Hello from the end of our final clinic day!
It was another whirlwind of activity as we ushered in a new group of patients, then closed up the clinics for the final time this week. We jumped right in after arriving close to 8am. Patients were already lined up outside and mobility patients were transferred to wheelchairs before visiting the clinic and receiving ones with the proper fit.
As much as the patients themselves touch our hearts, we are often moved by the people that accompany them and take care of them, sometimes shouldering the burden of carrying their child around into adulthood, or maintaining a medicine routine for an elderly family member. I once walked into the dermatology clinic, and Dr. Jamael Thomas was busy removing some potentially cancerous spots from an old woman’s face. She was accompanied by her granddaughter, who helped Jamael by holding his flashlight (necessary in the darkness of a rainy afternoon and of a room with no lighting). She also stroked her grandmother’s arm and told her “abuelita” that she was doing a great job during the procedure. We all celebrated when Jamael was finished.
Another abuelita came with her daughter. She was 89 years old and unfortunately in very poor shape. Besides being unable to walk, she had fallen and broken her arm and hand. We sent her home in a new wheelchair, with her arm in a sling, but the situation was certainly heavy for her daughter. Pastor Andy said a prayer with the family and I made a polaroid photograph of the mother and daughter together—something I wish I could do for every patient, but don’t have the resources for.
I made another polaroid today that brightened my spirits. My new friend from yesterday, Anyely, returned with her family to bring the last sibling, unable to attend yesterday, to the pediatric clinic. On their way out, Anyely brought me a small bunch of bananas as a gift. I was extremely touched and decided to return the gesture by giving her a polaroid photo of herself at the clinic. I am so glad to know we can stay in touch because she added me as a friend on her mother’s Facebook page.
As some clinics began to run out of patients in the afternoon, team members with free time began packing up the trunks and transporting supplies no longer needed to the truck returning to Antigua. Once they reach FIP headquarters, they will be carefully inventoried by an FIP staff member and refilled for a future team. Because this is the last clinic day, any loose ends with the patients must be tied up before we depart, as there is no chance to “come back tomorrow.” The FIP staff thus have to figure out how to proceed with any challenging cases that come their way, such as a man who came as a patient himself but told us that his wife is at home and very ill with advanced cancer. He was not able to bring her to our clinics, but after some complicated calculations and discussions, the staff was able to send him home with a wheelchair that should fit her body and help them to travel for future medical care. This woman’s prognosis is grave, but we hope that this small gesture will bring the family a bit of comfort.
At the end of the clinic day, we closed with a prayer and shared what we were thankful for this week as a group. Some responses included the essential help of the local volunteers, and the friendliness and graciousness of the patients. Another thing to be thankful for was the school that served as our clinic site. For two days, the school had to shut down and empty out the furniture from many of the rooms to accommodate the crowd of doctors, patients, and volunteers. Fortunately, we had the chance to thank the school principal himself, who was present and shared his own word of thanks to us for serving the people of his community.
The final day also gives us a chance to reflect on the week and perhaps previous experiences with FIP or other mission work. Cindy Pekow, on her 17th trip with Team Johnson, said that this year was quite different for her because the usual team members she serves with in the pharmacy (shout out to “The Pharmettes”!) were not present this time. But as much as she missed them, she really enjoyed working with a new team, including Joanie Martin, an FIP staff member, a Guatemalan interpreter, and led by the pharmacist Heather Schmocker. Joanie and Heather had both served with FIP a couple times before, but not on this exact team. We are all hoping that they will join Team Johnson I as regulars!
I also spoke with a few first-time participants about their experiences, and they shared the following:
Dr. Dash was struck by the energy and charisma shown by the FIP staff and the veteran volunteers; he said it seems like their first time even though they have come many times.
Interpreter Helena said it was a huge gift to be able to be here. Not only did she join us all the way from Spain, where she currently lives, but each FIP participant must pay a trip fee to cover their food, lodging, and transportation, as well as the medications and supplies given to patients. To help with these costs, the organization gave her a scholarship. Helena also shared that she was grateful for the new experiences she had as a current medical student. It just so happened that she had the opportunity to work with doctors she had not yet rotated with, so she got to dip her toe in the specialities she had not yet tried, including pediatrics and gynecology. Her favorite patient she met was a little girl she got to hold during her mom’s ultrasound; she was extremely loving and sweet and she will stay in Helena’s memory.
Another interpreter and medical student, Seth, was struck by how willing all the the doctors were to teach and make sure he understood the patient’s ailments and and medical needs. He told me that they would help explain things he was seeing that were new to him. Overall, he said, the experience confirmed that he is pursuing the right career.
Dr. Mason Hui worked in the gynecology clinic. He saysHe was grateful that everyone on the team was so welcoming. He also appreciated the opportunity to serve here in Guatemala. He found it extremely rewarding. We hope that each of these team-members will have the chance to return!
Tomorrow, we will return to Antigua for our final full day in Guatemala, then we will all fly back to the United States on Saturday. Check back for one last blog post tomorrow that shares some of the patent totals for this week.
Gracias for reading,
Josie
To support this team and their commitment to our patients visit https://donate.faithinpractice.org/team/373443
