If you asked me to describe this week in one word, I would say “beautiful.” Every moment of this trip was full of beauty, and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to join this team.
In the hospital, I saw beauty in the work of our surgeons, the knowledge and experience of our scrub techs, the joy and passion of our post-anesthesia care unit nurses, the care of the pharmacist, anesthesiologists, and CRNAs, the thankfulness displayed by our patients’ faces, and the helpfulness of the Obras staff.
Our surgery team consists of Dr. Sean Boutros, Dr. Michael Duncan, Dr. Joseph Cochran, Dr. Matthew Weiner, and Dr. Sam Amukele, and our scrub techs Destiny, Denise, and Andrea. On this trip, Dr. Boutros performed reconstructive plastic surgery with some extremely complex cases, like the eight-hour ameloblastoma that involves a skin and bone graph to remove a section of the jaw that has a tumor growing inside. Dr. Cochran has done several laminectomies and removed a neuroma, both types of procedures removing pressure on nerves that can cause pain. It was terrific seeing the immense relief on the faces of his patients when we did morning rounds. Dr. Weiner’s cases consist mostly of removing gallbladders and repairing hernias, and he has taught me a lot. Dr. Amukele has performed a variety of procedures, but mostly prostate resections. When I spoke to one of his patients before surgery, he said that he has to get up about once an hour at night to urinate, so I can only imagine how much Dr. Amukele’s work will help him.
All of our scrub techs were so excellent at their roles and helped the surgeons to do the amazing things they did. They were also all gracious enough to share their knowledge and even helped me to scrub in a few times.
Our PACU team is full of some of the nicest people that I have ever met. Above their skill and experience, George, Jasmin, Suzette, Lewin, and Bob all brought joy to the PACU which I’m sure was so important for the patients’ recoveries.
You can tell that every member of the anesthesia team is dedicated to their work, and that dedication translates to a dedication to the well-being of the patient. Ron, our pharmacist, was one of the first to be in the hospital setting up, and every day he stayed until the last surgery was complete. In addition to doing their jobs fantastically, all of the anesthetists were eager to share what they knew, and I learned a lot.
Finally, the staff at the hospital were such amazing hosts and helped make all of this possible, following up with many of the patients and helping them in their recovery.
There was also beauty all around us in Antigua. As I mentioned in the blog for Saturday and Sunday, the Guatemalans had a beautiful strength and sense of community. The city itself was also very interesting. On the way to the hospital from the hotel, we were able to see two older churches with beautiful architecture and a square where many vendors, patients, and people would gather. The residential and commercial buildings were also very interesting. None of the architecture was complex, but every open door opened into a courtyard that could be anything.
To wrap up this week, we had some free time to explore Antigua. I went with a group to Finca Pilar, which offered a hike up one of the mountains around Antigua that allowed us to see a lot of native vegetation, like banana trees, giant palm plants, and large aloe plants, and ended at a mirador, or lookout, that gave us a great view of the city and the nearby mountains. It was the type of view that makes chaos seem purposeful: every wild, overgrown tree and bush painted by God’s paintbrush, growing on mountains and hills shaped by His hand, all coming together to create a view of which photographs were disappointing.
It is no exaggeration to say that I enjoyed every second of this trip. I hope that Whitney, our photographer, and I have been able to share some of that beauty with you. I know that this team has made such a difference in the lives of all of the patients we were able to help, and I know that we are all coming home changed in some way as well. Our changes will not be physical, however. I hope we come home with changed perspectives, an eagerness to find gratitude, and a renewed servant’s heart. To the rest of the team, I hope to see you all next year.
Travis Toth
