I love medical missions! Being with skilled and like-minded, caring people last week in Zambia confirmed just how good it can be!
This was my 12th time to serve in surgery abroad. In many ways, Surgicorps Zambia was the best yet. DeNese and Lori anticipated all the needs of the entire team and made it appear easy which I know it was NOT! They were always kindly checking that every detail was covered.
Founder “Superman “Jack Demos offered his guidance and leadership. It is his vision of global health that provided us the opportunity to serve and perform at our best. His experience on over 90 missions in 22 countries is so inspiring! I thoroughly appreciated his rapport with the patients and their families, always genuine and professional. I’ll always remember him orchestrating two young girls, his former patients over the years, to take our group photo with his 35 mm digital camera.
There were several patients who really touched my heart. One was a brave young man named Philimon. I met Philimon in the afternoon of triage clinic. Like all other prospective patients he was thoughtful and respectful. One big difference was that he was well into his teen years. Philimon had his right hand contractured up onto his forearm after a candle caught the house on fire when he was just over two years old, or as they say in Zambia, age 30 months. He had already gone through several scar release surgeries and knew well the pain and suffering of postoperative healing. The team hesitated since Philimon had some quality of life. Seeing his disappointment, they went on to discuss, and then explain that technical approach along with the unknown outcome of this potential surgery to lower his hand. Given all the possible complications Philimon had the trust to move ahead. I think of him now hoping he does well with improved function as well as more normal anatomy.
Thanks to all that made this mission possible.
Sincerely,
Jane Camero, RN
Hood River, Oregon
