My travels to Peru for a medical mission.
www.mmint.org
6.15.2009
I can't believe I am going to Peru!
It is now only a couple months away from my Peru medical mission that I have been talking about and planning for! I have been brushing up on my Spanish and reading about the local culture as well as the local health care. Any advice let me know!
I have always been passionate about becoming a medical provider, as well as always had a passion for South America since I had studied it at NYU and spoke Spanish with people from Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia... in my clinicals and was amazed at how humble they are and wanted to learn more... I decided I wanted to go on a medical mission and so I talked to many people and searched high and low for a medical mission. I found one in Cuzco, Peru and I was very excited but I knew it would be very challenging.
Going as a first-time medical provider proved to be extremely difficult!!! especially in high altitudes and with little resources!! I got there and I was like "WHAT WAS I THINKING?" I came home exhausted every day with headaches from high altitude and hoping I had made the right diagnosis and given the right medications to the patients and tried to watch what I ate so I didn't get traveller's diarrhea as some of us did needing IV hydration!! But our emergency physician, Judith - our hero and idol - came to the rescue! as well as many well-trained nurses and medical staff! But I did leave with so much learned and knowing that with my team I helped so many people. It left me humbled and more appreciative of what I have.
Now that I am writing this in February I can see how much even 5 months on my job has given me much more experience !! I can't believe I dared to do a mission with such little NP experience!! Thank you to everyone on the mission for being so supportive!
Now when I plan to possibly do a mission in 2011 or 2012 I will be able to give much more to the people with more confidence and skill!!!
AND...To all those who supported me (financially, emotionally, or otherwise) during this challenging mission thank you SOOO MUCH!!
I am working as a family nurse practitioner in an underserved community health setting. I am passionate about art, animals, making change, and helping those less fortunate. I have two dogs, an American Eskimo, named Talini, and a pitbull named Sinatra who add a lot of joy and fun to my life! Sinatra has given me passion to help all those pitbulls out there that need rescuing as well people who are bullied or taken advantage of that need an advocate.
I have a very positive husband who has supported me through the toughest of times and is always making me laugh!!!
I find myself on a quest for more knowledge, but I am realizing that I first need to search for the tools and then I can find anything.
I hope to open my own wellness clinic and give back to my family India as well as all those who I can help nurse back to health!
Pay it forward!
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