Medical Mission to Provide Surgical Expertise to Guatemalan Women

Suddenly last summer my world was rocked when I heard that the Faith in Practice (FIP) team 244 was assigned to Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Fortunately even the Guatemalans call it Reu so at least I could pronounce it. But what about Antigua, where I had served the last six years; and what about the Obras, the nurses and relationships and of course the “lemonada con soda” at the Café Condessa. I even thought how I would miss the street vendor Clara Luce.

Guatemala is divided into several (22) departments and 332 municipalities. Retalhuleu is a municipality in a district also called Retalhuleu. It is approximately 100 miles west of Antigua which in Guatemala is somewhere between three to five hours depending on traffic and the teachers’ strike that happened to be in full swing during our visit.

The more I heard about Reu, the more afraid I became. There was the problem of getting there with the potential for bandits along the way. Then there was the heat. But the question of the hospital staffing was my biggest concern. One nurse (white dress) and several aids (blue dresses). FIP was going to get several more aids to work while we were there but….

Another Gyn team had already been to Reu twice and a wonderfully dedicated nurse whose last name I do not remember but I came to know her as Jenny007 had developed a lesson plan and had been teaching the nurses post-operative care. A telephone call to Jenny was very reassuring, but I still wondered if the doctors would have to stay in the hospital over night.

As I processed and prayed about this stress, I became aware that I did not know where Antigua was on my first visit either. Then I came to a real peace that the Lord had directed me to do this mission work and had seen me through the previous six trips, I could put my trust that He would be with me on this one too. He was!

Maria Forestner, one of Team 244’s RNs and I went to Reu a day early to teach. Joe and Vera Wyatt drove us to Reu. We turned right off the highway down a dusty tortuous road with corrugated tin “homes” lining the side of a hill with rags in the glassless windows, then up a hill to the Hilario Gallindo Hospital. The hospital is a one story building with a treatment room they call and emergency room; three (two and one-half) operating rooms (retro fitted with air conditioners by FIP); 4 wards with six to ten beds each. There is a kitchen run by a couple who run a restaurant in Reu. The food was very good. The Hospital Administrator is Sergio, a very young man who apparently has worked at the hospital in one capacity or another since he was a kid.

It was hot. On the first day I met Lucky (pronounced Looky), an absolutely incredible nurse who is dedicated to her people and runs the clinical side of the hospital. She was a very active participant in the daily care of the patients and hospital. The nurses we taught were experienced three to fifteen years. They were eager to learn and gave excellent care to the patients.

On that day I also met Dr. Barrios. A wonderful Guatemalan doctor who cares for his people as if he knew Marcus Welby himself. His care and concern for each life he touched was a reminder of why I am a doctor and why I love to go to Guatemala. I was very touched by his commitment to his job and his joy in serving his people while being happy that he had food to eat and a roof over his head. I will not forget Dr. Barrios. There are two other physicians who are in the hospital for twelve hour shifts each. They care for the inpatients and man the walk-in emergencies.

My saddest experience came when I saw a patient who had a hysterectomy approximately four years ago and presented with stress incontinence. During the examination I felt a mass in the vaginal cuff. I asked if they had done the hysterectomy abdominally or vaginally as I thought maybe they left part of the cervix. Her response was that the hysterectomy was done vaginally but she was called two weeks after the surgery and was told she had some cancer in the cervix. My heart sank. I biopsied the vaginal cuff and the mass. Both were positive for invasive cancer. FIP will get her into the system for treatment but I am very concerned about her prognosis.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the place where the team stayed while not at the hospital. This is a resort built by the Guatemalan government for the Guatemalan workers to vacation. FIP is a member thus we are able to use it. The resort is about fifteen minutes from the hospital. The resort is simply magnificent. The vegetation is lush and beautiful with peacocks roaming the grounds. There are eight different buildings with rooms of varying size and luxury. There are two swimming pools, tennis courts, a full spa, full exercise facility, computers, putt-putt golf and five restaurants. Our meals there were delicious.

Once again the FIP experience was a Life Changing Experience.