We are always delighted to hear from nurses after sponsoring their travel for medical missions.  This anecdote is from Josephine Sullivan.
“I  am Josephine Sullivan, an Operating Room nurse from Louisville, KY. This was my third surgical mission with Healing the Children to Ecuador. You need to know that Ecuador is important to me because ,when I was seven, we had an exchange student, Pauline from Quito, live with us..I remember telling her, “Someday I’ll go to your country.” It was good to be back in Ecuador and I have started  planning  my next trip. I now have friends there that are glad to see me, what fun.
Our team consisted of four surgeons, four anesthesiologists, two pediatricians, one nurse anesthetist, two nurse practitioners, two ENT residents, two OR nurses, one nurse administrator, one OR tech, one first assistant and three other young people, who performed a variety of duties. Most of the team was from Louisville, a very agreeable and competent  group.

We worked at two hospitals in four operating rooms. Manta had plastics and ENT. Portoviejo had pediatric general surgery and orthopedics. My work, which was done in Portoviejo, included 6 orthopedic cases and 40 general surgeries. It was rewarding to return to a facility that I had worked in on the previous trip and find I was remembered and welcomed by the staff and translators.  The young pediatric surgeon told me I looked like an angel and invited me to visit his office and meet his partners. He also took his young son and me to the park where iguanas live in trees.
The hardest thing to endure was the mode of sterilization used in the facility. The first unexpected event happened on the day of patient evaluations. They actually listened to me when I told them about what had finally worked for us before. It was heart-warming.
The next unexpected event occurred after the second day of surgery. My Brigade leader, who I had never worked with before said, “You really know your job.” I responded, “I told you that” to which she responded, “but you’re really good.” I was speechless. She is not always generous with compliments. Having done the same job for 30 years, I  am confident, but it sure is nice to hear.
The Ecuadorian people are a very gracious and giving people. The major religion in the area is Catholic, and having been raised Catholic, this was familiar and comfortable. Parental relationships are similar as the main focus of parents is on the well being of their children. Children are the same all over the world, curious and trusting or leery, depending on the day. I am fortunate, children don’t usually see me as a threat..
I was fortunate enough to have a week in Ecuador after our work was done. I stayed with a friend and was graciously welcomed by her family. We visited her cousin in San Lorenzo. a small village on the coast. We sat on the porch and greeted everyone that passed, we walked in the forest and we walked on the beach. When her nephew learned I was a nurse, he thought I should visit a child in the next village with a rare skin condition.
The condition is Ictiosis, genetic and incurable. Medicines and creams for him are expensive. His father is a fisherman and he has a brother and a sister. His eyes are also in need of surgical attention. The next day I visited the Eye Institute in Portoviejo where they agreed to do his surgery and provide eye drops at no cost. He is six. Hopefully by the time he starts school he will be able to see out of both eyes at the same time.
The creams and ointments for treatment are much less expensive in Kentucky, even  to ship. My family has agreed to help provide those for him. So if we can make a difference On Nurse At A Time, then perhaps we can start one child at a time.
We also visited another hospital for a potential future surgical mission. It was a very new two OR department and had a very gracious medical director.  I am very hopeful about the possibilities.
I am grateful to Barco’s Nightingales Foundation and to One Nurse At A Time for making this trip possible.”
 

~Josephine Sullivan