Our time at HHG comes to an end and as we look back, we see that we did some good things. The Mobility Clinic saw 108 patients. We constructed and gave away 88 wheelchairs, 14 walkers and 6 pair of crutches. We saw 96 patients in the Audiology Clinic. Some of those patients left with hearing aides and some left with referrals for further testing. Several patients were beyond our ability to help but we prayed and cried with them. Our Surgical Team performed and recovered 27 patients from surgery.
We made new friends in Guatemala as we worked alongside hospital staff at HHG, interpreters, and other support persons from FIP. We want to send a special shout out to Fito and Lydia who made everything we did easier. The shared experiences of this week drew us closer and made the time spent in Guatemala richer.
The other thing we shared this week was a stomach virus. I’ll spare you the details, but it was nasty. We had 17 of 25 team members experience symptoms of some sort. We started 5 IVs and hung 12 bags of IV fluid. We drank uncounted bottles of Pepto Bismol. As I write this, we are on the bus back to Antigua and a team member is in the back with an IV hanging from the luggage rack above her head. Shout out to Dr. Joe, our team doctor.
In an earlier blog I expressed my pride in this team but my appreciation for them has grown exponentially. Someone used the word tenacious and that’s what we are. During all I described above this team stepped up and did the job. They took care of each other and the patients. This has been the most difficult and uplifting week I’ve experienced in my 25 trips to Guatemala. I would come again with these people in a heartbeat but maybe I’d suggest we leave the stomach bug at home.
-Kathy Cameron
To continue supporting this team visit: https://donate.faithinpractice.org/team/455489
