Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to volunteer far from your comfort zone, administer healthcare across boarders, with limited resources, language barriers, and power outages, causing you to see the world from a different perspective, rediscover your purpose, and gain a new sense of gratitude.
On November 11th, myself, along with 50 other volunteers, from all over the US embarked on a week-long life changing journey. A journey that would not only change our lives, but more importantly, change the lives of others who are far less fortunate than us. A journey that was a mission, far from impossible (thanks to an incredible team). Follow along for our week long medical mission in Honduras!
After two plane rides, and one long, winding, hilly, bumpy (if you’re in the back of the bus) 3 hour bus ride later, we made it to our destination for the week, the Neustros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) ranch.
The bus ride was humbling as we drove through small towns where poverty and lack of resources were evident. A country that struggles with gang violence, political unrest, climate instability, and access to healthcare, is the same country that is home to many innocent and good Hondurans who were very kind and grateful for the surgical and medical attention they received during our time there.
Thanks to the One World Surgery organization, who hosted our group, and many others like it throughout the year, we were able to embark on this incredible mission.
Our volunteer group consisted of both medical and non medical (or general) volunteers. From the medical standpoint, we had 3 general surgeons, 2 urologists, 2 anesthesiologists, 3 CRNAs, 2 PAs, 12 nurses, 4 scrub techs, and one surgical first assistant. Also joining us, was a large group of employees from Medline, a medical supply chain company. Our general volunteers were able to help in both the clinic and on the NPH ranch.
Whether medical or non medical, these volunteers all came together to help the people in need. We started out as strangers but are now admirable friends and contacts to share this incredible experience and story with.
In five days, our group cared for around 100 patients and performed 75 surgeries while volunteering at the Holy Family Surgery Center. The center offers primary care, surgical care, a laboratory, and a pharmacy. Patients come to the center from near and far, some even traveling from nearby countries.
Patient smiles like these are a big part of what will make this trip so memorable. (Obtained consent for the pictures.) The patients were very kind and grateful despite wait times and delayed surgery times, something you rarely see in the US. Oh, and they also are sent home with Tylenol and ibuprofen for pain meds, unlike Americans whom get a plethora of narcotics post operatively.
From my understanding by chatting with the locals, the center is considered to provide “world class healthcare” compared to other hospitals in the country. Some patients said they’d have to wait years for a specialized appointment. Others said they were mistreated in city hospitals. They never complained, even though the conditions were not quite “world class.”
Even though it’s a well established surgery center, they still lacked supplies, equipment, and resources that are easily accessible in the USA. We learned that the customs and boarder control is very strict about supplies entering the country, therefore the process of getting supplies to the center is a challenging process. The center receives 3-4 shipments per year, so there is no constant flow of supplies like our weekly shipments in the US.
Thanks to the group of Medline volunteers, they were able to unload one of the few yearly shipments, organize, stock, and take inventory of the supply room and supply warehouse. As a result, the surgery center will now know what supplies they have and what supplies they need.
Despite some equipment issues, the language barrier, power outages here and there, and some supply shortages, our team was able to work well together with what we had to provide some awesome care to the patients in need.
I had expected some obstacles before going on this mission, however, it was very eye opening to see how resourceful the center must be to survive and how mindlessly wasteful we are in the US. I feel fortunate on a whole new level, for the supplies, equipment, and resources I have access to while at work in the US. Also, I’m inspired to relearn Spanish!
About NPH & OWS
One World Surgery is the organization that now funds the Holy Family Surgery Center located on NPH. Although the center has it’s own full time staff, OWS is able to coordinate more specialized care and treatments through volunteer groups that visit throughout the year.
Resting on 2,000 acres of land just about an hour northeast of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, lies NPH Honduras. On the ranch you can find housing for around 300 children, schools, healthcare, gardens, crops, livestock, everything needed to create a sustainable living environment.
Translating to “our little brothers and sisters”, NPH is an organization that strives to improve the lives of children in 9 different countries throughout Latin America. NPH provides a safe environment, healthcare, education, and family support services for poor and vulnerable children. By providing these services, these children are given an opportunity to succeed in life and break the cycle of generational poverty.
Once children living in inadequate conditions, to pequeños living on the ranch, to current working healthcare providers, consisting of nurses, support staff, and the current medical director and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Merlin Antunez. This group along with others, now serve the people of Honduras and even surrounding countries at the Holy Family Surgery Center. They are proof that the NPH organization sets the pequeños up to succeed in life.
Also located on the NPH ranch, is the Moscati Center, lodging for volunteer groups that visit throughout the year. Inside the center you could find a small chapel, a courtyard, lots of hammocks, comfortable rooms, a pickle ball court, and a gathering place for meals and entertainment.
The surgery center was about a 10 minute walk from the moscati center. The path felt very jungle and rainforest like, making it a peaceful walk to and from work everyday.
Besides work, we were able to have some fun outside of the clinic throughout the week. The hospitality team did an awesome job planning activities after work everyday. From karaoke, to pickle ball, to hikes, to games, there was something offered to those with energy to spare after long work days.
Going into this mission, I knew 1 person (hey, Jules). Leaving this mission, as you can see, I had made many new friendships and connections. Everyone was so kind, helpful, and excited to be apart of something bigger than themselves. Shoutout to the volunteers that came on this mission alone, I admire your bravery to escape your comfort zone completely solo!
Overall, to be apart of this mission was such an incredible experience. To come together, make new friends, while serving those in need of medical and surgical attention, was something I will never forget. My nursing career has taken me many places, but this might just be my new favorite place!
My cup overfills as I return to work back in Denver. From travel nursing to staff nursing, to feeling a little lost as I try to navigate the next steps in my career, this trip was exactly what I needed. Now that I’ve seen healthcare through the eyes of the impoverished, it has transformed my perspective of life going forward. I’m grateful for the things I have, the resources I have, and the life I get to live.
If you’re considering going on a mission trip, I encourage you to look at the many opportunities offered through the One World Surgery organization as well as the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos organization. Whether you are medical or non medical, there are many needs for all types of volunteers.
If you’re unable to donate your time to traveling to Honduras, there are options to donate money to support to these incredible organizations if you feel called to do so. Through NPH, there are opportunities to travel to the ranch to volunteer, donate money, or even sponsor a child.
Huge shout out to all of the amazing volunteers on this trip, what an honor it has been to work alongside you, and thank you for all that you have done! Mission, accomplished.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=LYLKX0f2F3k
[Video credit to Chloe, another nurse on the trip! Some photos courtesy of other volunteers.]
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