Our first medical mission was not like anything I could have imagined or prepared for. I started the day teamed with another amazing nurse, Fresia, and together we triaged and took vital signs of a mass of people. We triaged over 600 people today, some of them extremely ill. Fresia and I had sweat pouring off our bodies all morning, and we did not stop triaging for about 6 hours, taking manual vital signs and trying to communicate with people who dont all speak our language. After we finished triage, I learned how to suture and began doing circumcisions. I ended up doing 3 independently and will do a lot more at the next mission in Bohol. We circumcised 300 8yr old boys today, which is a very big deal for them in this culture. I shook through the first one because I was so nervous and felt absolutely terrible for the poor child, but by the 3rd I was comfortable with it. Most of these boys just lay still and suck on lollipops, and dont even flinch. They are extremely brave and very tough. Of course we used sub-q lidocaine but I would certainly not be so tough. The circumcision station was very hot and crowded with people, I had sweat dripping down my nose and my back ached like crazy by the end of it. When we were finished, I stepped outside and was surrounded by about 30 little children with a hundred questions each. They were all very curious about the white lady with blue eyes... Not something they see every day. I had an amazing time hanging out with and learning about them :) the children here are so uninhibited and happy and content, despite the atrocious conditions in which most of them live. This has been amazing and very eye opening, deeply sad in many ways but also very fulfilling and inspiring. I am really looking forward to our next mission next week and will plan to do a trip like this yearly.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 19:29:43 +0000
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