Day 21 - Guatemala City

We returned to Roosevelt Hospital to do additional teaching on OB topics. Due to the content presented the previous day, some of the OB residents and MD's were asked to attend the teachings because their practices were not aligning with the types of practices we were presenting. It was interesting going into this teaching session knowing that we might offend these doctors by presenting this information, but we knew that what we were saying would greatly improve the quality of life and decrease the mortality rate in Guatemala. Thankfully, Nancy was a pro at presenting the information in a calm manner and the information was generally well-received.

For lunch we went to the ever-famous Pollo Campero. This is a huge restaurant chain in Guatemala and I hear it is starting to spread to the US, as well. Its food is very similar to KFC's menu here in the States. We were most excited to eat the fried chicken... throughout the trip we played 2 songs quite frequently while we were in the car. One of the songs we loved to listen and jam out to was "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band. It was quite fitting that we were able to eat fried chicken on our last day in Guatemala - very bittersweet. We left our cd in Guatemala with Eric in hopes that he'll learn ALL of the lyrics by the next time we come :)

In the afternoon we visited Safe Passage in Guatemala City. Safe Passage is a non-profit organization that seeks to break the cycle of poverty and lifestyle that surrounds families who work in the city's massive garbage dump. We got to tour not only the outer parts of the dump, but the organization's schools, as well. All of us were deeply moved by the work that these volunteers are doing to help these families. The sight of people digging through massive piles of garbage amidst bulldozers, hundreds of vultures and dogs was heart wrenching. Our tour guide mentioned that injuries in the dump are very common and most of the people working have severe problems with blood borne pathogens and severe respiratory problems. We could smell the methane gas pouring out from the dump from a vast distance and the stench was nearly unbearable. It is difficult for me to explain how devastating these living and working conditions are for these people, more or less how they are treated by socially. While in the States people who work with garbage are paid a decent salary and receive benefits, these people are scorned by society. They actually have to pay the government to work in the dump for a job that pays next to nothing. The programs offered by Safe Passage for not only the children of such families, but now the parents, as well, is amazing. I encourage everyone to check out their website to see the amazing things they are doing and ways you can get involved!!! I know that every single one of us were touched by the experience and know that anyone who gets involved will be touched by their work in a similar way.

That night we were invited to Jeanette & Juan Carlos' home for dinner and the opportunity to discuss the experience of our time in Guatemala. The evening was full of laughter, tears and amazing life-changing stories. While we were excited to come home and share our experiences with our friends and family, I think we were a little hesitant to leave the country we had grown to deeply love.

Survival Guide of Guatemala

1. The Guatemalan Cocktail (see post below)
2. Eric
*Driver, Translator, Bodyguard, Spanish Teacher, DJ, Rodeo Entertainer, Pack Mule, Garbage Disposal, Amigo, Spiderman and Live GPS
3. Bugspray
4. Ear plugs
5. Itch stick
6. Euchre
7. Bottled water
8. Toilet paper
9. Book
10. Hand sanitizer
11. Snacks that don't melt
12. Camera
13. Hanes V-neck white tees
14. Make-up remover towellettes
15. Deodorant
16. Dremamine
17. Spanish phrases
*"Solo estoy viendo" "Buen provecho" "Con permiso" "Esta bien, chica" etc.
18. Melatonin
19. Dinero conversion chart
20. Nail polish
21. Headlamp
22. Roll of vanilla scented garbage bags
23. The braid
24. Anti-emetic suppositories
25. Spanglish

Things we take for granted...

Last night we were talking about this Guatemala trip and began making a list of the things we take for granted in the states. Some are funny, some are serious...but they are all true.
1. Free pubic restrooms
2. Bathroom availability
3. Toilet paper provided in restrooms
4. Flushing toilet paper-seriously, no toilet paper can be flushed anywhere in Guatemala!
5. Toilets that flush
6. No squatting
7. Reliable electricity
8. Air conditioning
9. Free drinking water in restaurants
10. No need for the Guatemalan Cocktail (1 Cipro, 1 Immodium, and 2 Pepto)
11. Water pressure
12. Hot water
13. Not sweating while in the shower, sleeping, sitting, reading, etc.
14. IV's in hospitals
15. Clean air
16. Paved roads
17. Minimal speed bumps
18. Driving laws enforced
19. Seatbelts
20. Sidewalks
21. Following a schedule
22. Having a schedule
23. A real sandwich
24. Protein at every meal
25. Cold skim milk
26. Anything cold
27. Season changes
28. Keys without large sticks attached
29. Not living out of a suitcase
30. Clean clothes/clothes that don't smell from other clothes
31. Privacy
32. Garbage cans in rooms other than the bathroom
33. No need for a translator
34. Being able to communicate and eavesdrop
35. TV in English, and visible
36. No harrassment while shopping
37. The ability to wear shorts and tank tops
38. Ranch dressing
39. Peanut butter
40. NO PWD! hehe

Day 20 - Guatemala City

Today was another eye-opening day for us here in Guatemala. We were up early this morning to prepare for a day of teaching at Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala City. Roosevelt is one of the largest public hospitals in Guatemala and the needs of this hospital and the people it serves was evident everywhere we looked. We spent 4 hours covering various OB topics such as labor and delivery and neonatal positioning. I was fascinated watching the reactions of the nurses to the information presented. Much of the information emphasized such as hydration is foundational and basic in the nursing practices in the States - almost something second nature that we would encourage fluids during labor. The nurses at Roosevelt were astonished at the thought of giving a women something to eat or drink during this process. Although I feel as if we left these men and women with more knowledge about effective nursing and medical practices, I realized it meant more to me that we were trying to empower them. While we can present research and show evidence based practices, change will not come to Guatemala´s health care system unless we empower its nurses and doctors from the bottom up and continually remind them of the impact of their professions.

This afternoon we volunteered at a food program in the 12th Ward in Guatemala City. This zone suffers from extreme poverty and an immense amount of crime. While some of us were anxious about going into this zone, it melted away as we were immediately embraced by over 150 children with hugs and kisses. We were able to minister to the children of these families by serving them a warm meal. I was amazed at how long many of them waited for a scoop of rice, a scoop of beans, a tortilla and a glass of fortified juice. The pastor that runs this program told us that for many of these children, the meal we served them was their only meal of the day. I (Elise) was scooping out the beans for all of the dishes. As the bowl began to quickly diminish, I looked up at the ever growing line of children still waiting for food. I began to wonder how many other children in this zone, more or less this city, were in their homes waiting for food and wondering when their next meal would be. There was a picture of us scraping out the last bits of each of the dishes... it may be one of the most disheartening pictures I have ever seen. I can only hope and pray that other programs will continue to faithfully serve the families of communities such as this and how fortunate we were to serve these children today.

Days 17-19 - Lake Atitlan

Today we left Antigua and drove a few hours to beautiful Lake Atitlan for a weekend of rest and relaxation. After many hours of driving on roads filled with pot-holes and/or made of cobblestone, we could hardly wait for the dinner at the hotel Posada in Santiago. The beauty of the lake is nearly indescribable and the pictures taken can hardly do it justice. We probably spent hours trying to capture the beauty of the flowers, volcanoes, or the lake... it was breathtaking to say the least.
Saturday morning we visited the Stukenburg family who lived near Santiago. This family is originally from Green Bay, but their ministry eventually brought them to Guatemala to work in foster care for children taken from their families by the courts. Many of these children came from parents who were drug addicts, abusive or had simply abandoned them. Some of their stories were horrifying - one young girl was pushed into a fire by her father and was severely burned. With the help of the Stukenburg family, she is now able to walk and laugh as a normal child although she is permanently disabled and may never be able to talk. Currently the family is caring for 14 foster care children, but many more may be on the way. We loved playing with the children for a while and loved that they spoke English! It was refreshing to be able to understand everything being said for the first time since we arrived to Guatemala. We cannot imagine what it is going to be like to return home and be able to understand the language once again. I can only expect it will be a culture shock once again.
We also drove through the community ruined by the massive mudslide in 2004. The devastation the mud caused was still quite evident. Many homes were abandoned and a majority of the buildings still had mud lines on them. It was estimated that approximately 3,000 people died from this disaster. I was reminded once again of how precious life is and how truly blessed we are.
Sunday morning we took a 3 hour boat ride around the lake. It was an amazing to experience nature, sitting in a little boat in the midst of a vast lake and surrounded by the volcanoes and beauty that is Guatemala. I know that I have said it many times before, but the beauty here is just incredible. It is truly a surreal experience and it is hard not to feel that there is something greater at work around and within us.

Days 12-16 - Antigua

This past week we stayed with host families. Many of us were nervous about this experience because we were unsure of what to expect. Looking back on the entire experience, I am glad to say that we were thankful we had the opportunity to see what the typical middle-class Guatemalan lifestyle is like. One word I could use to describe this past week was exhausting. The daily schedule consisted of waking up early for breakfast, walking to school, attending Spanish school for 4 hours and then heading to different locations throughout the greater Antigua area to volunteer. We were split into pairs and were daily rotated through various volunteer opportunities such as working at the clinic in Sumpango or nutrition center in Hermano Pedro Hospital, or teaching in a nearby community. I am just going to talk about a few highlights from each volunteer experience.

Hermano Pedro:
Although this is quite a large hospital, we worked exclusively with babies in the malnutrition center of the hospital. What was shocking to most of us was the regimented schedule of the unit. All of the babies were bottle-fed at 2 pm, changed at 3 pm and given nebulizers at 3:30 pm – there were no exceptions in the schedule. It was disheartening to hold or pick up a child who was dirty or hungry and know that while we could change or feed them when they needed these things done, that these basic needs were not going to be met on a timely basis in the future. For instance, both Shauna and Laura ended up with urine on their pants from two different babies who had diapers that needed to be changed. When they asked the nurses for supplies to change the babies with, they were upset that they were going to do this early because this wasn’t part of the schedule. It was an eye-opening experience to see how little attention these babies were receiving. It was heartbreaking to see some of these children. One little boy I became attached to was nearly three years old, but only weighed 11 lbs. I kept thinking to myself how it is critical to address the children’s physical malnutrition, but their emotional and spiritual malnutrition, as well. It was difficult to leave knowing that perhaps these areas may not be addressed, but we can only hope that perhaps we spread a little sunshine in the unit.

Clinic in Sumpango:
Each of us got to take turns working as a clinic nurse for Dr. Oscar Paredes in Sumpango. The most difficult part of this experience was the language barrier. In our other volunteer experiences we had the luxury of having a translator or were working with infants who could not verbally respond to us – but in the clinic it was quite different. The clinic was always crowded from the minute it opened until we left in the evening. Patients arriving at the clinic presented a variety of different medical problems – infections, pregnancies, chronic substance abuse problems, etc. For instance, Christina saw an ultrasound of a 32 wk old baby, Shauna assisted Dr. Oscar in debriding an infected surgical incision, and quite a few of us gave nebulizers and other medications. One mother brought her 2 month old baby boy into the clinic every day last week for nebulizer treatments. He had a severe respiratory infection and was having difficulty breathing when I first saw him Monday afternoon. It was fascinating watching the mother’s response to having American nurses take care of her son – she seemed to trust us instantaneously despite the fact that we could hardly speak any Spanish. It appeared that many of the other students developed a similar rapport with the mother, as well. I think it is interesting to note how often we are reluctant to have medical or nursing students take care of ourselves or our loved ones in the States, but how quickly we were embraced in Guatemala because of the wealth of knowledge we already have. I was reminded once again of how privileged we are to receive the type of education we do in the United States and how in turn, it is our responsibility to share that knowledge with others.

Schools in Sumpango:
We worked in numerous schools in the Sumpango area teaching about basic sanitation, CPR, puberty, blood typing and basic microbiology. I think after all of our teachings, we have come to appreciate all of the work teachers do to put presentations together and how much energy is necessary to keep an audience´s attention. Some of us were able to use information from previous classes we never thought we were going to use... somewhat of a coincidence to say the least. One thing was for sure - we never knew what to expect, but that´s what everyone says makes our adventure that much more exciting.

Day 11 - Antigua

Sunday we spent the day shopping and enjoying Antigua before meeting the families that would host us for the week. It was difficult for us to be split into separate homes after living together for the last week and a half – we can’t imagine what it is going to be like when we actually go home. We were split up and dropped off at 4 different homes in Antigua for a few hours before we went to Nelly’s house. Nelly is a friend of Nancy & Karen’s that works in the local market who invited us to her home to teach us how to make authentic tortillas. She had a traditional Guatemalan outfit for us to wear when we made tortillas to help us to get the full experience. She made us REAL hot chocolate, as well. After this evening, many of us decided to purchase these special pots in hope to recreate this drink back home… if we get anywhere close to making what Nelly did, you will understand our love for this Guatemalan drink!

Day 10 - Antigua

This morning we returned to the Sumpango dump to check in with the families we had given water filters to on Wednesday morning. After reviewing some basic material, the families said that they were using the filters and were completely convinced that this new water was going to make a difference in their lives. Not only were we relieved that they were using the filters, but thankful that they also knew and valued the importance of having agua pura (filtered or purified water). It was wonderful to reconnect again with the people of this community.
In the afternoon, we spent our time exploring the streets of Antigua, shopping and enjoying the sunshine. This evening we got dressed up and had dinner at a 5-star restaurant in the city. The restaurant was part of an old monastery that had been destroyed in the war. The grounds were adorned with endless candles, flowers and fountains – it was truly picturesque. We were entertained throughout our multi-course dinner by a mariachi band. Yet again, I cannot wait to post photos of this gorgeous restaurant when we get home! It was a fabulously relaxing and elegant evening that I know none of us will forget.

Day 9 - Antigua

We visited a nearby village, Santa Maria, this morning. This community is home to a school specially designed for disabled children – New Life School. We were invited to teach at the school by Nancy & Karen’s friend Amy, who is an occupational therapist at the school. Yet again, we taught these children about hand washing, first aid and germs… we were definitely getting pretty good at teaching these topics by this point in the trip. These children were inspirational for me – their disabilities did not hinder them from experiencing anything. For instance, one girl was severely crippled and confined to a wheelchair. I was nervous that she wouldn’t be able to look into the microscope because of her physical limitations, but a few of the students were able to maneuver the microscope into place for her to look at bacteria for the first time. I will never forget the look on her face when she first saw the bacteria – instantaneously my fatigue disappeared and I was reminded yet again of why we are here in Guatemala.
After lunch, we were invited to two separate indigenous homes. This is a rare opportunity and definitely something a tourist would not be able to experience that’s for sure. The place I visited was home to one of the children who received OT at New Life School. This little girl had microcephaly and a seizure disorder, rendering her nearly completely disabled and dependent on her mother for all cares. The family was extremely poor – they had to walk long distances for clean water, food was scarce, and money was hard to come by. As I was sitting in this family’s home, I was yet again blown away by how privileged we are in the United States and how many things we take for granted such as having clean water and the opportunity to send our children to schools. I continue to find that while we teach and bring supplies to the Guatemalan people, that they give us much more than we could possibly give them in return.

Day 8 - Antigua

In the morning, we had a tour of Hermano Pedro Hospital, a facility that operates completely on donations in downtown Antigua. Portions of the hospital are home to many disabled children and elderly individuals whose families are unable to care for them. Another wing of the hospital was a designated center for malnourished babies. Many of us were quite anxious to see this area and the babies because we had plans to volunteer here the following week. It was hard to see the condition many of these children were in and know there was not much I could physically do for them. We left feeling anxious to return and get our hands dirty.
Later in the day we traveled to a nearby village, Rajon, to teach about 300 children about hand washing, first aid, and germs. One word to describe the experience was overwhelming. While it was an amazing opportunity to reach so many children at one time, at times it was difficult to spend an adequate amount of time helping each individual child. Their sheer enthusiasm was contagious. One little boy ran up to me (Elise) and gave me a bouquet of flowers while another group of girls ran up and held hands with Melissa. Despite their poverty and poor living conditions, these children continually showed us the meaning of joy. They absolutely LOVED getting their photos taken and seeing themselves on the digital cameras. This quickly turned into one of their favorite games and I am sure there will be many pictures later posted on the blog from this day.