April 13th – Day 6: Finishing up patient care and stove building, packing up, and a mini-debrief!
The eye clinic on the hospital property was quite impressive for a rural hospital, and I got to spend the morning observing some oculoplastic surgeries.
Eye clinic
Stove building
Packing up a hospital in less than a day … done!
One of my favorite evenings on the trip … what I call “mini-debrief!” Hiking up the mountain, American football, fútbol (aka: soccer), pizza, skit night, a movie, and a broken finger!
Takin' a hike!
Skit Night … retelling the crazy stories of the week!
American football > Latin American football
A broken left ring finger …
Guate x-ray = Q40
Guate ortho consult = Q200
Texas x-rays and ortho visits = hundreds of dollars
Finger immobilizer = approx. 6 weeks
Playing American Football = Priceless
#WorthIt
Headin' out!
April 14th – 16th: R&R and debriefing in La Antigua!
I had an awesome time hanging out in Antigua as a tourist and getting to know the team better. It is amazing how different it is to live in Antigua versus tour Antigua, especially when you stay in a swanky hotel instead of your low-budget missionary house!
Part of the hotel
Mountain biking with these guys for 4 hours = intense!
PACU/Recovery Room nurse team
Debrief dinner at the Santo Domingo!
P.S. Don’t get me wrong, there were numerous times throughout the week of medical missions, I told myself, “I am never doing this again. This is rough and so not worth it.” But, something in me got stirred up and awakened that week. Something was ignited. I think I am still learning how much the Lord handed me redemption in being able to walk in the shoes of a nurse again after being out of formal practice for almost a year and a half. Will I get to put them back on permanently, and what will they look like? Only time will tell.
