Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000
L. and D. drove their truck and S. from my office brought her truck to transport us to the airport. With us were large bags and seven 31-gallon tubs full of equipment and supplies for the mission. Check-in was uneventful. We got to the airport at 7:30 am since our flight was to leave at 10:00 AM. D. checked us in and when I said we had 11 bags for four people, she said “they aren’t over weight, are they?” Only one was 0.2 lbs. overweight.
All of our flights went without a hitch. The layovers were minimal at Dallas and Miami. Sheri’s sister and husband and daughter met us at the Dallas airport for a brief visit. In Miami, we ran into friends from prior MMI trips.
We arrived at the airport in Santa Domingo and cleared customs without problems. No damage was noted to our bags or tubs. There were 18 of us who arrived at 8:30 p.m. By 9:30 PM we were on our way through customs to the vans to transport us to the “Chicken Hilton” (Campamento Apnea) in Los Alcarrizos (a barrio on the outskirts of S.D.)
I didn’t choose my bed very well so sleep came in short bursts. Also, we didn’t have mosquito nets and that slowed my ability to relax. The showers were all I remembered in the mornings in the DR, refreshing and brief.
Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000
I couldn’t find my clock last night so I’m not sure how often I awoke. Maybe that is best. We arose and cleaned up. The showers are in the dorm room so it wasn’t too bad. Breakfast was filling with eggs, toast, fresh pineapple, cantaloupe and papaya. I still don’t like papaya.
We had a worship service with D. leading. The lesson was on the marriage of the lamb. Then we had our orientation until lunchtime. Lunch was good – spaghetti, salad, toasts and peaches halves.
The five-hour ride to the Camp outside of Dajabon was long but enjoyable due to fellowship with other travelers and the scenery. It’s amazing how diverse the landscape is from tropics to the desert, from the beach to the mountains, the big cities to small villages, villas to shacks.
We arrived in time to set up our dorm rooms and have a fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, fresh tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and fried plantain. The evening program was to divide into the surgery and medical teams for brief training after the director gave out the assignments. Then early to bed after reading awhile. It was a good day with the renewing of friendships and making of new ones. Its always encouraging to hear how God has brought people here, both committed believers and others with a heart for people.
Monday, Feb. 14, 2000
I slept better today. This morning we had pancakes, juice and fresh fruit for breakfast and D. gave the devotionals. He was excited and it showed. B., B., D. and I began with a 2.5 mile walk toward Los Almaciggas. The van picked us up to finish the trip.
The hospital was much unchanged from last year. We unloaded the truck and began the process of setting up a 21st century operating room in a 19th century location. Its always interesting to see how diverse people come together to accomplish the mission.
Dr. R. stayed in the clinic. We saw 85 new patients in consult. I did two ventral hernias, a pediatric hernia, and a circumcision and removed a mole from a girl’s head.
We got to camp late but they still had food for us. After dinner, I laid down to rest then at 8:00 p.m. we went to the chapel. There we unloaded and sorted all the supplies that everyone (38 people) had brought. There was time to visit while we worked and then to bed before the generator went out.
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000
I woke shortly after the generator came on but before the lights came on. The generator comes on at 5:00 am but the lights don’t come on until 5:30 am. At 6:00 am, P. walks from dorm to dorm with a cassette playing “One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus” repeatedly.
Breakfast was scrambled eggs, fresh bread and of course, fresh fruit. After devotions, which I gave today, we walked about 2 miles before being picked up.
Today was the first full day and I mean full. B. & F. did not communicate very well in the consultation clinic yesterday and they over booked surgeries. I did a pediatric hernia, open gall bladder; then removed extra digits from a 10-year-old, then an acute gall bladder (badly infected). Then I explored a right inguinal area and repaired two hydrocoels, then an inguinal hernia and two umbilical hernias. Obviously, we were very late. Getting back to camp late was a given but the food was good. Beans and rice are very filling along with salad and eggplant casserole.
We didn’t have a program so I went to bed early (9:30 p.m.) and read for a while before falling asleep.
Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2000
It was a little cooler today although probably not much as the temperature doesn’t fluctuate much from 55-65 at night and 75-85 during the day. The major differences occur from region to region as the country varies from sea level to a 10,000-foot peak. The humidity can also be high as well.
Breakfast was a chunk of sweet cornbread, fresh fruit, cereal and juice. The hospital was interesting today. The water stopped yesterday and we still had no running water today, so no washing our hands and no flushing toilets. In addition, the electricity didn’t work (the voltage was from 65 – 160 volts) which cause the air conditioner to go. Surgery was very hot and no circulation. We filled the surgery schedule for the whole project today. A large crowd had to be turned away. In spite of all this, there were no tempers flaring, it was just another day to these people, but more remarkably it didn’t dampen the spirits of the team.
I did a hernia repair on the 19 mo. old son of the mayor. The child had the hernia repaired 6 months ago by a local surgeon. Then I did a cholecystectomy followed by a right hernia on an adult then a left inguinal hernia.
We actually were done early today (5:00 p.m.) and made it back to camp before supper. At 6:30 p.m., we had spaghetti with meat sauce and mixed vegetables, salad and bread.
The program was given by two Dominicans on the history and politics of the country. It was very enlightening. After visiting with folks, we turned in shortly before lights out. A much more restful day today.
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000
We arose shortly before the generator but waited the 30 minutes until the light came on. Breakfast was a hard-boiled egg, fresh bread, fruit, and juice. Almost every morning cereal is also available, coffee and hot tea.
At the hospital, we still had no water or air conditioning. It got up to 85 degrees in surgery but we did get some fans to circulate a little. Yesterday, one of our two cautery units quit working and we hoped that D., the assistant director would have it fixed but he couldn’t, so we had to share the remaining unit. It meant when we wanted to use the cautery, the nurse had to plug and unplug our cautery and move the pad back and forth.
Today I started the day with an inguinal hernia on a 20-month-old. Then I did a thyroid that took 2 hours. Very hot and long in gowns with the lights. Then I did another thyroid and it was equally difficult taking two ½ hours. So I was exhausted by the end of those two and there were still three surgeries left. We rescheduled two for later in the week. The last surgery was supposed to be an incisional hernia but the lump that was felt turned out to be metastatic ovarian cancer. It turned out that she was a lady we initially operated last year finding ovarian cancer. It was very sad as she had been going to Santiago for three chemo treatments at a very high cost. The family was very upset.
I then found that there was another umbilical hernia to fix. After the surgery, a family member wanted to talk to the doctor to find out what happened and what we did. This seems very natural, except this was the first time in 4 years of projects that I have had this happen. The daughter was just concerned but pleasant. It was just striking that most people don’t want to question or see the doctor.
We were able to get back to camp for dinner with Sheri. After dinner we had a program with the “Oldie Wed’s”, a take off on the “Newly Wed Game”. Sheri and I were game show participants but unfortunately, we came in second. Afterwards I was able to get to bed early and to read a little.
Friday, Feb. 18, 2000
The day started as usual. Breakfast was good. Things were slow in getting going so we didn’t walk very far. It is amazing how busy one can be in a simple environment.
The hospital was ready for us with running water and air conditioning, but our cautery didn’t work. That means we have to stop; plug; unplug all day when we needed to use the cautery. It just slows things up.
We started with an umbilical hernia on a child followed by an inguinal hernia on a 10-year-old. Then a young girl with an epigastric hernia. That brought us to lunch. Lunch on the surgery project consists of a sandwich of peanut butter and jelly or cheese and ham or tuna. Also, juice, water and a small package of cookies. Dr. Bartek frequently pays for one of the interpreters to go into town and bring back ice cream or sodas. They break the monotony. Every one just grabs lunch whenever.
Next on the schedule was an 18 year old girl with a thyroid nodule. The surgery went well and only took an hour. Next was a 45 year old lady with a very large thyroid. We finished about 4:00 p.m. but as she was starting to wake, even before leaving the OR, she started bleeding profusely. She was rapidly put back to sleep and the incision re-opened. We did not find a bleeder but did the usual procedure to control bleeding and closed again. After that I did another inguinal hernia but that put us very late and we didn’t get back until 8:00 p.m. to have a late dinner.
After dinner, we took a team back to the hospital to check the thyroid patient. It’s a 30 minutes drive each way. There are nurses in the hospital at night but their responsibility is their own patients and the family has to go ask a nurse to see them. They don’t chart or do anything. When we got back she was okay, not actively bleeding, but everyone needed something, probably because they knew we had meds, etc. Than a drive back and straight to bed.
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000
We were all looking forward to today. Originally it was to be a day off and to the beach, but we decided instead of going to the beach on the north shore, we would go on Friday to the beach near Santa Domingo, se we were going to work a half day.
We were a little anxious as to what a “half day” meant. That could be 12 hours but we left camp at 7:30 am to go to the hospital. I started the day with an inguinal hernia on a patient I operated last year for a different problem. It is nice to return to the same place and see familiar faces and places. The DR doesn’t change much from year to year. I then did three more hernias to complete the day. We are the traditional PBJ sandwiches there but did return to camp by 2:30 p.m.
The medical team was in Dajabon at the sponsoring church to see Compassion International children. They then walked through town. The surgery team left camp to go to town to meet them but I stayed in camp to sleep and read.
Dinner was another meatless meal. I was not used to that but it is amazing to see how one can get the necessary protein without meat. It may explain why some of the most common conditions we treat in America aren’t see here. Sheri and I had time to walk and talk after dinner. The sky is so clear that it is hard to see a space without stars.
The moon has been full and lights up the night like day. Temperatures have been cool in the early morning. After visiting a while it was off to bed and to read for a while.
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000
M. served glazed cinnamon rolls today at 7:30 am instead of 6:30 am, so we got an extra hour of sleep today. A few of the group went into town for Catholic mass but most stayed here for our own church service complete with a sermon by D. from our church.
We had a big lunch then the afternoon was free with some of the group going to the beach near Monte Christi and the rest of us stayed in camp; slept; read; visited.
Dinner was light with pasta salad, salads and bread. Then we left for Dajabon to attend Pastor A.’s church. It was a lively meeting punctuated by a sermon from our own D. translated by D., who has been a translator with MMI for years and now is with MMI full time as a Dentist. D. made an altar call at the end that brought 20-30 people to the altar. After the 20-minute bus ride back to camp, we met three new participants that joined us for the last week. Some people can only commit for a week. Three or four people left on Saturday that could only be there for the first week.
Monday, Feb. 21, 2000
I awoke as usual this morning to the gentle hum of the generator, only to find no water in the showers. It is amazing how these major inconveniences in the U.S. become just small bumps in road here. We did have running water for most of the day at the hospital. When we don’t have running water we use hand gel instead of scrubbing for surgery. The central supply however has a harder time cleaning instruments. They routinely draw a bucket of water at the first of the day, and then they have it available.
In surgery today I started with a circumcision on a 17 month old; an inguinal hernia on a 10 year old female; umbilical hernia then a thyroidectomy. It took about 2 hours but otherwise went okay. I then did three epigastric hernias. We finished early and returned to camp before dinner was served at 6:30 p.m. We had two men on our teams who are Quakers and they presented a history of Quakers for the evening program. Sheri and I had visiting time before lights out.
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000
I awoke to stomach cramps around 1:30 AM but was able to fall asleep again but 5:30 am confirmed my fears. I took the medicine as I was supposed to and began 24 hours of clear liquids and carbohydrate free diet. The day wasn’t too bad, but I was dreading the heavy schedule. God is very good; I had a patient who needed her thyroid removed as our first case. She didn’t show up. In addition, Dr. B. had three cases cancel because of high blood pressure and fever.
That shortened our day. I did an open gall bladder surgery, followed by a right inguinal herniorraphy. Then I did a spermatocoelectomy and then two hernias and a cyst removal. A full day but not too stressful or long.
After a warm thank you to the team from the director and administrator, we returned to camp and I took a long nap until dinnertime. Still no food until morning but no further problems with my stomach except hunger pains. However, one of the cooks brought me some chicken noodle soup, which just hit the spot.
One of the Dominican Drivers took us into town to call home after supper. When we got home, we turned into bed.
Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000
I slept well through the night and looked forward to breakfast after my “fast” the 24 hours previous. Of all things – breakfast was a spicy bell pepper, onion and summer sausage egg casserole. Therefore, I didn’t eat much except fruit.
We left for our last day in the hospital. I started with an inguinal hernia on a 17-month-old child followed by a hernia on a 7-year-old. Then Dr. R. and I removed a large neck mass that was a lipoma.
When we returned to camp for dinner, M.’s food was great as usual. Afterwards, we had a time to share what the mission had meant to each of us. It was very rich. Some that we least expected spoke of how God was doing something in their lives.
Thursday, February 23, 2000
Since we worked a half day on Saturday, we didn’t do that today. Instead, we left after breakfast and headed back to Santa Domingo. We went straight to W.’s home, International Director of MMI, for lunch. Afterwards, most of the team went back to the Camp in Santa Domingo to relax and get ready for dinner. This evening we all went to a four star restaurant, in Santa Domingo for a gourmet dinner.
Sheri and I had the privilege of staying with D. and J., MMI missionaries living in Santa Domingo. They have a nice apartment and it was great to get to minister to them and be an encouragement.
Friday, February 24, 2000
Today we went to town in the morning to shop at the Market. Afterward, we drove up the coast to a great beach for the afternoon. Some of the team stayed in Santa Domingo for more shopping or to see historic sights. The team had dinner at camp and more time for laughter and sharing. We went with D. & J., D. & C. to a small retaurant. It was very good for us. We were able to learn more about some of the things involved in leadership of a team and project. Also, we were able to become even better acquainted with the entire scope of MMI. We shall see how God uses this information in the future.
Saturday, February 25, 2000
Return flights home went well. There was a delay in Dallas. Most importantly, we returned home safely. What a rewarding two weeks.
Final Statistics of Mission - Feb., 2000
Clinic: Adults – 601
Children - 388
Total - 989
Health Education 1024
Prescriptions 2624
Dental Patients 175
Dental Extractions 206
Floride Treatments 125
Eyes Patients 264
Glasses 114
Lab 14
Decisions for Christ 134
Surgery: Patients Receiving Surgery - 165
Consults 224
Major Surgeries 106
Minor Surgeries 59
Decisions for Christ 34
TOTAL DECISIONS FOR CHRIST - 168 Patients And 1 Team Member
Lives touched for the Kingdom – Only God knows the number of Team Members, Staff, Patients, Family Members, Church Members and Friends in the Dominican Republic, Canada and the United States!
