The Surgicorps Guatemala 2018 trip has come to an end and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to be part of the team for a second time.
It was a privilege to be part of a team of such talented and kind people. As a pediatrician my role consisted mostly of working in the recovery room both years. There, I saw the impact that the surgical team had on patients.
Procedures and surgeries, large and small, that we may take for granted, are life changing for many of these people. I saw multiple examples of this during my time in the recovery room but a few stand out.
Last year there was a young woman who had a cyst removed from her arm. I saw that she was crying and when I approached her and asked her if she was in pain, she shook her head no and painted a big smile on her face…. she was crying tears of happiness. A gentleman, who had a palate repair, began to cry as he could speak for the first time in many years. I had the same experience this year when I saw a man crying after surgery because he was so happy to have had a hernia repair.
The amount of gratitude was evident with every single patient. As a pediatrician, I especially loved seeing the children and their families. Every person that was part of the team was a true pleasure. Everyone brought their unique personality and talent but they also brought dedication and kindness to the work. From the non- medical people to the surgeons, everyone worked together to bring love and care to these people.
Again, I feel honored to be a part of this wonderful group of people.