had seen him at church that day & he was still so happy. She also told me he is the only member of the church in his family & that he gets himself to church via severla buses & is always helpful to others. That made me love him more & she said he doesn't earn $2 an hour only $200 a month & half of what he earns he gives to his family.
When I got to the church I saw the stake President & he had all the groceries they had purchased & were going to give to 8 different families this week. He gave them to one to a family that he wanted me to meet & he just asked me to tell them why I was here & why I wanted to help them - that got emotional. Then he said he had all 12 Bishoprics in the chapel & he wanted to tell them my story about me reaching out to him & helping Ricardo & buying items for future missionaries. I was SO not prepared for that & the FLOOD of emotions. fortunately Stephanie was a wonderful translator. I told them this was not from me but from many of their brothers & sisters in the United states & especially in my ward-that I was just the person who got to be here to give the gifts from others. I talked a little about Op Smile & that I am happy to go anywhere in the world to help Gods children. I told them that in the church we are all one & we want to help people who are in other countries & have different needs that we can assist with. I told them that I knew if I was here & something happened to me they too would help me. I finished by saying that when I have these opportunities I am simply following the example of the Savior & I was humbled by their faithfulness & it was a honor for me to meet them & help any of the people of Nicaragua. As if I wasn't already emotional before I left he had all 12 Bishops come by & shake my hand & thank me for the help I was leaving them...it was very tender & then we took a quick photo so while I remember it in my heart I can also remember it in print. wow..that was not what I expected at all - I was truly blessed to see these wonderful men & know that worldwide there are so many people trying to do Gods work.
I barely got back by 7 for the mtg. Stephanie asked me if I noticed that she took many different routes to & from the hotel (which I didn't) & told me it was because the police here are corrupt & they could stop you for no reason & impound your car if all your paperwork isn't perfect etc...I am glad she told me that as we were arriving back at the hotel & not before!
The pre-surgery mtg was brief -which was such a pleasant surprise. Tonight is my time to get all my things organized to go to the hospital including all the clothes that I have to give away & the crazy 16 hour days start tomorrow so I need to get a good nights rest but before I sleep I want to really just pause to think about how tremendously I have been blessed to be able to be here and be able to be an instrument in Gods hand thru the generosity of others-I could have never imagined all of this. The person being blessed and changed the most from all of this truly is me.....
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