photos!

My posts can hardly do the trip justice... I wish I had a video-camera attach to my shoulder the entire trip. That way, I could at least offer a taste of what my adventure was like! But photos will have to do. Enjoy!

A little bit of Quito & the hospital
Our first full day in Quito was a 'free' day so I travelled to the Otavalo Market and Cotacachi Leather Town.

Bright and early Sunday morning we headed off to the hospital to begin our week of surgeries....

The hospitals do not offer pillows for their patients, so CAMTA brought their own. The beds do not move up or down, and you're lucky if the head can be raised a few inches. Also, several little things are done differently - for example, the biohazards waste disposal, or sharps containers, are simply empty jugs or pop bottles.

A view of the operation ward and recovery room...

The amazing sunset that can be seen throughout Quito...

 More photos of Quito - homes, streets, graffiti, mountains.

More to come, stay tuned!

Danielle

Back home.

I got back home safe and sound on Monday night. Thank-you for all your prayers and support during my 10 day adventure - my appreciation is endless.

In all honesty, I am heartbroken to be back. I love my family, love the opportunities of Canada, but when the realization of being back hit, I broke down. I feel like part of me has been left behind. On one hand, those 10 days seemed like years, yet on the other, not enough time at all. I've been waking up disoriented, still expecting to see the hills and homes of Quito through my hotel window. Adjusting to my old routine is difficult... I have two midterms to write tomorrow yet catch myself daydreaming time and time again. 

On a happier note, my initial sadness is evolving into motivation and drive to return. I have found where I love to be, and am already scheming on how to best work towards returning. Task number one: learn Spanish! As of today, I've enrolled in Spanish lessons through school.... can't wait! Task number two: excel in school. If I want to travel as a professional, I need to aim high and work towards my NP or possible MD. And daydreaming certainly won't be helping with that :) 

Every moment in Ecuador has left an indefinite imprint on who I am. I am beyond inspired and dedicated to return. 

Again, one million thanks to everyone who supported me through my entire experience. 

Sincerely,

Danielle

PS - I will still be updating this blog! Photos and stories to come, once school settles down... 

The hardest thing.

Today was one of the hardest days I can remember.

It was a half day at the clinic, so the Week 1 ward team went for a few hours in the morning to finish last minute tasks - dressing changes, administering medications, walking patients, etc. My morning was busy, but I had tied up all loose ends by lunch.

Unfortunately, my patients could not be discharged today so I had to say adios to them, not the other way around. Two of my ladies were in the same room, so I managed to communicate in broken Spanish that I would heading back home but another fabulous CAMTA nurse would be there for the afternoon. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down their faces, and their families suddenly rushed forward and embraced me like a friend.

I could barely keep my composure until I made it to the staff room. I just cried and cried. The only other time that I have felt such saddness is when I left home for TWU in BC after spending Thanksgiving with my family. That feeling of dread, of heaviness, was my sign that going to school in BC was not right. In this case, this feeling confirms that I need to come back here. Leaving tomorrow does not mean that I`ll never return. Quito and I are not over yet!

This has been the best week of my life. Between patient care and making friends, I could not have wished for a better experience. Unfortunately, I need to jump back into a regular routine once again. However, I am more inspired and driven to make something of my career than ever before.

I suppose this is my final blog entry while in Quito... I tried to write as much as possible, but sometimes words cannot simply explain the moments in my day. I am sure I`ll post more stories as they come to mind once I am settled in with normal life

For now, adios and see you at home!

Danielle

Sunday Morning.

Exactly one week ago we began clinic, and suddenly here I am - on my last ward day.

I am in love with Quito and the work CAMTA has been doing here. Although it has been 10 days, I am intrigued by the culture, the people, and how beautiful the country is. Both inside and outside the hospital I have met the greatest people - despite the language barrier, the friendliness and sense of community here is evident.

The sense of community is so strong, that at times it can be a detriment! For example, when I walked into one of my patients room, a cluster of people were standing at their bedside. I asked if they were family, and they all said yes - when in reality, some were neighbors, friends, bosses, etc. Straightening out who is who when 'family' has no clear cut lines is always fun, especially with minimal Spanish skills.

This trip has also given me TONS of practice with my nonverbal skills. When you can't speak more than hola and adios, a smile is all you got! Back at home, my 'non-smiling face' often comes off as angry or inpersonal. Here, all I have to work with is my smile! So basically I go from patient to patient, beaming, because I want to present myself as trustworthy.

Leaving the ward today will be hard. These 10 days have been incredible, and I am chomping at the bit to return. Unfortunately, students are not allowed to return for 2 consecutive years. Meaning that I can't apply as a nursing student next year. I can, however, apply as a translator - yes, I will learn Spanish by next year! - and have the possibility of returning. CAMTA's focus is on spreading the value of mission work and branching out to those who may have not considered it or are first timers. By allowing a student to come once, they open up oppertunities for many others. I appreciate their focus, but I certainly don't like it!!

Again, a huge thanks to everyone who has supported me in your thoughts and prayers this week. I have felt supported, healthy, and effective during my time here. One more sleep until I'm Canada-bound.

Adios!
Danielle.

Feb. 22/23 - Wed/Thursday

I don't know where the days have gone - it's Thursday! I'll try to recap the best I can:

My first patient was discharged yesterday. What a bittersweet moment! 2 days following her hip replacement, she aced the PT stairs like a pro and was officially released from our care. Although we couldn't verbally communicate, I felt a bond with her, and I think she felt the same. When her family came to escort her home, they iniated the picture taking! I think a certain ''celebrity status'' is given to those who recover from our team care.

A second patient of mine was discharged today. She is a young woman, single mom, and unbelievably determined to recover - 1 day post-op she climbed the PT stairs and was discharged with a clean bill of health! Being sent home one day post-op from a hip recplament is a rarity in Canada... we are a bunch of wimps! She was surrounded by family her entire stay, and again, at discharge, it became a mass mob of photo-taking with team and family members.

I am still loving my ward team. It's great gettingto know other nurses personally - I am endlessly asking an ER nurse about her patients and stories. I also work with a pediatric nurse, so her take on patient care is unique.

The ''feel'' here is something else. Although traffic is insane during rush hour, the culture is laidback and friendly. Beautiful music, spicy food, rainy days - my cup of tea! I have lost track of the number of times I've been addressed as a Spanish-speaking person... I think I found my 'real' ethnicity!

Tomorrow, Friday, is our final full day of surgeries - Saturday is a 1/2 day and believe Sunday is free! A bunch of us are headed to the equator one of those days, and rumours of seeing a soccer (footbol!) game are also floating around.

That's all for now - Adios!

Monday! (Feb 20th)

Feb. 20th - Monday

Being part of this team is just a blast. I am so fortunate to be the student on this trip, and have the ability to move between the ward, recovery room, and OR as needed.

I followed two cases today, the first one being a young girl, about a year, with a club foot. Preoperatively we got her prepared, but the anxiousness of her parents was evident. This is where the language barrier is very strong - and frustrating. No matter how genuine our smiles or our intentions, carrying a crying child away from their parents and into the OR is challenging. Translators lessen this divide, but it still exists.

Thankfully, this beautiful little girl did wonderfully through surgery and recovery. While I was watching, the surgeons gave me a play-by-play of every step, and although I wasn't "clean'', I was encouraged to get as close as possible to see it all.

I  saw a total hip replacement following this, and was still enjoying every moment in the OR. There is quite a bit more hammering and "construction work" involved than a pediatic case, and at one point the femoral head did a hot-potato dance in the air from hand to hand! This lady also did great through surgery and recovery, and became my first official Ecuadorian patient!! YAY!

The ward is beginning to fill as 4 adults and 4 children went through the operation room. By tomorrow evening, every bed will be filled.

We wrapped up the night with dinner, as per CAMTA tradition, at a waffle/crepe house, of all places! The desserts were infamous among CAMTA returnees and this year it certainly did not disapoint!

Day 2 of the ward begins tomorrow and the time will go rapido until Saturday. The OR slate is under constant revision as the charge nurse and surgeons ensure that we can see as many people as possible.

Yet another day has come to a close, and my mind is still turning cartwheels over the excitement of today. School seems so far away, so menial in the light of CAMTA's work here. Daily, minute by minute, I am seeing the contributions, fundraising, and prayers of everyone back home come to life as we are able to use our skills for amazing work here.

D.

Clinic Day One! (Feb 19th)

February 19th - At the hospital

Today - clinic day one! The hospital is a 1/2 hour bus ride to the other side of Quito. It was in better condition than I anticipated. However, although it had been built only a year ago, it looked dated to the 70's - apparently it had taken 15 years to build! Crazy!

Half the day I worked with the other adult ward nurses unpacking and 'moving-in' to our ward. We did inventory and set-up, breaked for lunch, then headed downstairs to the clinic to assist with assessments. Locals from far and wide travel for a chance to be seen by our team. I was able to jump right in and work with the clinic nurses in screen potential candidates - going through their health history, medications, vital signs, etc.... All with the invaluable help of a translator, of course!

It was noisy and crowded, and people lined the hallways waiting for their turn to be seen. Many sat on chairs, the floors, or stood supported by crudely fashioned wooden walking sticks. Depsite the busy environment, the whole process ran smoothly from beginning to end. All the patients I assisted in assessing were approved, however I know that was certainly not the case for everyone.

Tomorrow is the first surgery - a bilateral hip and club foot. And I am scheduled for a follow through - I CAN'T WAIT!!! The kindness of the team is astonsihing - the nursing staff truly want to teach and have taken me under their wing. For example, here we take blood pressure manually - I shouldn't have been shocked, but I was really taken off guard. I haven't done it manually in almost three years! Take my gap of know-how in stride, two nurses sat me down and practiced with me until I had it down pat.

Afterwards, we returned to the hotel for a quick wash-up prior to pizza in the lobby. Virtually nowhere is open to eat on Sundays, and it is forbidden to drink alcohol too - literally against the law! 

Tomrrow the first patient goes under the knife and the ward will soon be brought to life. A OR nurse brought scrub caps covered in Canadian flags for the team, and I am just dying to try it on! PTL it has elastic on the back because fitting my mane under those things can certainly be a challenge!

In the mean time, my goal is to turn off my brain. Countless times in the day I can't believe I am here, that I've made it to South American and able to offer help to people in need. I am so blessed to be part of such an amazing team.

Adios!
D.