Guatemala Medical Mission 2023
Dr Vicki Marrtinez
Day 1 Guatemala Medical Mission 2023
"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive" -Dalai Lama
Tonight at midnight our California team (My husband Peter, the Pharmacy assistant, Gloria Silva RN, and translator, and John Parker, paramedic, and wheelchair assembler take the overnight flight to Guatemala where we will join the team from Houston tomorrow in Antigua.
This will be my 20th year volunteering with Faith in Practice. I wholeheartedly support Faith in Practice's mission to provide medical care to the poorest of Guatemalans through culturally sensitive, sustainable, community-empowering programs.
The majority of the population lives in extreme poverty and has virtually no access to medical care.
Please join me in celebrating my 20-plus years of volunteer service with Faith In Practice and consider donating to my page in support of the people in Guatemala.
https://donate.faithinpractice.org/vicki-martinez
Day 2 Guatemala Mission Trip 2023
“Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life” – Leo Buscaglia
Our wonderful American team of of 23 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, translators, pastor, support staff joined an equal number of Guatemalan volunteers traveling to Suchitepequez where we will hold our clinics for the next week. We are not your average medical missionary team in that; we provide adult and pediatric, orthopedic, gynecologic and pre-cervical cancer treatment, audiology testing, hearing aids, treatment of all patients and their family with parasite medications. Physical therapists determine best mobility aids for patients and typically custom build at least 90 wheelchairs per week for the many immobilized by injuries, illness or cerebral palsy. Faith in Practice partners with locals in the remote villages who identify those people in greatest need and bring them to our clinics. The “Red Hats” (they wear red baseball caps) as we affectionately call them, are culturally sensitive, attuned to their community resources and provide support to patients for best outcomes. Our village teams also identify those in great need of surgery and schedule their procedures with surgery teams who follow us.
Today our team traveled 3 hours in 2 buses plus a truck loaded with pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to the town of Samayac. In previous years, our mobile clinic has used school classrooms to host the patient areas. The government halted our use of schools for fear our patients would bring Covid into the schools. Now, we are using churches! Our clinic for the week is a massive open air, covered church. With the help of our Guatemalan partners, we unloaded the trucks, organized supplies to be ready to see up to 300 people tomorrow. It has taken months for all to prepare for this week and we are so excited!
A former ER colleague, Gloria Silva, RN will be my translator. For the next 2 days we will be working in the mobility clinic, identifying, and helping disabled patients with their medical problems. With the place transformed, we had a little time to play with local children before our team headed to the hotel. I always love the children! See you tomorrow!!
Guatemala Medical Mission 2023 Day 3
“God’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness and for compassion.” – Desmond Tutu
Last year I shared a story about the state of women’s health with relation to cancer. The government does not fund the expensive childhood vaccine against Human Papilloma virus, the cause of cervical cancer. Thus, there is a high death rate from this preventable disease. Our organization trains local midlevel practitioners to screen women with a safe acid wash on the cervix which identifies precancerous lesions. These women are then sent to Faith in Practice clinics where we administer a procedure with liquid nitrogen to freeze the surface of the cervix and cure/prevent cancer. During the pandemic, the supply chain for liquid nitrogen collapsed. Fortunately, a new electric thermo freeze machine with greatly improved efficacy and safety became available for the treatment. Several team members and a Rotarian friend stepped up and helped us fund the new equipment for FIP. The gynecology team is fully trained on its use and told us it was a “game changer” in this fantastic cancer prevention treatment!
Faith in Practice has created a ‘mobility clinic’ to help the many who suffer from physical disabilities. Cerebral Palsy caused from anoxic brain damage with difficult births and many traumatic injuries are widespread in Guatemala. No helmet laws for motorcycles, car accidents without seatbelts, industrial accidents, and people falling out of trees are examples of why trauma is so common. A physical therapist is present in clinic to assess patient needs in addition to a team assembling custom wheelchairs. The burden of care of the severely disabled falls to family members. No such thing as skilled nursing facilities here. The most beautiful thing is that the families, friends, and neighbors lovingly care for the patients even if it means giving up their own lives. I was privileged to be the physician overseeing their health needs in clinic. Receiving a wheelchair changes the lives forever of both patients and their families. My first patient was a 53-year-old woman paraplegic from the age of 3 after contracting polio. She had been scooting around on all fours with flip flops on her hands since she was a little girl. Imagine the thrill of mobility when we built her a wheelchair! Another wheelchair recipient was a 36-year-old former police officer shot during a narcotic raid in the right thigh necessitating a leg amputation near the hip. There is no social welfare system here so many disabled patients find some type of work to support themselves. I saw scores of similar cases today and count my blessings.
Guatemalan Wheelchair assembler fitting a chair for cerebral palsy patient
Day 4 Guatemala Medical Mission, 23
“if you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion” Dalai Lama
Before entering the clinic area, all patients and their companions receive Albendazole, an antiparasitic drug. Most of the water supplies throughout Guatemala are contaminated with parasites causing growth stunting and cognitive impairment in kids and chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea in adults. We can’t fix the water issues everywhere but can greatly improve health with intermittent parasite eradication.
Our team is unique in that we have an orthopedist on a village team. There are so many orthopedic injuries and conditions, and it is wonderful to have a consultant amongst us. There are vast numbers of people with severe untreated arthritis from their hard lives that greatly benefit from cortisone shots to weary joints that are given freely. In recent years, Faith in Practice has ortho docs on the surgical teams provide knee and hip replacements, a better solution than lifelong ibuprofen for worn out joints. Elective orthopedic surgery in Guatemala is for the wealthy. The state covers emergency surgeries for trauma, but people are often left without needed follow-up surgery. It breaks my heart to see preventable devastating injuries related to lack of helmet use, reckless driving, and lack of road rules. In the US, we don’t commonly see end stage diseases or people with severe illnesses and deformities such as cerebral palsy, amputations, deformities, and residual polio.
Today was my second day in the Mobility clinic caring for over 30 people getting wheelchairs. I saw young people with massive strokes, cerebral palsy, traumatic and diabetic amputations, children paralyzed by spina bifida, and more whose lives are changed when they get a chair. I am awed by the authentic and unconditional love and strength of the families!
Guatemalan policeman who lost leg in a Narcotic bust shootout
Day 5 Guatemala Medical Mission 23
“Everyone has a story or a struggle that will break your heart. And, if we’re really paying attention, most people will have a story that will bring us to our knees” – Brone Brown
Yesterday an 18-year-old man told me his story which brought me to my knees. 9 months ago, this auto mechanic had finished his workday, walked outside and was struck by a car. He insisted on showing me the graphic video on his phone of his injury. He showed me footage of himself laying on the ground, with his lower leg torn off, and only the upper femur bone sticking out. He was taken to a hospital where additional amputation and closure of skin was done. He was now healed with a short leg stump and had been given a wheelchair by FIP. I was mortified by the video but as I talked to him and his mother, I realized he had accepted his new reality and moved on. He even told me that with the help of a cousin, he had already rebuilt a car engine. I encouraged him with a story about a paraplegic mechanic I had taken care of years ago in Guatemala. So many here have stories…
The people of Guatemala in the villages lead incredibly difficult lives. Yet, they have community and embody the meaning of “it takes a village”. For the past 2 days I have seen neighbors, husbands, wives, grandchildren, nieces, and friends whose lives are profoundly affected when they take on care for others. Here, people accept what is and adjust their lives accordingly and lovingly. It is a beautiful thing to see and experience.
Our team is not immune from disease. We lost 1 of 2 pharmacists last night when fever, stomach pain and diarrhea took him out of commission. The remaining pharmacist, and 2 pharmacy techs (my husband, Peter, included) worked overtime to fill prescriptions today. This morning, a fellow doctor, 1st of 3, working in the medicine clinic came down with Covid. Late morning, another, doctor, 2nd of 3 fell ill and dropped out. We were able to see all the patients but hope no more become ill. It is critically important that the team stays well, as there are no replacements, and the entire operation depends on us.
18 year old mechanic struck by car and lost leg
Day 6 Guatemala Medical Mission. 23
“If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” – Willian Penn
Our Houston based team is a stable group, with the majority serving every year, a few additions, and subtractions for life issues. We are efficient, no drama and seamlessly support each other when the many unforeseen situations occur throughout the clinic days. Yesterday, when we lost 2 of the 3 medicine doctors to illness, and long lines of patients remaining, we moved an ER doc assisting in GYN to help me out in medicine clinic. Pure cooperation to whatever arises is the name of the game. Typical days: up at 5AM, 5:45 devotional with the Presbyterian minister (who could be a standup comic), breakfast 6AM, on the bus 7AM, clinic start at 8AM, work until all patient encounters including treatments, medications dispensed, and surgeries scheduled. Each night our bus has rolled into the hotel after 7pm, straight to dinner, shower and get ready for next day. The 2 ill with GI issues rallied and we are only one doctor short who has Covid.
Sumayac, the town and vicinity we serve are of Mayan roots. There are 22 Indigenous Mayan languages spoken here in addition to widespread Spanish, brought in by Spaniards in the 1500s. Most women wear a mixture of Mayan skirts and western blouses. The purely Mayan wore spectacularly beautiful handwoven skirts representing the villages they lived. Some of my elderly patients in their 80’s speak Kaqchikel, K’iche and Q’eqchi. Their middle-aged children translate their languages with its sounds of clicks and pops which could not sound any further from Spanish. The “Red Hat” volunteers were often our translators to Mayan. The tree would start with English to Spanish then Mayan and back, with hopefully nothing lost in the literal translation. The young indigenous women were still starting families when aged 14 or 15 as opposed to the more westernized women of mixed Mayan and Spanish descent. Although religious and primarily Catholic, the women seem to have better access to contraception than many parts of the US.
Our special team has an ENT doctor and an audiologist who performs hearing tests and fits the deaf for hearing aids. A small miracle happened today. There is a woman who runs a deaf school in Guatemala. Today she brought 7 deaf children to our clinic. Each one was fitted for a hearing aid and able to listen for the first time. Can you image this? This week, 119 people received the precious gift of sound plus an ample supply of batteries.
Each year there are big and small miracles. The long week ended, with all patients seen and cared for, trunks packed and loaded, group photos taken, and goodbyes to our local partners. We will head back to Antigua tomorrow, hearts filled with joy from serving our medical mission.
Day 7 Guatemala Medical Mission 2023
‘How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because, someday in life, you will have been all of these’ - George Washington Carver
Today, we travelled 4 hours from Suchitipequez region back to Antigua, where we will organize for our departure tomorrow. On the bus I had time to reflect on my experiences with patients, families, and my wonderful team members. I thought how much happier we would be in the US if we could live with community as they do here. Neighbors and family helping one another without political, religious, or racial divides. I return with a full heart, and my cup truly runneth over. I vow to try to live with intention of peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness with others.
The American, Guatemalan and Local Team
Day 8 Guatemala Medical Mission 23
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one” – Mother Theresa
People often tell me how good it is that I volunteer in Guatemala. Nearly all the beautiful patients would touch my shoulder and whisper ‘via con Dios’, or ‘go with God’ as they left. The truth is, I receive more than I give!
Here are our team stats for the week
- 2063 patient clinic visits, adults and children
- 383 patients referred and scheduled for surgeries
- 121 patients can hear with their new hearing aids
- 35 patients screened for cervical cancer and 5 pre-cancer treated with cryotherapy
- 95 custom wheelchairs built and dispensed, plus canes and walkers
- Over 350 arthritic joints injected with cortisone
- Over 200 reading glasses fitted
THANK YOU, FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT! YOU ARE ALL PART OF OUR TEAM AND WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
Vicki Martinez MD and Peter Gruhl