Team Manhattan Recap

Operation International: Team Manhattan

Screening Day!

On our Arrival into Mpanda We were greeted by local young men who were dancing to drummers at the edge of the runway. It was amazing to see their excitement. We were then whist off to the hotel, where we are staying for an opportunity to rest after lengthy travel.

I got to see the hospital for the first time today. It is humbling in every respect. There are separate buildings for the operating area, men’s ward, women’s ward, outpatient areas, x-rays and diagnostics. There are newly laid concrete pads that were not there as recently as five months ago. Prior to that, it was dirt paths and muddy walkways that connected the buildings. To say that the facilities are limited is a gross understatement. Friends, you have no idea just how privileged you truly are.

While the doctors and residence were busy screening patients that showed up for surgery, the rest of the team was preparing the OR and patient areas for the procedures to take place. The storage room was a complete disaster, and we had to completely empty it, re-organize, and put everything back in addition to all of the, approximately 10 to 15 large suitcases of equipment and supplies that were brought with this team. It took three of us the better part of three hours just to empty and clean the supply room, and then I moved my attention into my work area while the other two finished up. 

 This is a small glimpse of one of the shelves before and it hardly does justice to the magnitude of this project:

Here is the after of just the suture organization:

The operating rooms are stark with minimal equipments or location for equipment. When we entered, there was a table and an anesthesia machine. There are two tables and two anesthesia machines in each room. This is something that is nearly unheard of in the United States. I cannot recall anytime when to operations would be occurring in the same room at the same time in the United States and that is how we will perform every single surgery that happens here. 

The PACU area is very small. There are two PACU nurses, and we have equipped our area as safely and efficiently as we know how. Patients will be on small stretcher for the duration of their stay and then will be escorted back to the hospital via an outdoor concrete path. 

I’m not certain how many patients showed up for surgery screenings, but I do know that about 60 have been selected for surgeries to take place this week. After the team finished for the day, we returned for an opportunity to enjoy each other‘s company, rest up, eat dinner, and we look forward with anxious anticipation, the start of surgeries tomorrow.

 

Tanzania day1

I linked up with two other team members in Chicago and together we arrived into Dar es Salaam in the mid afternoon and met by a former mission colleague. Great reunion! We travel to a local hotel, dropped our stuff, and proceeded into town to obtain equipment that was needed for the remainder of the mission. After all the work was done, it was time for dinner. We had a fantastic waterfront restaurant and enjoyed an opportunity to get to know one another And a little bit of downtime after almost 30 hours of travel. 

The rest of the team arrived later that night, but I was already asleep by the time they got there. I got . to meet all of them early in the morning as we headed out to Mpanda on the final leg of our journey.

Time to Fly!

 Finishing up the last bits for the Team Manhattan trip to Tanzania!  Passports, visas, and shot cards, oh my! I have around 20 hours of air time and about 40 hours of total travel time ahead of me.  I have my comfy travel clothes and I'm ready to go!

You can keep up with the team and what we are doing easily via the Operation International website and Facebook page.  I will be updating as much as I can but wifi and cellular service are not always reliable.

I covet your prayers as we move forward in an effort to care for all of God's children.  Access to care is a critical issue globally and I am honored to help to bridge the gap.

Gearing up for Tanzania!

I am thrilled to (re)announce that I was invited to be a part of Team Manhattan with Operation International!  I will be traveling in October to western Tanzania.  Posted below is the video from Team Chicago that went to this same facility.  I will be again working with Dr. Fernando Almas (featured in this video) who I also worked with on board the Global Mercy.  It is baffling to me how the same faces surface again and again.  The call to love and serve the children of the world doesn't seem to have an end point.

I am asked to do my very best to raise the funds that it requires to transport and house me while we are in country.  This link takes you to a GoFundMe where all donations are tax deductible and go directly to Operation International on my behalf.  I am approximately 20% of the way to my goal of $2500 for this trip across the globe.

I am absolutely thrilled to be able to serve the children of the world once again and earnestly covet your support.  

Asante! 

Team Chicago in Tanzania - Operation International

Team Chicago Tanzania 2024

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

Paraguay Bound!

 

Mission Trip #2!

I figured I would just use the same blog, why reinvent the wheel.  I am headed to Paraguay (with a brief stop in Brazil) in May as a member of the medical team traveling from Texas.  I am going with people that I know and care about and am thrilled to be able to care for God's children in this most amazing part of the world.

The trip is not at all free, the hospital is not covering any of our expenses to my knowledge.  If you feel led to contribute, your dollars will be put to good use.

Much love!

Cindy

Tour of the Global Mercy

Here is a very brief tour of the vessel that I have called home for the past 3 weeks and that I will be leaving entirely too soon.  

First things first, where I work.  The primary mission of the GLM is surgical care.  We have 6 operating rooms, full radiology including CT, a 4 bed PACU, 4 bed holding area, 5 nursing wards, and a low care unit for those needing a little more time before they go home.  

OR Hallway

PACU

The cabins on the GLM are significantly larger than the sister ship, Africa Mercy.  I have one cabinmate and we each have our own section of the room and we share a bathroom and small area with a mini fridge.  

My cabin is on Deck 6 which is one of the few places where you can see the entire length of the ship.  The photos doesn't do the size justice.  The ship is enormous

With 12 decks come a LOT of stairs.  

There are a few recreational areas including a the Cafe which is a common area to socialize, play games, and rest.  Outside on the upper deck is a court that can be used for basketball, pickle ball, badminton, or whatever you can think of, a play ground, a pool, and a large open area for children to ride scooters and ride on toys.  There are over 70 children on the ship so having a place for them to be children is such a wonderful inclusion.

There is also a school onboard called "The Academy"with fully qualified teachers and staff to ensure that the children accompanying their parents are being prepared for life off the ship.

The dining room serves all of the crew, families, and day crew aboard full meals several times a day.  It is also a place to gather, chat, rest, and enjoy the company of your crewmates.

The ship is a fully functioning operation with a Crew Bank, Ship Shop for incidentals and items made by local artisans to purchase, meeting rooms, chaplaincy, and even a coffee shop.  This is a photo of Deck 8 where most of those area located (many to the back of this photo)

With the constant turnover of staff, good signage is very helpful to find your way.  It is very easy to get turned around or end up somewhere you didn't intend.

The crew on board are an amazing, selfless, and devoted group of people from all over the world.  I am honored to serve beside them. (OR crew below)

Week 3

We are continuing this week with more maxillofacial and general surgeries.  Watching life trajectories change is humbling.  I got to see babies who are able to nurse for the first time as their cleft lips are repaired, huge lipomas (fatty tumor) on every surface of the body removed allowing normal clothing, sleeping, and way of life, amongst others.  Snuggling sweet little ones who are waking up frightened in a strange place with strange looking people is the best part of my day.  

Sunday night we had a Team USA get together!  Just a fun opportunity to have some snacks and connect with those who come from your same homeland. It's amazing how many Americans are on board! 

The riots in Senegal were intense with many fatalities.  The chaos started to subside and on Tuesday we were let off of the ship.  I nearly ran for the door. (I have learned I would do terribly in prison.)  After 10 days on the ship, I was ready to get off! A group headed out to Goree Island.  Senegal is in the western most portion of Africa and Dakar was one of the primary locations for the shipment of indigenous African people during the slave trade.  

We visited the House of Slaves museum where thousands of humans were trafficked to the Americas and Europe.  It is a hugely emotional experience knowing that my nation was a part of this atrocity. Below is one of the whipping posts where "troublemakers" were beaten into submission.

The door of no return.  Those who walked through this door never saw their homeland, their families, friends, or anything they had known again.

The island of Goree is a stunning place.  It is a small town with no motorized vehicles.  There is a ferry that runs multiple times daily that allows for visitors and transport of locals on and off the island.  The architecture is stunning and the flowers that seem to come from not where are covering the island.

Week 2

 My second week on board the Global Mercy has been just as rewarding as the first.  We said goodbye to 3 amazing PACU nurses and said hello to 3 new faces.  I now work in a department with 3 Americans, 2 Aussies, 1Dutchie, and 1Swisse.  Our entire surgical team spans the far reaches of the globe.  Being a part of the experience where all of these nations come together for the good of God's people is the opportunity of a lifetime.  The magnitude is not at all lost on me.

This week we did about 65 surgeries including general surgery and maxillofacial reconstruction.  Multiple cleft lip and palate, tumor removals, hernia repairs, skin grafts, wound revisions, lipoma removals, and many more.  The public ostracization of many will be at an end.  I am forever grateful to be a part of this team.

Senegal is unsettled.  A political opposition leader was sentenced on Thursday to two years in jail causing civil unrest in the country.  We have all been confined to the ship for the weekend in order to ensure our safety.  Some of our Day Crew workers have been unable to get home as a result of the riots and are being safely housed on board.  Please pray for peace in Senegal.

In the meantime, I have been enjoying some quiet time on the upper deck getting to chat with crew mates and enjoy the sunshine. 

Koulouk Mbada Immersion Trip

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.

—Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims’ Progress (1869)

This needed a post of it's own.  

Steve is one of the onboard chaplains and has formed a friendship with a tribe chief named Songo.  Together, they arranged for us to visit his village for a cultural immersion trip.  I'm still processing it all.  

34 of us were on the dock at 4:45am to begin the journey to the village.  Songo met us on the dock.  I'm not sure what I expected when I met him for the first time but Songo is a delightful gentleman who wears polos and trousers just like anyone else.  I was expecting something more tribal and elaborate and was stunned to see him.  After the 3.5 hour bus ride, we arrived to the village of Koulouk Mbada.  We met the village elders, mayor, and Prefect.  The mayor is a woman who wore the most beautiful purple dress (I'm not sure what the local name for it is).  All of the men stood when she arrived which is a cultural norm that I did not expect.  Her position is highly respected.

We were divided into groups and sent off with our hosts to meet our families.  I'm quite certain this was the first time that most of the children had ever seen a light skinned person.  They were so inquisitive and just stared at us incessantly.  Bambi, Ayson, and I shared a room in the home were we were provided with all of our meals and a safe place to sleep.

It was hot.  Incredibly hot.  According to some weather sites, it was about 106 F, but it felt much hotter than that.  The sun is relentless.  Mornings are an industrious time while it is still cool and most everything stops about 11:30-12 until later in the evening/afternoon.  

The families were warm and welcoming.  We had a translator with us who helped as much as he could with the language barrier.  They speak a language called Serer which is a very new language to me as it did not seem similar to any of the other languages I have been introduced to.  It was very difficult to learn and pronounce.  We did our best and there was a LOT of charades.  LOL

We were taken to the local mosque.  We were not allowed to enter as we, aside from not being Muslim, had not done our absolution to become clean.  Women are allowed in the back rows if there is room, otherwise they remain outside.  Men wear simple patterns and there are no objects, paintings, or other distractions in the room.  The object is to remain in constant prayer and meditation with only God on your mind.  Any item or design that could distract you is removed. 

The clinic is about 2km away and consists of 3 rooms. The one pictured is the room where women give birth.  It is nothing more than a simple palate bed with a mosquito net over it.  There are no medications, resuscitation equipment, and only very limited supplies (her box consisted of a scalpel, umbilical cord clamps, and a surgical mask).  The midwife of 30 years was there.  She delivers between 25-30 babies here every month and our fast math added up to 9000 deliveries.  She told us that 2-3 per month experience complications that require going to another hospital but she did not elaborate. 

There is an elementary school nearby but all of the high school children walk 7km each way to school daily.  There is currently fundraising opportunities to help with the school.  The perimeter wall alone is a cost of over $50,000.  There is an agreement with the government that if the villagers provide 2 of the 12 proposed rooms and the bathroom, that the Senegalese government will step in to provide the remainder of the school.  If you are interested in donating to this cause, I will gladly put you in touch with Chaplain Steve.

My life is forever changed.