In March, Jessica Meyers NP did a solo trip to Guatemala from the US. Jessica has been a vital part of our US team’s growth. Her energy and passion for the people of Camotan has been integral to the growth of the clinic’s mission over the past few years. So this time she decided she could travel all by herself!!!
Jessica Meyers, NP with one of her patients
Of course Jessica met our Guatemalan based team when she landed in Guatemala City. They traveled as usual from the city and did the 5 hour drive to Camotan. The work week with our Camotan Clinic team was excellent. We have started a schedule in the past year to follow up in remote villages every 6 months. Jessica and our new medical resident Dr. Jose Montero were able to take care of almost 100 patients on Monday at a village that we visited late last year. They followed up on a patient that we had seen who had suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke. Fortunately with the blood pressure medicines we had started her on, her blood pressures were controlled and she actually was walking and getting around better than last year. It is our goal to establish long term care for all of the remote mountain villages like this. Jessica and Dr. Jose also started 6 patients on blood pressure medicine.
Dr. Montero treating a patient in Cajon del Rio
On Tuesday the team went to Cajon del Rio and saw over 100 patients. Dr. Montero had 2 of his medical residents join him in this remote location. Several new patients with high blood pressure and diabetes were identified. Additionally our new dental resident Dr. Leonela Bernat started her rotation with us. She delivered dental care to numerous patients who needed extractions and exams. Dental care is badly needed in these mountains. Most of the residents cannot afford to take a ride into Camotan let alone pay for a dentist to take care of an infected tooth once they arrive. Our coming to each village is an opportunity to give relief to those who need it for free. It is a service that is always requested and we feel fortunate to have the resources to help.
Lunch time during a remote mountain village
The rest of the week was busy seeing a large number of patients. One village visited was Pitahaya where the residents and Jessica saw almost 200 patients. It seemed each family had 6-8 children. It was a crash course in Pediatrics! The team had a wonderful time though and were gratified with the initial contact with new patients.
Additionally our work has more meaning when we make sure that we follow up with patients we have seen in the past, ensuring adequate follow up. Each village we visit get logged into our ledger and place on our map so follow up can be performed at appropriate intervals.
Lastly it is the togetherness of our team that makes each trip so special. There is so much joy in sharing a common goal and watching patients who otherwise would not have had care receive it. Our team of US and Guatemalan providers, translators and clinic staff always spends a week working hard. But just as important is our bond. We laugh, we talk, we eat and we enjoy non clinic time together. It is truly special.
Thank you for reading! For those of you who support us in prayer, thoughts, donations, thank you again. You are why we can do what we do. Thank you!