Packing . . .

Though I have moved and travelled enough in my life to qualify as a professional, I can’t stand packing – or un-packing for that matter. With my nomadic life, it is safe to say that you can look in my closet, any time of year, and find one unpacked bag and one stack of things I am planning to take on my next trip. I had to unpack from both a Thanksgiving trip and an LA weekend in order to start packing for Haiti. Though experienced, I am no expert! Yet, I thought I would share a few tips that you might find useful if you are packing for a medical mission trip. In no particular order:

1. Patagonia. I love this company! Not only do they let me bring my dog into their Denver and Cardiff stores, but they make great, durable stuff that is guaranteed for life! The quality is so great that I have had a certain pink Patagonia pull-over since I was 16. (stop laughing! it is that old!) Yep, it might cost a bit more, but if you buy one of their travel bags and the airline ruins it, you can get it repaired or replaced,  free of charge – forever! I find buying this companies goods a pretty sound investment. I also recommend the book “Let my People Surf” by Yvon Chouinard. It describes Patagonia's philosophies on environmental responsibility and the value of an active, balanced, quality of life.

2. Find a place (your bed, or dining table) and lay everything out that you plan to bring with you – then remove stuff. Everyone always brings too much – try to be frugal with your packing.

3. Put all medications (ie. chloroquin, cipro, zithromax, imodium, pepto-bismol) in your carry-on.

4. Bring enough pairs of scrubs to cover everyday of your mission. Do not count on laundry services and you can always leave them in country if you don’t want to bring them back. Also bring reusable OR hats so you don’t have to use the expensive, environmentally toxic, disposable ones.

5. An old pair of clogs for the OR. Closed toe shoes only and again, something you can leave behind at the end of your trip.

6. Protein or granola bars – quick, easy energy when you miss meals. I like target brand peanut-butter/chocolate protein bars and nature valley granola bars. Instant coffee, emergen-C and powdered Gatorade are also critical. I recommend bringing a water bottle too. And a reusable spork in case there are no utensils.

7. Don’t forget an electricity converter and all of the chargers for whatever electronics you bring. I take my laptop for keeping track of patients, watching videos, getting on-line if we have access.

8. Stethoscope, protective eyeware, sterile gloves in your size, trauma shears . . . bring task specific supplies!

9. Flip flops for nasty showers

10. Toilet Paper you will be glad you threw this in your bag!

11. Facial Wipes I am a fan of Target cucumber exfoliating wipes . . . sometimes you don’t have the time or the energy and these just help!

12. Hand Sanitizer Do I need to explain?

13. Head Light! If you are working in an OR, lighting can be questionable. Camping headlamps are easy to use and provide great light in the OR. They can also be used as a flashlight in your living quarters.

14. Swiss Army Knife in your checked luggage. If you ever back-packed through Europe, you know how useful this little guy can be for wine and cheese. Don’t forget it when you go on a service trip!

15. Most trips have a recommended packing list – bug spray, mosquito netting, sleeping bag, towel … this stuff is trip/location specific but pay attention to this list! And don’t forget this stuff.

16. I always try to bring one “nice” outfit – I have a few easy travel dresses that don’t wrinkle and look OK if you need to be a bit more presentable. Headbands are a nice accessory for girls with long hair – they can distract from the lack of blow-drying and amount of time in a pony tail your hair has suffered on a mission trip.

17. I also bring some fun, inexpensive jewelry – plastic rings, funky earrings, bead necklaces, good luck bracelet – just because.

18. Photocopy of your passport in case of an emergency.

19. I have had many friends recommend that if you are traveling in a conflict zone, you carry US cash, in an envelope, in case of an emergency. Don’t be afraid to give this up!!!! Amount recommendations range from $20 to $100. I carry two envelopes one with $60 and one with $100 . . . cheap insurance policy as far as I am concerned.

20. Always carry a bathing suit in your carry-on. No lie, I do this. You can use it as an extra pair of underwear AND if your luggage is lost, it can be a difficult and expensive thing to buy in country.

21. Journal and pen. Try to write something every night – even if it is just jibberish, incomplete sentences, flighty thoughts. You will be happy you did this when you get home!

22. Don’t forget pictures of the ones you love – I keep mine on my iPod, Blackberry, and computer – and they have helped me get through more than a few tough days. 

Below, is my complete packing list for Haiti in case anyone wants specifics. I am sure I brought too much and forgot something important but that is just part of the challenge. I know that as long as I have my Chloroquin, a toothbrush, some emergency cash, my passport, and a Patagonia bikini – I will be alright. 

Anna Home Photo Project 2011

Christmas is for children everywhere. In this season of giving, I am seeking support for a wonderful and talented group of children. 

This September, I had a great adventure in Mongolia. While working in the hospital in Choibalsan, we had the opportunity to meet a group of children living in Anna Home. This small orphanage houses 25 children and has expanded to support teenagers as they make their way out of Anna Home, and into the great big world. 


The children at Anna Home were instantly enamored by our digital cameras. I let them run loose with a durable point and shoot I had brought along and when i got it back, I fell in love with their photos. They took AMAZING pictures, capturing their world with a unique view and innocent vision. 

Vincent Klein Breteler with the new camera!

When our team returned home, we sent money to a local volunteer, Vincent Klein Breteler, who was instrumental in buying a camera for the children and obtaining the pictures for this project. We have set up a cafepress shop (http://www.cafepress.com/AnnaHome) to sell products displaying the children's photographs. All proceeds from the sales at the cafe press site, will go directly to Anna Home www.allforchildren.info/index.php. Take a look (especially at the calendar). Thank you for your support of these bright and hopeful children.


more info at: http://suzyoder.blogspot.com/2010/09/anna-home.html

Gratitude

It has almost been a week since I returned from Belize. In a few days, the rest of the team will be back – after spending a week on the Belizean coast, diving, snorkeling, beachcombing . . . I hope they enjoyed the well-deserved vacation and come back excited about the possibility of doing this again sometime!

I owe some big “thank you’s” to team Belize. Bonnie Webber – Thank you for being patient, generous and supportive. Your contribution to our team was critical (no instruments, no surgery) Sorry you had to put up with my insomnia! Cynthia Kruger – Thanks for taking a leap with me. You did an amazing job! I hope you enjoyed the challenge – you certainly rose to it. Marilyn Vernon – Seriously, you can work in my OR any day! You were such a quick study. Thank you for your patience and hard work! Jane – Thanks for your laugh and your great work with our post-op challenges. You were sunshine! Anne Marie – Our hummingbird, or is that social butterfly? Thanks for getting to know each of our patients so well, and for always smiling. This was an amazing OR team that I would be proud to work with anywhere.

Back home I want to thank Shounta Candies for the support that got me on the plane with the tools I needed! You are the best! Saundra, Kristin, Steve; thanks again for letting me go do my thing. Team Choibalsan, thanks for reading my blog and cheering me on with each trip I take. Mom, Dad, Tuck – Thanks for always loving me, even when I wander.   Beau – thanks for being there when I get home and for loving me through my jetlag.

Next up – Haiti . . . 

Legacy

Kelly Slater won his tenth world title yesterday. Pretty sure he knows what his legacy will be. I envy him – sitting there with this monumental, hard won accomplishment – looking out over the vast expanse of the rest of his life – knowing, that his legacy is set. Anything else, is icing at this point. Anything he does, save scandal or crime, can be a total failure, and he will be remembered forever as a tremendous champion.

Today we canoed through a cave in Belize – thought by archeologist to be a site of Mayan rituals and human sacrifices. When we got back to St. Ignacio, we walked through the Cahal Pech ruins – only a block from our hotel. It was peaceful on the cool stones in the jungle – quiet and shaded with beams of sunlight creating some interesting shadows. Perfect place to sit and reflect, high on top of the oversized steps. There we were, sitting on concrete evidence that these people have left an indelible mark on this planet – a legacy of unimaginable endurance.

So what do I leave as my legacy? I will not build a stone monument, or win even one world title in anything but I have to believe, that in some way, what I am doing, what we all are doing, will endure. I have to believe that one day, my children, my nieces and nephews, will know that I tried to have a lasting – if only small - impact on the lives that I have touched. I do not see my legacy on a grand scale, but more as a legacy of a life fully and well lived, a legacy of quiet integrity. That would be my monumental championship.

Sleepless in Belize

It is 815 in the morning and I am sitting in a hammock, downing some Vega, looking out over St. Ignacio as she wakes up. I tried to sleep on the porch last night but it got too cold. And then I tried to just sleep . . .

We finished up at the hospital yesterday. 20 cases in 4 days. Our O.R. team of 6 women got a bit slap happy at the end. We really have become a strong team but we were really ready to be done. After inventorying and packing up the last of our supplies, we made it out for a ‘belizean snow’ at the bar and dinner at the fancy St Ignacio Resort Hotel. And then back to the hotel – where I couldn’t sleep.

Today we are going canoeing through some caves and then down the street to check out some Mayan ruins. Looking forward to day of recreation, a night swim, and the trip back home. As I look out over this city, with the sun shining down, I hope that sunshine finds those who need it the most. Winding down from this adventure in Belize – maybe tonight, I will sleep. 

Patience and Grace

Today was a good day. If you were here, on the surgery team at La Loma Luz Hospital in St. Ignacio, Belize; you may disagree with that statement. Please let me be so bold as to explain.

We had scheduled five cases today – two quick, easy kids and three lap choles. After yesterday’s marathon, we were prepared for just about anything but wanted a bit of an easier day. But today, today was nothing like yesterday. Today we met a whole new set of unforeseen challenges. Today we were tested. Today was our proving ground. As a team, we weathered a halothane hang-over and a power outage with patience, faith and grace. I am proud to say that this team showed each other the utmost respect while taking care of our patients and facing these challenges. We were patient with the process and each other; had faith in each others expertise and knowledge; and were graceful enough to move through these trying times with level heads. I am proud to be a part of this team and proud to see that I can find inside of me the strength to endure and to help move a team through difficulty. I have never thought I had much patience or grace but today, I found what I had and put it to use. Today was a good day.

Flying

Belizean sunset view from the front of the hospital

This is the first time I have been the “lead” (read “only”) surgeon on a medical mission trip. Initially, the idea was exciting, then intimidating, and then I think I just gave into it – the next step, figuring out how to fly without a net.

Today was our second day of operating. Every case had an added degree of difficulty – funny liver anatomy, acute inflammation, large gallstones, difficult airways, short cystic ducts. I got stressed during our second case when the anatomy was obscured by inflammation and I made the comment that I sometimes make when I am doing a difficult case “I’m not happy.” The minute I said it, Cynthia, or anesthesiologist piped in with “if you’re not happy, we’re not happy.” Subtly she reminded me that this team is counting on me to set the tone, be the leader, and make this a good situation for everyone. I shut up and got back to work – damn gallbladder has got to come out.

It was a long day. We operated until 830. Staring at 11pm right now and we have only just eaten dinner and gotten to our rooms. But we did it  - managed to take out five gallbladders of the nastiest variety and fix a little kids funny looking belly button. Everyone worked incredibly hard today and we are all pretty tired. But we are here . . . we are doing this. We are each others net. We are flying.