Team Report for Jane Cox Team- June 21 - July 1, 2011
Team members:
Peggy Polhemus, RN, co-leader
Sharon Bentley, RN, co-leader
Melissa Cole, RN
Kelly Davis, RPH
Jennifer Smith, PharmD
Eryn Wilson, lab tech/pharmacy tech
Vicki Coe, children's ministries
Scott Davidson, MD
Sheila Minor, surgical asst.
Delmer Montoya, MD (LaCeiba Clinic)
Ellen Storey, RN, (Belaire Clinic)
We treated 1145 patients and dispensed 4588 prescriptions in 6 days of clinics. LaCeiba Cruzadas Church- 276, Belaire clinic - 201, Cloud forest home visits - 49, Limon (2 Days) 218, Plan de Flores - 206, and Icoteas - 196. We did approximately 20 surgeries.
We were able to medically assist the construction team at the Cruzadas Church Clinic on thursday who had been working for several days and were very dehydrated and with a GI malfunction. Melissa Cole, RN, did IV hydration replacement at the LaQuinta Hotel and they were able to continue their mission as scheduled. A big thanks to Shelby Baptist Medical Center for their donation of IV fluids.
On friday, June 25, we served the children at the LaCeiba city dump and then proceeded to Limon. We stopped in Tocoa and left a wheelchair with a friend of Dr. Delmer's for delivery to Palachios to the young boy referred by Dr. Delmer and Bruce McFadden. On tuesday, June 29, I received word that the father received the w/c in Palachios and was very grateful.
While the medical staff were doing clinics , Vicki Coe and Marlene did face painting, tattoes, fingernails, and Bible School skits and music to small groups of children so that more individual attention was given and at the end of the day, all the children were touched by us and they to us.
On sunday morning we went to the Catholic church in Limon for service and spent time with Senora Leonardo and the orphanage children at the church. We then followed with a Bible School at the Cruzadas Church for the children.
On tuesday evening, we had a program presented by the orphanage children and we roasted s'mores with them at a bonfire on the beach. That was a first for all of us and enjoyed by all.
On wednesday, we returned to LaCeiba and went to Pizza Hut with the girls from Shalom and Sister Eleanor, Patty. Suyappa, Marlene and Israel. This was enjoyed by all. It is such an honor to get to know these young ladies who will be future leaders in their communities.
We had Israel (Patty Calderon's oldest son) and Marlene go with us all week and they worked as interpreters along with the Limon interpreters while in Limon. Mario Miraldo and David Kelly served as our guides and drivers. Patty, Geony, and Jonian assisted in LaCeiba. It is always a great privilage to have Dr. Delmer Montoya work with us and he was a great asset in the clinic in LaCeiba.
NEEDS IDENTIFIED:
1- construction team- Mario Miraldo's church has a small plot of land across from his church. There are many widowed ladies in his church who need to start a small business venture to earn money and support themselves and their children. They could have a 20x24 building constructed with a bathroom to cook tamales, tortillos, etc. and sell in the community.
2- Stop Hunger Now food packets need to be continued in Belaire where starvation is a reality to the Cloud Forest People, especially the 1-5 year old children.
3- Possibility of holding mobile clinics at the Cruzadas Churches of Danta and Las Vegas in the Cloud Forest of Belaire. It is very difficult for these people to get down the mountain to Evelyn Castellar's Clinic.
4- 5 surgical candidate referrals have been sent for the Connor team in late July.
5- one patient referral to Dr. Gordon Robinson, plastic surgeon who will be in Coyoles September 2 - 9, 2011.
6- Supplying start-up supplies and medicines in the new Cruzadas Clinic in LaCeiba.
MIRACLES:
1- Belaire- a 15 month old boy found in feb. 2011 with IGA Bullous Dermatitis whose father was praying for the child to die because he could not bear to see his son in such pain and suffering. On June 23rd, we saw the child with no skin lesions after continuous intake of Stop Hunger Now protein packets left in february. The mother and father brought him to clinic to thank us.
2- Plan de Flores- seeing the woodworking school and deaf school continue to meet needs as Jane Cox prayed and envisioned that they would.
3- Seeing healthy 2 year old Catherine, adopted daughter of Betza's, who we saw in 2009 in clinic with failure to thrive and weighing 6 lbs. at 6 months of age. Catherine had an accident at the Limon clinic on monday night and fell and cut her tongue severely, needing sutures. Using benadryl to sedate and a topical dental anesthetic from the dental clinic, Dr. Davidson was able to suture which was no small task. Great job, Scott!
It was a great week of service to others, reunions with friends, fellowship, and growth in our faith. We always receive much from the Honduran people who we all consider our friends and family away from home.
Out team gives a big THANK YOU to Sandy for her assistance in preparations all along the way and to David and Mario for helping us have such a wonderful experience in Honduras.
Vaya Con Dios, Peggy Polhemus
