Dog Update

The veterinarian team in August was able to do surgery on "Tumor Dog/Judy" to remove the mammary tumors and also spay her. Katie returned from Guatemala over two weeks ago and at that time the dog was a new animal, recovering very well, walking all over the neighborhood, alert and the best she had ever seen her. She was not bothering her stitches and seemed to be healing fine. Muscle Dog disappeared sometime in July, He truly was her guardian angel for the time she needed him the most. Thank you to Dr. Ron who taught us all about the care and treatment of animals. The people of Los Robles and Godinez were so happy to have him visit their small farms and answer their questions in addition to the surgeries done at the clinic.

Guatemala guest blog post "Tumor Dog" by Michael Rhodes

In Guatemala dogs have a hard life; one that is often nasty, brutish, and short. Two dogs that caught our attention we lovingly named 'Muscle Dog' and 'Tumor Dog.' We came across Tumor Dog soon after our Saturday arrival. She is a weak 20lb mutt made even more pathetic with three large lower abdominal tumors which nearly double her weight. Her life is perilous out here in the Guatemalan highlands where a 'dog eat dog' world rings true.

However, Tumor Dog found her salvation in Muscle Dog who appeared Monday near the clinic. From that time on the two pooches were inseparable, like two peas in a pod. Muscle Dog chased away other dogs from the property and frequently directly fought them. We witnessed Muscle Dog allow Tumor Dog to eat two pieces of chicken bone while Muscle Dog had none. It is easy to see how Tumor Dog benefited in this scenario but we were perplexed at the motivation of Muscle Dog. He seemingly benefited none, offering what one could consider true altruism in his spirited defense of helpless Tumor Dog. From our perspective he gained only a silent companion in these dark and stormy nights along these unforgiving mountains.

Muscle Dog's actions appeared quite admirable. He even stuck by his sickly companion after Muscle Dog suffered a serious injury to his hind paw in a fight resulting in a limp. However admirable his loyalty though, Muscle Dog is no saint. To be honest he is a bully to every other dog in the area chasing out both threatening dogs or more peaceful dogs. Like life and like humans Muscle Dog is complicated; possessing traits that seemingly contradict each other.

We do not know where the story ends for the two of them. With Muscle Dog's injury both are vulnerable to attacks at night and Tumor Dog is incapable of offering any assistance. Our nights are filled with the loud fights of barking dogs and every morning I awaken I wonder if both died violently in the night so we do not know where the story ends for the two of them. Maybe Muscle Dog successfully protects Tumor Dog until she passes from her cancer leaving Muscle Dog alone to seek his own way. Or maybe one day Muscle Dog up and leaves Tumor Dog with as little explanation for his departure as he gave for his arrival.  I suppose I'm rooting for the Hollywood ending but you never know. People come and go in our lives in this world, some leave a mark and some you would like to stay but in reality you never know. The people I met on this trip have left a mark, as have the beautiful patients we did our best to help in a small way. Guatemala is a beautiful country with amazing people. The root of poverty here, like life and like Muscle Dog, is complicated. I hope to return, with the same group if possible, and I hope to see some of the same patients we cared for this time around. And while I'm here I'll be sure to keep a look out for our two memorable pooches. Muscle Dog and Tumor Dog.

Guatemala day 7

Last day of clinics! 

Today we all got to travel together to San Lucas, a town of roughly 8,000 people, our biggest so far. With having our teams combined we were able to see roughly 105 patients our personal record for the trip. Our clinic today was set up at the local LDS church which was by far the nicest place we have had so far. The bathrooms especially were a sight for sore eyes, looking just like the ones back home, minus being able to flush the toilet paper. That's right no flushing toilet paper here in Guatemala, instead you are provided with a handy little bin. Another plus of this site was having wifi! I'd be lying if I said a few of us didn't sneak online for a few minutes to see what was going on in the world.   Apparently some big legislative changes occurred while we were gone.  It was also our pharmacist Peter's birthday today. Feliz Cumpleanos anos Peter! So we grabbed a chocolate silk cake from the local shop to celebrate his 29th birthday. Wrapping up our day we headed back to the vans and called it a night. Tomorrow we get to travel to Lake Atitlan and do some sight seeing. It's been an exciting week! 

Guatemala day 6

We woke up bright and early, well some of us that is. Blaise and Peter had a little trouble getting up this morning. Most of us were feeling much better from the night before. We ate a quick breakfast and packed up for our clinics.

Team 1(El Naranjo) 
Brynn
Aislinn
Kendall
Skylar
Tyler
Blaise
Cade
Matt

Our travel clinic headed out to El Naranjo, tucked away in the hills. We set up quickly and started seeing patients being careful to avoid the wasps nest that was residing in our registration area as Skylar is unfortunately allergic. While the line never seemed to get to long we had a busy day seeing 73 patients. I'm always impressed seeing some of our older patients and how mobile an healthy they still look for their age.  It's always fun to see an 80 year old walking in from registration having no idea of how long they walked just to get to the clinic.


Team 2(Los Robles) 
Michael
Katie
Cari
Jon
Eric
Ruth

The home clinic had a relatively mellow last day.  Cari was excited to take her turn nursing as she has spent most of her time this week helping with the pharmacy.  The clinic saw a lot of the adults that work at the orphanage as well as the kids that stay there. It was nice to be able to give back even just a little as they have been very generous and kind during our stay here.

Wrap Up 

We gathered at the end of the night to share memories and talk about our trip so far.   All of us have been struck by the vast difference between our cultures and how much more we wish we could do for the people here.  They have been so grateful even for the smallest things and resilient in the face of trials that most of us in the United States would not be able to handle.

Guatemala Day 5

It's hard to believe we're already half way through our clinics.  Everyone still seems to be in good spirits despite the occasional ailments.

TEAM 1 (Pacaman)

Michael
Aislinn
Blaise
Jon
Eric
Peter
Ruth
Tyler
Matt

Despite Jon almost losing a nipple to a window on our car ride up(don't ask) we arrived safely in Pacaman and were welcomed to a beautiful view of lake Atitlan.  Word had spread slowly here and we were able to take a little time to enjoy the view before our patients began to arrive.  It was a smaller community and our team's overall numbers reflected this, considering we treated roughly 34 patients for the day.  The kids swarmed us during the afternoon and kept any of us with free time busy.  Tyler especially was a favorite of the kids.  They climbed all over him any chance they got and loved to be swung around.  It was a little heartbreaking seeing the malnutrition in some of the children and knowing there is really only so much we can do to help them.

Team 2 (Los Robles)

Brynn
Katie
Skylar
Kendall
Cari
Cade

The clinic in Los Robles had patients lined up early in the morning but those numbers trickled as the day went by.  One of the benefits of having a clinic at the same site for multiple days is that if patients have problems they can always come back.  Our doctor was able to see a baby who had come in early in the week and follow up with the family to be sure she was doing okay.  The afternoon was a little slower and they were able to pack up vitamins before their day ended.  After closing up, the team headed into town and was able to enjoy the local festival of San Juan.  Cari became a celebrity when she got pulled out to dance with the locals(video to be posted later).

Wrap up

As we reached the end of our first 3 days some of us are a little worse for the wear.  Hopefully a good nights sleep is all we need in order to set our bodies right so we can tackle the next day.

Guatemala day 4

We started our second day much the same as the first with our travel clinic loading up supplies to head out to Chipop while I stayed behind with our local team to work at our clinic in the orphanage.

Team 1 (Los Robles)

Michael
Kendall
Blaise
Katie
Blaise

This time we had patients waiting in line at the beginning of the day that steadily trickled through.  One of our first patients was an older gentlemen that told us he was hard of hearing.  It was fun listening to our Doctor explain loudly through the thin clinic walls as we registered our other patients to find that the gentleman mostly spoke the local Mayan language as well making it even more difficult to explain.  Speaking of our doctor Blaise and myself were constantly on the lookout for stray dogs to see if we could find the dog that had bitten our Doctor early and be sure it was not showing signs of Rabies.

The locals seemed to thoroughly enjoy visiting the clinic, many of them seem to use it as a social event to chat with their neighbors.  Some like to come frequently and are sometimes referred to as our clinic groupies.  With the slower day we were able to spend time blowing bubbles with the kids although they were very sad to learn they could not take the bubbles home with them.

Team 2 (Chipop)

Brynn
Cari
Jon
Aislinn
Skylar
Ruth
Kade
Tyler
Peter
Eric

The travel clinic had the busiest day seeing roughly 65 patients in Chipop.  They had to take a short trek down a narrow trail to even arrive at their site which was tucked away on the hillside.  Almost all the patients they saw were women and children although a couple of wives went back home to grab their husbands back to the clinic so they could be treated.  Patients were provided with a variety of different treatments.  One girl had not been able to hear out of one of her ears for roughly a year and the doctor was able to clean the ear wax out and help her be able to hear again.  Amazing how something so simple that we take for granted here in the United States can have such a profound impact on someone's life here.

Wrap up

 The people here have been very welcoming to us and it has been a pleasure being able to serve them in their community.  Our 2 teams were able to see over a combined 100 patients today which was a new milestone for us.

Guatemala Day 3

We started the clinics early splitting into two teams.  One team staying at the orphanage while the rest of us traveled to Nueva Esperanza to set up a travel clinic.

Team 1(Nueva Esperanza)
Michael
Blaise
Skylar
Matt
Cari
Kendall
Katie
Eric

My team arrived at the local school in Nueva Esperanza and families gathered quickly once they saw we had arrived.  We broke into four different groups including registration, nursing, practitioner and pharmacy.  Many of the people here speak one of the mayan languages which required us to use multiple interpreters making some of the conversations a bit like playing telephone.

 After a bit of a rough start we worked out our routine, learning the essential phrases and started bringing in patients.  We worked as quickly as we could through the long line that had formed, seeing many different types of patients includintg ones with parasites, gastrointestinal problems, pelvic inflammatory disease, among many others.  In total our travel clinic saw roughly 60 patients and ended later than anticipated due to the high demand.

Team 2) Los Robles
Aislinn
Tyler
Ruth
Peter
Brynn
Jon
Cade

The home clinic in Los Robles faced different obstacles, word about the clinic had spread slower and the team received few patients in the morning with most coming in the afternoon.  Team members were able to use their free time to help count and sort medications as well as learn from each other.  Our interpreter Tyler was able to spend time in the pharmacy and learn about different medications in order to  better help as the day got busier.  The local clinic ended up running late and was still operating at when the team members from the travel clinic returned.

Wrap up
We gathered up at the end of the night for our team meeting and debriefing with some of us sneaking in a quick game of Uno beforehand.  Finishing our evening we talked about our days and went to prepare for the next day before a well deserved sleep.

Guatemala day 2

It's always difficult to live the moment when you know something big is on the way. We spent the morning visiting the city of San Andreas attending church and grabbing chocolate bananas(there's always money in the banana stand) but in the back of everyone's mind was the upcoming clinics we would be running the next day.

After driving past a breathtaking view of Lake Atitlan we returned to the orphanage and began our preparations. Spending the rest of the day practicing using interpreters, dividing supplies for the two clinics and going  over the work flows.

Aside from nearly losing one of our doctors to a falling tree, we made it through the day unscathed and although preparation can only get you so far we feel ready to begin our true work here in Guatemala.

Guatemala Day 1

The day had finally arrived. As we gathered together early in the morning at the airport we ran into our first hurdle, delayed flights. With one of our crew members flights delayed until noon we were forced to split into two groups with the latter waiting for our nearly stranded comrade. The first of us braved the 3 hour drive narrowly avoiding death(slight exaggeration) to be welcomed to Casa De Sion with a warm meal.

After taking some time to gather ourselves we began the task of unpacking and organizing our medical supplies, we seperated creams, pills, bandages and adult diapers(which we may end up using ourselves if we are faced with the dreaded traveler's diarrhea). Completing this we left to explore the area, stopping periodically so Michael could pet local dogs, and visit the local tienda for the necessary supplies of cookies while the other team members arrived to unpack their supplies.

Arriving back at the orphanage we were able to have time before another delicious meal and our team meeting. With one day down we can only hope the other days go so smoothly as we prepare for the start of our clinic.

Day 2: (Part 2) First Clinic

Day 2: (Part 2) First Clinic Experience

First day of clinics had arrived. We spent the evening prior making certain all of our medications, supplies, and donations were packed and ready to go. Everyone was eager to see what the first day had in store for us.

Description: Our first clinic was set up inside of a local church. We had expected to see anywhere from 70 to 125 individuals that day. Instead, over 400 people showed up to see us. With limited staff and supplies, emotions were high as we tried to provide our best care to the Haitian natives.

Team 2

• Melanie
• Aaron
• Jess
• Aislinn
• Katie
• Laura
• Whitney
• Tyler

Reflection: We were able to see a total of 70 individuals that day. The staff worked diligently and managed to stay calm and collected through out the entire day. As the day went on, the crowd grew and the supplies began to run low. Unfortunately, we had to make the decision to shut down the clinic earlier than we had planned. Even though we are here to help provide care, we first and foremost put our team's safety first. Overall we had a successful day and were able to provide care for 70 individuals who were in need.

* Due to the circumstances, the team was unable to take very many pictures for this clinic.

Day 2: First Clinic and Orphanage Visit (Part One)

Yesterday marked our first day of clinics and visits to the orphanages. We split up into two teams, half of us went to the Orphanage, while the others set up our first clinic.

Orphanage:Missionaries of the Poor

Description: Orphanage for children and young adults with congenital birth defects, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, HIV, epilepsy, and malnutrition. These children were abandoned with no where to go after the earthquake. This is when Missionaries of the Poor was established. 

Team 1

• Lindsey 
• Patrick
• Jordan
• Jake
• Cassie
• Cheryl

Reflection: We spent the day visiting an orphanage that consisted of over 80 abandoned children. These children were not only abandoned by their parents but also disenfranchised from society due to their severely debilitating physical status's.  I think it's safe to say it was a day full of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Seeing so many children in such need was both heart wrenching and inconceivable. There were beds and cribs filled with children and young adults that couldn't move on their own, yet they'd smile so big when you played with them. They loved to be held and touched. The caregivers are incredible. None of the children had bedsores, however the residents extensive needs can hardly be met due to staffing insufficiency. The quality time and love the children crave may not always be received. 

The caregivers bathe the orphans three times a day to keep them, and their environment clean. The bathing process is thorough and time consuming! We had the opportunity to help feed, bathe, love and play with the orphans. It was fun to see their faces light up as we gave the candy, toys, and cars that so many graciously donated! The children played with them for hours. Those bed ridden with limited mobility were able to play with their new toys, in bed, continuously with a smile.

Later our health practitioners assessed those children with acute health concerns. Overall they were pleasantly surprised by the number of children who demonstrated great health condition, in spite of their limited staff and regional recourses. Their exemplar physical status's were the result of preventative measures in regards to skin breakdown and sanitation. The part that made it the highest of highs was feeling the grace and love for and from the individual caregivers. We laughed and cried with the sweet residence and their caregivers both! We arrived with the intent to bless these kids, and they blessed us in return. We saw so many smiles from people that have been bed ridden for years! It really gave us a different perspective with a lasting impression. 

Here are some images from our day spent with these amazing individuals!