Next Stop...

 

Coming Fall 2024.  Stay tuned!

Horqueta, Paraguay April 2024

 

If you take nothing else from my stories, please know that if you are reading this you fully embrace the very real truth that we are so incredibly fortunate.

Our team departed DFW on a 10 hour flight to Sao Paolo, Brazil.  Sadly, our flight had mechanical issues prior to take off and we were delayed causing us to be waylaid in Brazil for a day.  This caused our already limited 4-day clinic to be shortened to only 3 days.  

As my mind wanders, my thoughts dwell on the tertiary events of our jobs and interactions.  It astounds and baffles me sometimes.  I have no idea what it is that caused the delay with the aircraft however I can't help but wonder if it was due to someone's laziness or negligence.  I wonder if those involved will ever understand the far reaching consequences of this situation; people who have next to nothing had their nearly non-existent medical care taken from them.  Not everyone travels for holiday or business.  Often those crafts carry precious cargo in the form of resources that we take for granted on a daily basis.  

We landed in Asuncion, Paraguay and saw a brief tour of the city as well as our partner hospital.  We then embarked on a 7 hour bus journey to Horqueta arriving late at night and up early the next morning for our first day of clinic. 

General Treatment Area

Upon our arrival to our clinic site we were met with an open air, covered soccer stadium.  Tables and chairs were set up and we made due with the environment and supplies we had.  

Clinics provided included Family Practice/Internal Medicine, Cariology, Urology, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.  We had supplies for basic wound care and limited medications provided by our Paraguayan sister facility. 

I had the privilege of being teamed with a gifted OB/GYN and together we saw approximately 100 women.  We saw untreated sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, pregnancy, postpartum, fertility, menopause, polycystic ovaries, genetic disorders, and an array of conditions in between in addition to well woman exams and general wellness checks.  

GYN Exam Room

Pictured above is the side room of the stadium that Dr. April and I made into a make shift exam room.  It was about 95 degrees F everyday with no air conditioning and no fans.  This room was stifling by midday.  We kept it as clean as we could.  We did cervical vinegar washings as a make shift colposcopy and ultrasounds on anyone who could potentially benefit.  Each woman got 100% of our attention and faces of gratitude will never be lost on me.  

After talking to our host, I learned that most of the patients that we saw came from 100-150km (60-90mi) away.  I recall one woman in particular who traveled 10 hours to get an EKG and collapsed in tears when she believe that this wasn't something we could accommodate.  The sheer joy that erupted from her as she was escorted to the EKG room was enough to make this entire trip worth it. 

Dr. April, Tamara (Paraguayan ED Nurse), Me

In 3 days our team saw 792 patients.  We weighed babies, cared for the elderly, educated, and loved on the people of Paraguay.  We gave out toothbrushes, toothpaste, soccer balls, and lots of hugs.

Me & Dr. April - We were a great team!

This sweet one ran up to me and grabbed ahold of my legs in the biggest hug!

This woman insisted on photos and came to the clinic everyday!  When I told her we had come from Texas to care for her, she cried. 

Our International Care Team