My Heart Is in Peru

This was my first medical mission trip. The dream finally came true. Last year I was serving the Peruvian people and it changed my life forever. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

My Heart Is in Peru

I am a registered nurse from another country. I live permanently in the USA, pursuing my dream to be licensed and work here. Nothing will stop me.

Last year in November, I went for my first mission trip. After landing in Houston, I was nervously waiting for the rest of my group to join me for the medical trip.

Our group was made up of about 23 people, doctors, nurses, physician assistants, paramedics and those who had no clue about medicine whatsoever... everyone wanted to help!

We then boarded a plane for the 6.5 hour trip to Lima. There are journey began.

If you don't know how mission trips works let me tell you it is hard work, early mornings, crazy work for 12 hours often in the dirt with no running water. But, if you go you will fall in love for the first time and you will want to go again.

The physicians I was working with were different ages. Many of them have been on similar trips all over the world. They were amazing glob trotters. Some of them were 73 or 80 years old with energy that I could only dream of...

During 5 days we helped 2000 people. Many of them were without basic health care for years and were willing to wait at the gate for hours in dust and dirt desperate to see a doctor or just to be heard or just to know that there is someone that cares.

The village we served was situated about an hour out of Lima, on endless moon sand like mountains. Their houses were made from any kind of material, like paper, wood but very unstable, very poor.

Most of the children had a different kind of parasites in their intestines, living without treatment for years. Later we will find out that they have only one bathroom without running water that they share with ten other families..

Never before have I met such beautiful, joyful people. They don't demand anything, but they are grateful for anything.

Many times our hearts were just broken by what we saw. Like my smallest patient brought in by his mother, carefully wrapped in a blanket. The mother came with her older baby who was completely fine. I saw that she kept in her arms "something" wrapped so tight that I could not see what it was. When I asked, I found it was another baby! She unwrapped her 7 months old newborn...

I was speechless seeing how small the baby was, a was a premature boy. The Mother was released from the "hospital" after only two days, with no treatment, no incubator, no vaccine.

We didn't have a pediatrician, so I grabbed the baby and went to our emergency specialist...asking him to use his all pediatric knowledge and check the baby just to let the mother know there is someone who cares...

Doctor Bill did a great job but the rest of the fight belongs to the baby...we felt sorry for them...

In cases like that, I am thanking-God..in America, we have baby wipes warmers...and this child doesn't have even basic pediatric care...

This year I will go again...that's kind of job that you fall in love with...and don't want to stop...

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Anyausa

About Anyausa

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What group did you go with?

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I lived in Peru for a total of 10 years and was able to see many things that others will never have to see. I didn't get to go on many missions, not like I would have liked but the missionaries that I was around all the time had medical people come in and take trips along the Amazon. My life there was to live and teach my children so I had to put my full time RN job on hold but did manage to do some of the time. You are right about falling in love with those people and helping them out is so rewarding.

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Wow! You are a woman of character!!! 10 years...

If you would like to tell me more about it I would be happy to listen..

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Specializes in L&D, Nsy/NICU, Med/Surg, UM, CM.

I commend anyone who does charitable work :yeah:

My husband goes on medical mission 2-3 times a year w/ Rotaplast. Their main mission is repair of cleft lips and palates in countries such as Peru, Venezuela, Viet Nam, and Philippines to name a few that he has been to. He has been doing this for about 6 yrs and he just loves it.

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This is such a great thing to do..once you go, you will want to go back!

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

What a warm, wonderful, and uplifting read ! Thank you for sharing your journey. I admire you, respect you, and THANK you ! Keep up the good work. Our world needs more like you. :)

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How do you find these medical missions? Can LPN's do it?

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Everyone can do it. go to http://www.olivebranchministries.org for more details.

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Hi Can you share your contact information. I have been a nurse for over 20 years. Ihave worked in Africa as a Embassy Nurse. I want to go on a mission as such.

My contact info is

Thanks

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for more information you can go directly to http://www.olivebranchministries.org

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