Day 3 Tuesday, October 6th
Tuesday was a busy day across the Obras, with each area of the clinic seeing a steady stream of patients. Our devotional focused on accepting God’s blessings while also being willing to be a blessing to others. Throughout the day, that theme was reflected in the many different ways our volunteers served the patients who came through the clinic.
The mobility clinic had a particularly full day, seeing 55 patients when the team had initially anticipated 20–30. Our physical therapists worked closely with interpreters to give each patient their undivided attention. Each patient received approximately 20 minutes of one-on-one time with our volunteers to discuss their mobility limitations, develop a plan and learn tips, exercises and techniques to help them navigate their daily lives with their new wheelchair, walker or cane. Despite the unexpected increase in patients, the team continued to make each individual visit personal and purposeful.
The dental team also had a busy day, seeing 25 patients. I spoke with Lupe, one of the dental assistants, about the challenges of providing care in this setting. One of the biggest differences she noted is that the team often has to identify the problem and determine a solution within a single visit. In the United States, a patient may come in for an initial appointment, have a treatment plan developed and return later for a scheduled procedure. Here, the team has to be prepared to assess the situation and provide care within the same visit. This requires everyone to be quick on their feet, attentive and ready to adapt so that nothing is overlooked.
Our surgical teams began their day by rounding on patients from previous days, answering questions and providing recovery instructions before moving into another full day of surgeries. Even with unexpected schedule changes and updates throughout the day, the teams continued to work together and support one another.
That support extended beyond the operating room. Interpreters Susan and Pam spent time with patients before surgery, offering reassurance, conversation and prayer as they prepared to enter the operating room. In the post-operative area, our PACU nurses continued that same sense of care by creating a safe and welcoming environment for patients as they woke from anesthesia.
By the end of the day, it was easy to see both sides of our devotional theme. Our patients came to us seeking something they could not provide for themselves, whether that was greater mobility, dental care or surgery. At the same time, our volunteers were able to offer something of their own: their knowledge, skills, time and willingness to serve. In a day that was busier than expected, being a blessing often looked as simple as giving someone twenty minutes of undivided attention, answering a question, offering reassurance before surgery or helping someone feel comfortable as they woke up.
