Day 3: Tuesday

Hi friends! Before I forget, I wanted to add to yesterdays blog that Noreen had the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Rocha seeing patients who come in for wound care. She very much enjoyed the work, side by side with the doctor, and the doctor was able to see many patients very quickly with the extra help. Yesterday was the first surgical day and it was a great success. They were able to do the six scheduled surgeries, mostly bunions and toe deformities, with minimal challenges. The challenges they encountered, they were able to overcome with ingenuity and the tools they had at hand. Our surgeons, our awesome surgical tech, our pre and post op nurse and all of our surgical support staff are an amazing team! We are so touched by the patients who wait a very long time, have incredible pain tolerance and are willing to take a chance and put faith in people they don't know to fix something which hopefully will change their lives. Our doctors give them more than a fixed foot, they are giving them hope, which is so very obvious in the smiles and thank you's and hugs we all receive in return. I think I can say for the team, we receive many more blessings than we give when we are here. Mark N. again, saw several women for breast ultrasounds and did some biopsies and likely identified at least one cancer, if not more. He was such a trooper as he gave up the larger, more comfortable room to the pre/post op patients and staff and did his ultrasounds, training, biopsies, etc. in a very tiny closed room with up to 6 people in the room. He was able to occasionally come out for air, a little food and water. Our last surgical patient didn't leave until after 7pm, and we decided to stop at our favorite Italian restaurant for pizza before coming home to the hotel. It was a great time to decompress and spend time together as a team. Mark and Judy and Garrett had the opportunity to visit our good friends Dr. Molina and her family at their home, then try out a new restaurant. A bit of a debrief and organization for the next surgery day, then off to a good night's sleep. Keep in touch! peace.

Day 2: Monday

Our first day at the clinic was busy and interesting. We were thankful we had taken the time to set things up and do so much work on Sunday afternoon. Derek continued to improve upon his systems to organize and sterilize the surgical instruments. We walked to the little market down the street and picked up some things to help with that. The check in process went well and Mark and Brad were able to screen around 25 patients and line them up for procedures today and tomorrow. Mark N. had a very long and productive day, screening around 14 women who were referred for breast ultrasounds and possible biopsies, as well as training several physicians with the work. I was able to help with most areas of the clinic work, interpreting, helping to fill out forms, etc. I also was finally able to work along side the clinic social worker most of the day which was quite busy and interesting. We jumped between filling out patient forms, checking them into the clinic, even dispensing medications from the pharmacy and giving instructions to the patient about when and how to take them. Rosibel called herself multi-useful and I laughed and said we social workers are certainly multi-useful. All in all a great day. The team set up processes for patient procedures which of course can change at any moment as we put them into place. So, off we go. Keep in touch! Peace, Irene

Day 1

Yesterday was Sunday and our first full day in Nicaragua. We were joined at breakfast by our awesome Nicaraguan friends and interpreters; Marcos, Frank and Orling. It is always such a delight to see them again! After getting our rental vehicles and having several conversations regarding the missing suitcase, we decided to trust that American Airlines would get it to us in Matagalpa as they promised they would. We knew it was on the plane. We split the group at that point and those who had not been to Selva Negra, or wanted to go again, went with Marcos to hike the rain forest and enjoy the beauty there. The rest of us went to a wonderful woman's home-Rosa-who has a community library and children's program which she runs out of her home. It is a beautiful example of how one person can make such a difference in the lives of the children in their community. Rosa has about 400 children signed up for her program! Every Friday the children can come to the library, select two books and exchange them for the two they checked out the week before. She also provides homework help for the kids as well as interactive games and activities. We have so many ideas about how to help another community we are working with, hopefully Santa Celia , replicate a similar model. We joined together again late afternoon to unload all of the medical supplies at the clinic and organize for the day today, which will be a huge help to us. There was a town festival and parade going on which presented a few interesting challenges to getting around the city. Our friends who went to Selva Negra have some quite interesting stories to share about their experiences. And, best of all, Mark's suitcase showed up!  We had a nice evening at the hotel, dinner and sharing time. Off we go to the clinic!! Irene

Back in Nica!

We made it here all safe and sound last night. Minimal delays in La Crosse and Chicago and all flights went very well. We had a few challenges when we arrived. There was a bit of a delay in customs when some of our suitcases were opened and inspected and medical supplies questioned. Once Sheila filled out another customs form they were satisfied and let all of our suitcases through. Unfortunately, we were short one. One of Mark and Judy's didn't make it here. Upon investigation, it appears that it was last seen in  Miami. Unfortunately, it is the suitcase that contains all of the equipment needed for Mark to do his breast biopsy work at the clinic this week as well as some of our antibiotics.  We've been told we can check at the airport this morning at 9:30 to see if it is on the next plane here, scheduled to arrive at 12:30. Once we know that, we will make a game plan. As always, best laid plans and all of that.....
We have several things on our agenda today, all of course are subject to change at any moment. We hope to visit a community library as we are hoping to assist the communities we work with to develop libraries in their communities. We hope to possibly have those with us who have not yet visited Selva Negra, to do so. We also hope to get to the clinic today and get all set up for tomorrow's work. Oh, and of course travel to Matagalpa, get settled into San Thomas, get to the grocery store for supplies, etc. Looks to be a great day with an awesome team! Keep checking in and feel free to send us some love and messages from home! Peace.
Irene