Hello everyone!
I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the fall sunshine! I'm still adjusting to the weather changes and the dry heat here, but overall I'm really enjoying being home.
Thank you so much to all of you who have been supporting me since being home and taking an interest in what I've experienced. It's been wonderful to catch up with everyone and find out what has been going on here in your lives. :)
As I'm unpacking my experience of the last 5 months, and recounting the stories I wanted to share an exciting piece of information with you: 24 individuals in my school impacted and made a difference in the lives of over 25,600 people in 3 months!!!! Isn't that incredible???? :)
Glancing back in my journal I rediscovered my packing adventure (it was quite an event) where I had to use PAM spray on my luggage zipper to get it sealed. Thankfully it traveled to Australia, PNG and back home, though I set a personal record for packing and repacking 11 times from home including my time in PNG. I'm not quite an expert, but I can confidently say I can pack my luggage in a short amount of time.
June 22. 2012 ~
MV Pacific Link |
Left Aroma village to join the MV Pacific Link docked in Port Morsby; commenced clinic orientation. The ship runs health care clinics (dental, primary health care, optometry, opthalmology) for a period of 2 weeks at a time. Volunteers (Doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists, general volunteers) ranging from vast parts of the globe come to live on the ship and serve in a clinic for 2 weeks. Due to the fact I was part of a school that was involved with the ship, we participated in multiple consecutive outreaches and clinics.
Christina and Candace managing Triage! |
PHC clinics |
I was placed in the PHC “Primary Health Care” clinic team and was responsible for triage with Candace, a medical student from Malaysia. We made a dynamic team and learned many things together! The first clinic day we had the opportunity to work with the doctors and nurses in the outpatient at the Kikori hospital and I was in charge of wound care for that day. It was a far cry from abundance of supplies I was accustomed to and grimaced as I chased away cockroaches from my working area and wound dressings. I was amazed to work with one of the nurses who was insightful and knowledgeable concerning the myriad of tropical ulcers we saw and how she treated her patients with basic supplies. Even though I carried a backpack containing wound care ointments and dressings, it stretched my nursing brain and skill set to realize there wasn't likely to be follow up or daily dressing changes. I came to recognize yellow puss-filled and purulent ulcers required antibiotics but it astounded me that in recounting a patients history, a child stated he fell while playing 3 weeks ago and received a small laceration; presenting now with a 2 inch convex raw ulcer.
David RN and Christina presenting mosquito education |
Christina with a baby who liked the tasty stethoscope |
Each day following we spent in a different village, setting up clinics in churches, or schools. One young boy had some kind of congenital birth defect and had club feet which tore my heart when I saw him. Yet, he moved and walked which amazed me! I couldn't believe his adaptability- he walked down a muddy, slippery mountain, that I had trouble getting down!
young boy with congenital defect/club feet |
This was also the village (Babaguna)where I met a woman who acted as translator for us, but also was seen as a patient. She rolled up her sleeve to reveal a stump on her left arm. She explained her husband was drunk and chasing after her with a knife and sliced deep into her flesh- so deep it required amputation. I remember looking in her eyes to see a reflection of such deep fear, pain and hurt. Yet, she informed me she was no longer with her husband, but as a single mom was doing the best she could for her children. She was such a help to us, speaking excellent English. Though my heart ached for what she had been through, I was impressed and grateful her village accepted and included her.
In case you're thinking that all of PNG contains is sad stories, I can reassure you that's not the case. I did witness heartbreaking poverty and stories as those described above, but there were also uplifting stories as well.
PNG boys outside clinic |
Dr. Waimbe is a PNG opthalmic surgeon. He works at a hospital in Port Morsby, but came on the ship to get more training and practice with Dr. Keith, an opthalmic surgeon from New Zealand. It was wonderful to see their partnership as they were able to share skills and techniques with each other. This is one of the goals for the ship ministry: to raise up leaders and individuals in PNG that will carry on this mission of mercy to the poorest of the poor within their own country. So it was with great celebration that Dr. Waimbe had the privilege of receiving higher training and that we were so blessed to have him on board. Soft spoken in voice, he has a smile that breaks out from the corners of his mouth and lights up his whole face. Click on the link below to see a video of more of this story!
I hope you've enjoyed reading my blog today! If you have any questions or are interested in ways to be more involved, please email me at: christyp20@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!
Thanks heaps! God bless,
Christina
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