Dominican Republic Medical Mission Summary

After 5 days, 2260 patients, and alot of heat and sweat, we left DR. We had some remarkable stories to tell, alot of wonderful people we met, and brought His love to those who came. Here is what we did:

Patients seen: 2260
Teeth pulled: 30+
Dental hygiene class: 1000+
Glasses: 500
Spiritual counseling: 1700+
Number of prescriptions filled: 6000+


In all things give thanks,

David

Day #5: Dominican Republic

"The place of 100 Fires." That's the name of where we were today. Where we saw 550 patients. An area hit by fires, poverty and crime. 200,000 people live there, isolated and struggling.

The clinic went very well with a patient flow moving things along at a brisk pace. We saw young and old, sick and really sick. We saw more of what we had hoped not to see: despair and hopelessness. A 16 year old girl who we think really was about 14, came with her 4 brothers and sisters all of whom she was caring for. Their shanty had burned down, their father left them and their mother worked the streets. And this young girl was 7 months pregnant.

I was examing a 6 year old boy who reached out his hand and openly started begging. He patted my pockets and put out his hand palm up.

There were more stories, more heart wrenching moments. But we expected no less. We were sent and saw. We left and remembered.

In all things give thanks,

David

Day #4 Dominican Republic: "Say it isn't so..."

Called the police today. Had to. By 11am we had a mob brewing and a crowd getting out of control. We shut the clinic down, the cops dispersed the mob, we closed the doors to the clinic, had a team meeting, prayed... and then we had lunch.

Everything was going well until there was a lapse in crowd control. We were in a church with a lot of people getting through the doors and the team surrounded by people wanting to be seen. The crowd outside over ran registration and those with numbers began to panic and started to enter the church demanding to be seen. By then I was outside with Yolie trying to make sense of what was going on. It didn't look good to either of us, and that was when I told someone to call the police. They arrived pretty quickly and took control for the most part, but there was still chaos. We were witnessing first hand, desperation from people who had nothing, who wanted to be seen, who needed medicines and who knew that there would not be another chance. Could we blame them? Not really. The team was calm, and since most of the team are seasoned Medical Mercy members, they knew the drill when I announced a shut down. Details aside, we got things under control by 1:30pm and saw 400 patients today.

Marien is 5 years old and not a sponsored MoM child, but we were seeing her as we do the whole community in addition to the sponsored children. She is the only surviving triplet born at 7 months gestation, 2 months early according to her mother. The other 2 triplets were still born. She is healthy, bright and loveable. And here's the catch: according to mom, when Marien was delivered, she was breathing, but just barely. The doctor said to the mother "Take this parasite home to die." What? I asked the mother to repeat what she just said. "Take this parasite home to die." I got another interpretor to verify the translation of what the mother was saying: "Take this parasite home to die." Say it isn't so...but it is the truth the mother said. I had to stop for awhile and simply hold Marien. What a world we live in.

They buried Pastor this morning right around the time that I was examining Marien. I have been thinking about him alot since yesterday and now have Marien in my mind. A life taken, a life given. The one taken from neglect. The one given as a grace from God. Or am I being too harsh? I have to believe that the people here are inherently good people, with good intentions, and virtues. I believe all that, is hidden under the hardship of living in poverty and abondonment. Sometimes we do things to survive that are not very pleasant and we witnessed that today. To come here with the intent to show the love of Christ is a hard taskmaster. These past 2 days have proven that. But there is something more that we intend to do and that is to make ourselves aware of who we are, not what we are: vulnerable, fallible, and weak souls, who struggle every day to do the best we can, knowing that He is in control of everything. Just like the mob today, the Pastor dying yesterday, and Marien living as a human being and not a parasite. And for all of that...

....we give thanks always...He is in control and we believe in Him. Simple as that.

David

Dominican Republic Day #3: God said no....

The Pastor was large in height and size, but gentile in heart and mind. He came to see me the day before yesterday and I spent an hour with him watching him struggle with the pain. It had been 2 years since he had felt the tingling in his legs, and then the numbness, making it difficult for him to walk. He said that the pain was unbearable and that on Sundays when he preached, he leaned on the pulpit and leaned on God for strength to get through. I watched as he struggled to get to his feet when I entered the room. I watched as tears came into his eyes when he talked about the last 2 years.

After the tingling and numbness started, he went and saw several specialists, including an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist. He had a CT scan of his back which was read as a herniated disc between L5 and S1 and a nerve conduction test on his legs which revealed little motor function or nerve input. He was told that there was nothing that could be done and that he would be paralyzed from the waist down very soon. He was given a prescription for Decadron (a steroid) and Vitamnin B6 which he was told to inject himself with in each ankle every other day, as that would help delay the paralysis. He did this for 2 years. He spent all that he had on tests, medicines, and syringes, leaving nothing for him to support his young wife and son of 4 years old. The Pastor was 46 years old. He had just started a new church and MoM had found a sponsor to build the school and structures to support over 100 Forgotten Children. His ministry was moving forward but he wasn't.

I examined him, confirmed that in fact he had severe neurologic injujry to his legs and that he was close to being paralyzed. I asked him to get me all the medical records he had and that I would meet with him again after I reviewed everything. We prayed and he was carried out to a waiting car.

Yesterday, I spent an hour going over his CT scan, his nerve conduction tests, his reports from the orthopedic surgeon and the neurologist, and found that the herniated disc was in fact treatable. I don't beleive that the doctors cared as the Pastor was a poor man, with little to offer in terms of payment. As I was putting everything away I came across a chest xray. There was no report. It revealed a very large heart with a large aorta. No one had told him about this. He was not being treated. But his wife did tell me today that he had thought that there was somethign wrong with his heart and a yer ago got an electrocardiogram on his own but never had it read. I was ready to see him back and make arrangements to have him get additional studies and help for his heart and surgery.

This morning when we arrived at Hosa the place where we saw 410 children today, Yolie from MoM came and asked me when they could bring Pastor to see me. I said anytime, and when he was called, I was told that he was excited and happy that we were going to meet again. He knew that I had news and that we could help him. His wife called a taxi, and as they waited for it, they prayed, sang hymns, and talked about how the pain and suffering would stop soon, and their ministry and love for the Forgotten Children could continue. As they prayed the taxi arrived. Daisy, his wife, later told me that as they prayed, Pastor called out "Daisy" and when she opened her eyes, his hands were curled and he was blue. He collapsed. The taxi that had been waiting to take him to news of a way to make him better now took him to the hospital where he was pronunced dead half an hour later. I found out when we got the call a few minutes later. I was at the hospital soon after.

I spoke with Daisy. She said that Pastor was the happiest she had seen him in years, knowing that we may be able to help him. He couldn't wait for the taxi to arrive. I struggled with whether I should tell Daisy what I found: that there was a good chance that surgery would work and that he would walk and the pain and suffering would be gone, and that no one picked up on his heart condition and that I was going to make sure he was treated. Would that make it all worse? Would it be better if she didn't know? Or would she feel comfort in knowing that we would have been able to do something for him? I told her. She listened, tears falling. We cried, prayed and parted ways. I ache knowing that Pastor could have been helped. I ache for his young wife and his 4 year old son. I ache for the ministry that now will be void.

God is in control. He is all powerful and all knowing. When the taxi came to take Pastor to come and see me, God said "No". I will never understand how this all came together. The timing of it all. The meaning of it all. But then I'm not supposed to. I can however, shake my head in wonder as to why God does what he does, and harbor a little anger. He will understand. There will never be a moment when I will feel entirely myself again. We change after something like this....and that is what God is intending all along.

This trip has not been without its ups and downs. This story is the worst of it all. It is a story that must be told, simply because it was clearly God directed and God driven. And for that we must be thankful. Pastor may have suffered more if he had not been taken. Maybe. I don't pretend to know the answer,but I do know that the love He has for us is unconditional. At a time like this, I pray I can have the same for Him.

When I saw Pastor in the hospital , he looked peaceful. I held his large hand and looked at his gentile face. I could see his smile. For whatever reason, I felt a deep love for that man 2 days ago when I meet him. I don't know why, but I did. There are few people in this world who touch my heart and make me sing. He did that the other day when I realized that I could make him feel better. I should be singing now as Pastor is there with our Lord. I can't right now, but know that I will soon. The story will stay with me always, in a place in my heart and mind reserved for those special memories that will be brought out from time to time when I need them the most. The story is told. The memory is sound. The love is present.

If you live in the Dominican Republic, it is said that it is better to be dead than sick. How very sad that is. For Pastor, it may hold true. Know that I have a new fire, a new drive to have Medical Mercy make that saying go away for our Forgotten Children here in the Dominican Republic. Pastor has shown me the way.

In his memory, give thanks,

David

Day #2: Dominican Republic

We're tired. Over 500 patients today with a final number of maybe 568 people searching for help. Hot and crowded. Tomorrow we expect to see more. I'll add pictures and stories later but for righgt now know that we are beat.

In all things give thanks,
David

Children of God: Day 1 Dominican Republic

We started our medical clinics at the Child Development Center 001, named "Ninos de Dios" or Children of God. Very fitting. We traveled about 50 minutes out of Santiago to a rural city called Moca, and worked in the school. We didn't go into the barrio or slums where the children came from. It was a little too dangerous to do that. I may try and get the team into a barrio over the next couple of days, but they are cramped, narrow, full of drug trafficking, prostitutes, and crime. A place of Forgotten Children.

We saw 350 of His children today, and it was a great start!! The local team has done an outstanding job of getting the meds packaged, the tables, chairs, water, registration, interpretors, medical students, interns, dentist, spiritual counselors, and patient flow working without a hitch. Dental hygiene was the hit for the children, and the pharmacy ran like clock work.

It is very hot here, humid, and, overcast. The patients we saw were varied in complaints from joint pains, to severe vitamin deficiencies and sever anemia. We saw a little girl who had her fingers sliced open and had been taken to a local hospital to be sewn up with old silk thread and not told about follow up. When we saw her, her fingers were on the way to dying. We sent here to a better hospital and had her fingers saved. We saw a boy with severe vitamin deficiency and what I think is a variant of Marfan's Syndrome. The local people gave him a nick-name: "The Fish boy". He gets very high fevers and they have to put him in tubs of water to cool him off, thus the name "Fish boy". More rashes, scabies, and malnutrition.

We are moving along well, on this first day. We seem to be surrounded by Him. It's all good.

In all things give thanks,

David

Dominican Republic

We leave tomorrow night for the Dominican Republic. Five days of clinics, new places never seen before, and a country that just went through the effects of a hurricaine. It's wet there to say the least. There is a local team there now who is frantically getting everything ready for us: packaging medications to treat over 2000 patients, getting tents, transportation, housing, food, interpretors, and everything else. Wellington, the Field Director and Yolie, MoM's director for Central America's missions are heading that team. The 12 members of the US team are ready to go:

Kelly, Nicki, Paige, Troy, Tyler, Lisa, Aimee, Daniela, Erin, Placido, Lara, and I

Look for updates next week as we start a new medical mission in a country of Forgotten Children. Remember Proverbs 14:31 during our trip: "Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor Him." We go in His name.

In all things give thanks,

David

Things are moving...

...a little slower than usual, but it's all my fault. I got back from Swaziland and went right into pediatric critical care mode for 4 weeks straight. I'm finally catching up on stuff and catching my breath.

We leave in a few weeks for the Dominican Republic, a new country that we've never been to before, but are excited about. There should be alot for us to do, alot for us to see, and alot for us to remember. The crew from Mission of Mercy has been coordinating everything for us, and a few of the "home team" from Colorado Springs will be joining us there.

So here's what we are to expect: vitamin A deficiency, TB, some HIV, worms, Dengue fever, falcemia ( a from of sickle cell anemia), and a host of other diseases. We'll try and see about 1500 or so patients, have clinics at 5 of the Child Development Centers (CDC's), and make plans for ongoing medical care after we see just what they have there.

Start the prayers...'cause here we go again...

In all things give thanks,

David

Phoenix Children's Residents Swaziland Trip

Placida
Nicholas and Jenny
Becca






Us

Phoenix Children's Resident Swaziland trip

Leslie
Lara
Sahera
Lisa

Going home...

...and it starts again. Glasgow shut down, London on high alert and we take our time getting through all the security. Placida, Becca, Sahera, Lisa, and Leslie left 24 hours before Nicholas, Jenny, Lara and I. An interesting end to the trip...helping Forgotten chidren while a few try to destroy for no reason. Makes no sense...but then again, what does these days? Only He knows...
In all things give thanks,
David

Lions, elephants...

...and giraffes. Hlane game reserve is where we spent out last night, full moon, native dancing and the sounds of roaring lions close by as we slept. The game drive brought us close to big game, and showed us sites we may never see again. Africa. Beauty, wild, and yet full of saddness. We saw it all. We have memories forever.
In all things give thanks, David

Thursday 6/28

Another 300 patients today. We've seen 1300 patients in 4 days, many of which were truly Forgotten children. Today was probably the most difficult for us. We saw 3 children, 5, 6, and 8 years old who had been raped. We saw a man whose leg was so infected you could see his bone. A woman with breast cancer, a 9 year old with end stage AIDS. A very difficult day. A lot of praying and a lot of tears. A lot of love and a lot of hugs. Forgotten or not, all were seen and given the best we had. And for that, it makes it all worthwhile.

In all things give thanks,

David

Wednesday 6/27 - Swaziland

We started out in the rain. A small Carepoint in KaKhonsa, Gigi's Place, 300 patients, one tent and dirt. A lot of dirt. The rain stopped and the wind began. The tent broke apart, the dust covered us, and they still came. Children with AIDS, one 6 year old with lesions from being sexually abused, Pepe our patient from a year ago who has AIDS and TB, adults with chronic illnesses....people looking for a chance to live. We helped some...we hope...we pray. Or at least we showed them we cared. We could do no less...

In all things give thanks,

David

Tuesday...Madonsa

Three hundred. That's how many patients we examined, prescribed medications for, and got to know. Many were prayed with, many got tested for HIV, and many more were given another chance to live a healthier life. We saw some interesting patholgy today: cutaneous larva migrans (crawling worm under the skin), weird rashes, heart diseases, and varying degrees of malnutrition. The wind was picking up in the afternoon and we were seeing patients in a lot od dust. Children were coughing and wheezing and the nebulizer got a work out. A leg abscess was drained and a house visit was made. Just another clinic day in Africa. Just another day of love.

In all things give thanks,

David

Sunday and Monday

We arrived with no luggage. By late afternoon on Sunday 6 of the 9 came in with the last 3 arriving Monday. 1 piece went to Botswana. Go figure.

Right after we arrived, it was off to the hotel to shower then on to lunch. We then visited 2 hospitals, and the abondoned children. All the abondoned children were physically disabled or mentally handicapped and lived in the laundry room at the hospital. We saw a number of children who were really sick and being cared for by their mothers. We never did see a nurse or doctor. Then back to the hotel and early bed.

Monday started off early with 6:30 am breakfast. By 7:15 we were off to Logaba. Tents were set up and off we went. We saw about 350 patients, 88 of which we saw in about 15 minutes: normal physicals. A few cases of HIV, TB, and a lot of malnutrition and one Kwashiokor. We were tired and off to dinner and bed we went. Tomorrow we do it again.

In all things give thanks,

David

And so it begins...

We are somewhere over Africa headed to Johannesburg and we are late. We have an hour to catch our plane for Swaziland. We'll probably just make it but not sure about the luggage. We've been flying for 21 hours and had a 6 hour lay over in London. It's a long way to where we're going.....

Everybody is holding up well. The team is coming together, cohesive, and directed. We are ready. We are so ready that when we arrive in Swaziland in a few hours this morning, we are checking into the hotel, taking a quick shower, off to a quick lunch, then on to the local general hospital to visit the pediatric ward: babies lying all in a row on wooden tables, most with AIDS, children lying on beds with no sheets being cared for by their mothers, and a special area for abandoned children - those who were brought to the hospital by mother' or family and left. The Forgotten children. And so it begins.....

In all things give thanks,

David

Eyes open...hearts ready...

On Friday, 9 of us leave for Swaziland to run 4 days of clinics at 4 different Carepoints. What's unique about this, is that there will be 5 pediatric residents from Phoenix Children's Hospital going. They are using their 1 week vacation to experience caring for the Forgotten Children. As one of their faculty physicians, I will be giving lectures, we'll be having discussions, seeing patients in a semi-academic setting, examining patients, discussing cases, and learning. A pediatrician will be joining us who was one of my residents several years ago. My son who is in pharmacy school will be with us as well, and will run the pharmacy. And we will have a support lay person to help with all the stuff that needs to be done. We will be working with the wonderful Children's Cup missionaries once again. Here are descriptions of 2 of the CarePoints that we will be having clinics at:


Ka Khosa CarePoint: The Ka Khosa community is “the place where prostitutes and thieves are made” according to many locals. It is probably the roughest location of any of the CarePoints, but it also shines as a very bright light. In a community where alcoholism, drug abuse, and child abuse are rampant, there is a place of refuge for the children.

Logoba CarePoint: Prostitution, crime, poverty, and unemployment all plague this community of about 15,000 people. It is located about 5 km from the city of Manzini and is made up mostly of job seekers from the rural areas. Water is collected from a community tap and many homes do not have electricity. Currently, about 300 children come to the care point for feeding.

Be with us as we travel, teach, learn, love, and heal. Be with us as we look to recognizing why we do what we do. Be with us:
David
Nicholas
Rebecca
Lisa
Leslie
Lara
Jenny
Sahera
Placida


In all things, give thanks,

David

Dominican Republic (DR)

So, here it is, hot and humid, more MoM projects, more children, more need. We will becoming here the end of August. There are 5 Children Development Centers with about 100 children in each that we will be going to. Add the siblings, the parents and extended families, and we'll easily see 1500 or more patients. DR reminds me a little bit of Cambodia, maybe because of the weather. The areas that the CDc's are in vary in terms of poverty, danger, and isolation. We'll be in some pretty interesting places. The children over all are just getting to the point of being noursished thanks to the meals that they receive at the CDC's. I saw a number of Dengue fever cases, etopic rashes, upper respiratory illnesses, and malnutrion.

All the people I've meet here are fantastic!! They are very excited about us coming, and the support will be everything we look forward to. We'll be blessed again to serve.

In all things give thanks,

David

Observations....

On this trip to Honduras, I saw a Hassidic Jew and his young son put their tallits on and pray openly at the airport in Houston. Then I met a local pastor here in Honduras who had a shofar (ram's horn) in his church that he blew every Friday before the Sabbath and blew it for me as he and I recited a classic Jewish prayer. Now I'm sitting in the airport in Honduras and a family of Mennonites are sitting right across from me praying from a book that I don't recognize.

From all of this, God sure has been prayed to on many different levels, from different faiths, and perhaps for different reasons. But the fact remains that prayer occurs. He listens better than we do I suspect, and reponds in His own way. A Jew, Christian, and a Mennonite...how different....how similar.

In all things give thanks,
David