San Raymundo, Guatemala Update

San Raymundo

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Created on Tuesday, 23 October 2007 09:34

It's late tonight and I have finally gotten online!!! thanks to Sarah for posting today that we are alive and well indeed.

it has been an incredible week already...hard to believe it's only tuesday...the team came together the first day and they are all working together as a well oiled machine ....we have done far more surgeries each day than we have done in the past...as of tonight, we have done 30 and we still have 2 1/2 days to go..the UTT students and the FNP students have made such an important contribution to the work...

it has rained every day, and it has been wonderful at night to hear the rain on the tin roof...sometimes it even drowns out the snoring in the dorms, but not always...the weather is cool and has most of us in jackets for the better part of the day...

Two wonderful women from Wisconsin, Bonnie and Del Rose, arrived without their personal bags, but toughed it out and were so excited to receive their own toothbrushes, etc. yesterday... the big plus was that they didn't have to wear Darrell's underwear anymore...

We were joined by Kathy Roach from Virginia, by way of Santiago, Guatemala where she volunteers for six months at a time. She came to us via Aina, a nurse from Ireland...it's a really, really long story, but she has been such a wonderful addition to our group, translating for Bonnie nonstop...she has certainly learned a lot more about women's health.

Many of you may know that we were sweating getting the right anesthesia people on board, and we were blessed to have Tom Mahoney join us. He and Dolores have done a great job of putting people to sleep, but more importantly of waking them up!!! the days in surgery have been long and hard on the two of them...

Margaret Bobonich recruited 7 NP students and another facutly member,Carol Savrin. These students and faculty have been the backbone of the consult side of the clinic. One of them, Mike Ruszala has run the perioperative area and done an incredible job. Yesterday, by combining her peds skills and her knowledge as an NP student, Jennifer saved a little girl's life. Christina, Bonnie, Katie, Denise and Lavone have all done an outstanding job seeing patients as fast as they could. Margaret has taken responsibility for running the clinic and has kept things flowing smoothly. She is a Guatemala Survivor winner as far as we are concerned. He husband went to language school for a week before the clinic started...and has been working in the pharmacy and passing out medications to patients and giving them directions in Spanish....

As always Mary Ann has the lab in tip top shape. She doesn't let anything slide...every single lab result is done to the best of her ability. This trip Anna O Brien is helping...

Susan Eveland, Lila Morrow, Doris Vanoy, Becky McMahon, Lynda Andree, and Sheradan Robbins have been life saviors. This is the first trip that we've had this many nurses!!! Doris is recently retired, but turned right around and made this trip. Lynda is a nurse from Florida and she recruited her friend from Pennsylvania, Becky to come with her. Their sweet faces in the preop and post op areas have made so many of the Guatemalans comfortable. Lila had a recent fall, but she continues to work despite the pain and hasn't stopped for a minute. Sheradan found us through a hairdresser...she fits right in with everyone...and Susan? She is the sweet spirit that make the postop area work!!

The students from UTT have pitched in wherever needed...and what about those butterflies, Vicki? This is Jacque's second trip and we are hopeful that she will continue to be with us each year. Debi and Jessica have been great in every area they have worked in.

Dr. Lucas has worked and worked and worked. He has been the only OB/GYN this trip and has had lots of surgeries, but he's held up. His wife Sarah has been a wonderful addition to the pharmacy staff...

Drs. Bebensee, Eveland and Garrett work so well together...each offering to help the other whenever needed. Yesterday, a little boy came in to clinic after having a horrific motorcycle accident...they stopped everything to do his surgery...and he'll get to keep his leg, thanks to their fast and efficient work.

Michael Beydnek is on his fourth trip...he's running the sterilizer when he's not running to town...he brought his mother with him this trip...Elsa and she's worked in the pharmacy, next to her sister-in-law Georgia, who is also Mary Ann's sister. THis is no Georgia's first rodeo...she has worked in several areas...she never stops...

One of the big blessings has been Steven Rogers, Susan Evelan's nephew. Steven has spent a lot of time in Guatemala and he is an excellent interpreter...wonderful Spanish...

Ed Bebensee, Bob O'Brien and Darrell Davis had planned to put in a water well this week, but our drill didn't get to our Refuge house in time. They have worked all week on one of the local schools, getting a system in place for the kids to have clean water.

Nancy, as always, has been here, there and everywhere making sure all of the details have been taken care of. nobody knows how she keeps on top of so many things...if you need something...she knows where it is...if you need something done...she gets it done...amazing woman.

Will try and post a picture tomorrow, if i can get on line. Please know that your loved ones are doing well...no one has gotten sick and they are working so hard in service to the people of Guatemala. Thanks for letting them be here this week.