So in March, I spent the most time away from my casita, I painted murals, was given medical clearance to finalize my service and I started to decide what I really want to be when I grow up.
Each year, many American medical professionals go to the DR to do weeklong medical missions for underserved rural populations. For many of the Dominicans, it is the only time they see a doctor in their lives, or at the very least in a year. For others, it is just a routine check up from the hands of God. Many of the doctors and nurses that participate are among the best in the world at what they do, and they pay for their airfare, lodging and equipment from their own pockets. Medical professionals from all disciplines participate and the miraculous work that they do ranges from basic health checks to reconstructing the faces of young women burned with acid.
In March I had the opportunity to interpret for a team of these wonderfully talented and generous people. For a week, I helped a team of New York City ophthalmologists improve the vision of more than 1,000 patients through vision testing, glasses, and surgery. It was absolutely astounding to see their care and passion converted into about 90 surgeries a day. My role was to interpret, but as I became emotionally involved I began greeting patients, listening to their stories, learning about medical care and procedures, emotionally supporting families through surgery, and coaching patients' recovery long after the doctors had gone home (I had a local cell phone number). I made many friends on both sides of the stethoscope. Below are some of the lives that were changed because of the generous work of Volunteer Health Program.
Patients came at six in the morning and waited all day in the heat for the chance to be seen. Many were scheduled for surgery in the following days. However, priority had to be given to those with the greatest need and many will have to wait until next March to be seen again.
My tocaya - namesake - and I had a special bond, as she returned throughout the week for consultation, surgery and post operational check up. This is a post operation picture of her with her new left (prosthetic) eye.
With brand new plastic toys laying around, these children didn't even notice they were in scrubs, prepared for surgery that would straighten their eyes, and their vision.
These four young people could not wait to put in their new prosthetic eyes after surgery, but I had to first explain to them how to care for and remove it when necessary.
This strong and intelligent young women is just four years older than I am. She has two adolescent children and a wonderfully supportive husband. The removal of a brain tumor (by her previous doctor) damaged some of the nerves around her eye, so the priority now is raising her eye and eyelid to a normal height. We became friends throughout the week and I stayed late by her bedside after her surgery.
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