Following worship again led by Tucker Engels, Pastor Dave moved on to the olfactory (smell) sense. In John 12, we read the story of Jesus visiting Lazarus, Mary and Martha. “Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” Mary did this out of worship and gratitude as Jesus had recently raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.
Today is our “Mary” moment, a time for us to live out gratitude for God’s blessings and a time to look in the face of other “Mary’s” and truly experience the appreciation of our patients and families.
After arrival at the Obras, Drs. Bailey and Eisenberg spoke with Monica about her ovarian cancer diagnosis. With tears in her eyes, she told us about her hopes and dreams. She is currently in school and aspires to be a social worker. We again request prayers for her future care.
We were excited to see Andres again, who was a patient of Dr. Peters in 2018. He returned to us for a reconstruction of a thumb deformity. He is now 8 years old, and had a big smile for everyone. Due to COVID, he has been waiting a couple of years for this procedure.
Dr. Stehly repaired the left elbow of Blanca, age 43. She believes her elbow condition was the result of domestic abuse from her former husband. She has six children, 4 girls and 2 boys, ranging from age 15 and above.
In talking to another patient named Blanca, Pastor Dave complimented her strength and the strength of Guatemalan women. She has a great sense of humor and said that men act like they’re dying when they get a cold, and that God should have created Eve first and given Adam the rib. She had everyone laughing and told us she is the life of every party.
Another GYN patient Brenda has a potential diagnosis of ovarian cancer, which cannot be confirmed until lab tests are completed. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer does not manifest until it causes pain or is discovered in a surgical procedure. In Brenda’s case, if she does have cancer, it is in the early stages. We would ask for special prayers for her also.
We completed 17 surgeries today. Some of the doctors are performing more surgeries in a day here than I a week at home. The stamina of the surgical teams, support staff and interpreters is summed up in Ephesians 5:1-2. “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
During dinner, we had a visit from Blanca, the widow of Marvin, and her son. Marvin was a longtime OR coordinator at the Obras Hospital who recently died. Marvin was a special man who was loved by everyone who worked with him and had a special heart for the Obras patients.
MEET OUR TEAM
NURSES
Trish Blankenship, RN – Serving in the role of RN circulator, Patricia is serving with our team for the 2nd time. She works at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. She has recently been promoted to Clinical Team Leader of urology, plastics and ENT.
Eric Davis, RN – Eric is another health care provider from Roanoke and is assisting the orthopedists as an RN circulator/scrub tech for the 2nd year. He served our country with the Marine Corps from 2001-2005 in England, Spain, Liberia and Iraq. He then went on to nursing school at Valdosta State in GA. At Carilion, works as a preceptor in general surgery and a Clinical Team Leader.
Felecia Green, NM – Felecia is a Nurse Manager at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and works in the high-risk obstetrics unit. She is on her 3rd mission trip with the OB/GYN team.
Shanda Hatcher, RN – Shanda is another newcomer to our team and currently works in medical sales. She has worked with several of our team members in the past as a nurse and is currently serving as a nurse circulator. She has 3 teenage boys (2 of which are twins.)
Ralitza Nikolaytchev, RN – Rali came to the United States from Bulgaria in 1999, where she was a flight attendant for 10 years. She is currently a nurse at Baylor Scott & White Frisco. She shared that serving our team in the PACU has been eye-opening, especially the appreciation of the patients and their families.
Gina Phillips, RN – Gina is an office nurse for Dr. Eisenberg. She has found this journey to Guatemala to be a great experience, especially the opportunity to participate in surgeries.
Jean Smith, RN – Jean is another new addition to our team from Baylor Scott & White Frisco. Her career has included serving at a children’s clinic for underprivileged children. She is assisting our team in the PACU.
Jessica Rife, RN – At home, Jessica is a nurse at Baylor Scott & White Frisco. At age 16, she went through a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The healing care of her providers at that time led to her nursing career. She wanted to make a difference in others’ lives and is fulfilling that aspiration here with the Guatemalan patients.
Carrie Thompson, RN – Embarking on her 3rd trip with our team, Carrie is assisting with orthopedic surgeries as a circulator. She works as an RN at Baylor Scott & White Frisco.
SCRUB TECHS
Rick Brashier, CST – Rick works a little further north, at Baylor Scott & White Surgical Center in Sherman, Texas. He lives across the border in Oklahoma. Rick is assisting Dr. Barrington as a scrub tech with the knee arthroplasty (replacement) procedures.
Amy Carlson, CST – Amy has assisted as a scrub tech in the Obras operating room for 10 years. She works as a scrub tech at Stonebridge Surgery Center in McKinney. She also assists Terence Anderson’s Faith in Practice team with Jay Goucher.
Rachel Feldt, CST – Back in the DFW Metroplex, Rachel works with Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center. She is serving our team as a scrub tech for the first time.
Jay Goucher, CST – This is Jay’s 8th year with our team, and he is assisting in orthopedic surgeries. Together with Amy Carlson, he also assists Terence Anderson’s Faith in Practice team. He is a scrub tech at Baylor Scott & White Frisco.
Sarah Nathan, CST – Our fifth team member from Roanoke, Sarah is enjoying her 2nd mission trip. She is originally from CA and attended school in North Carolina. She is currently working as a travel nurse and was able to schedule her assignments to allow her to return with our team.
-Therese Kiernan
Team 762 Photojournalist
To support this team and their commitment to our patient’s visit:
