Midwest medical mission to Dominican Republic 2019

 I am often asked how long will I do “mission” trips. The honest answer is I hope for the rest of my life but for right now that takes me to the Dominican.  I will openly admit that one of my flaws is I am a procrastinator. The beauty in this flaw, however, is that God’s magic shines bright. Each year, despite the best of intentions, procrastination wins and I am left in awe at how quickly and easily the details of the trip are handled.
It is surreal to think a year has gone by and here we are again sorting out the details for this trip.

Why the Dominican again… because its familiar. Not in the I’ll go because its easy and within my comfort zone familiar, but familiar in that I love that the community looks forward to our arrival because that gives me back the sense of serving my purpose. That we are doing our duty of giving back even just a smidgen of the blessings been granted. It makes me proud that in time when so many travel and talk about how they don’t like Americans we are the face of what we want an American to represent.  Familiar in that it feels like visiting family when we arrive.  When the bus driver who has been part of this trip for 20 + years passed his son took over the business and continues to be a part of our daily experience and end of the week dinner.   The same nurses smile and give us hugs as we arrive. Dr. Hernandez is the same medical director who can’t wait to show the new volunteers his hospital. Same hotel employees sit and reminisce after we return home from the day.  The smiles hold joy and the hospital holds memories.
Thank you is insufficient to those who have supported me every year. Your monetary funds, donation & time make this a possibility! The love as an action fills my heart. You have made, at the very least, one persons dream come true. Supplies come in without stress and in so much excess each year we have to reprocess less bringing the Dominican one step closer to American healthcare standard of care. Last year we had the ability to share our sterile supplies with the surgeons there and share education of sterility. I have come to love this idea more then being there – sustainability. Will this be my last year… Only God knows that. Until he nudges me to move I will continue to visit the DR, be grateful to those who have supported this endeavor each year, Sit on the bus ride home each night and be amazed and with some guilt wondering how it is I visit with the intention of souly giving and somehow end up with more.

Last year on our first week flying solo we did 88 surgeries in 4 days.  We had almost an entirely “ first time” group who worked as if we were each other’s right hands for years. This year we are lucky to have so many of the original group returning and many new faces eager to share their talents, time and love. We have Dr. G returning again as our Ear/ nose/ throat surgeon and Dr. Amini for the third year being our general surgeon. If that wasn’t incredible enough our three leading physicians speak fluent Spanish!Though that may seem like a minor detail imagine walking into a clinic of foreigners praying they will tell you there is room for you in the schedule. To not eat for 24 hours, to arrive at the hospital with no time of surgery, have limited knowledge of the medical word surrounding you, what you know terrifies you and only a handful of those involved in your care able to communicate efficiently with you. All the time grateful we show up and complete faith in an unknown system.

Do you know any better honor then to be an instrument of God , because I don’t.

Donations still seeking:

Monetary donations to help with:  my flight ($690) hotel ($455) mission fee for fluids ($65), supply bag shipment ($200+).

Shoes (Last year it broke my heart to see all the children shoes with the back smashed down so their heels would be allowed to hang over and have them fit a little longer)

Any little stuffed animals to hand out to the kids prior to surgery (It gives them something to cuddle as distraction for IV’s and as they fall asleep under anesthesia).

Adult clothing (T shirts, basketball shorts- anything loose fitting)

Prayers.

Thank you for helping me and for helping strangers.