12.11.2024. Surgical Oncology Volunteerism in Honduras

After a hiatus of several years because of the global covid pandemic, we are back with our volunteer work in Honduras. I serve as the Health Volunteers Overseas Surgical Oncology Director to Honduras. It is a role I really enjoy and has been an incredible opportunity for all involved. I was met at the airport by Dr. Roberto, the Surgical Oncology program director, and it was like we had never missed a beat. He is an amazing person and a true humanitarian. I am so glad we reconnected.

My visits have always been in November and this year was no different. The weather can be milder or stormier but the reason why I like traveling there in November is that there are Christmas trees everywhere! They do not celebrate Thanksgiving Day as we do, so Christmas decorations appear
in the beginning of November. Music, decorations and trees everywhere. I do love it! I could do an entire blog on the Christmas trees - not only in the hotel and shopping malls, but also in every department in the hospital!

This brightly decorated tree is located in the hospital OR.

The next two are in the hotel lobbies.

OK, enough of the trees. I had the opportunity to work with the surgical oncology residents, both in the operating room and in the conference room. I am very impressed with this cohort and reminded them they are the future leaders of surgical oncology in Honduras. In addition to being bright and technically adept, they all also had a great sense of humor. 

Here is an "all girl" operating team! The anesthesiologist, the surgeon, the nurse, the residents - all accomplished women. Good for them.

I broke scrub to let the residents close the wound, under close supervision, of course. 

This man was the circulating nurse for many of our cases and a delightful person. I remember him from my last visit. It was good to see him again.

Out anesthesiologist - she was great.

The future of surgery is in their hands! Dr Nora (left) is training in gynecology, and Dr Maybeline is a surgical oncology resident. Working with them in the OR was an excellent experience.

It wasn't all work and no play. After we finished in the OR we would enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant. It was a great time to relax and get to know the residents as individuals. Yes, we had sushi in Honduras!

Isn't see sweet? October is also the breast cancer awareness month here in Honduras just like in the USA. Breast cancer is just far too common around the world. Donations from some of my patients at home were provided to the cancer organization for distribution to the women. Look for blonde Honduran women! Yes, they can dye the wigs black, but I am betting someone will wear a blonde wig just because!

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Nurses in the surgical oncology ward.

A lunch at a local restaurant complete with Mayan statures and surgical oncology residents.

Lady making tortillas.

The team.

There have always been a few cats in the courtyard. Wonder why????

The kitten looked hungry and was scrounging around the small stones. I was able to communicate to two women to share their lunch with them! We all had a good chuckle at that!

Yes, someone feeds the cats because they eat the mice. Good system.

This was a very good trip. I was able to work with the residents in the OR, teach in the conference room and have good discussions with Dr. Roberto. It is my hope that next year one of the residents from my hospital will want to join me on the next volunteer trip. We have had residents in the past join, and it always seemed to be a good experience for them. 

Dr. Roberto and his family. His wife is an academic dentist. The kids were such fun - all are fluent in English and very personable! I enjoyed dinner with them all.

How much is that doggy in the window??????  I was so tempted to see if they were for sale!

Until next time....................

11.17.19 Medical mission trip to Honduras

This was the third consecutive surgical oncology trip to Hospital San Felipe in Honduras in Tegucigalpa, the capital city. This was trip was organized by Health Volunteers Overseas, an organization that supports many medical mission trips to many countries worldwide.  I had the opportunity to travel with Doctor Sayuri, one of the chief residents in our surgical program. It was a pleasure to have her on the trip and the surgical oncology resident of the San Felipe program really enjoyed her expertise and company as well.

Of course, this trip starts in the wee hours of the morning. My boys were both tired and sad that I was leaving again. Gunnarr is in the foreground and is especially sad. Fionnegan is in the background and also had very sad eyes. They all had a shirt of mine place on their beds to comfort them. Even Shorty was looking a bit down. They all know the suitcase means I will be gone ofr a while. But I always come home!

         

This is teh Hospital San Felipe taken from the upper deck of the hotel where we stayed. It is a mix of old colonial style and modern. They are in the process of building an ICU. I was told this process is "a brick a day"! Perhaps next year we will see a lot of progress or it may be completed. I do enjoy walking around the olf sections. Apperantly so do the pigeons! They are always in the courtyards.




Here are a few pictures from the operating room. This is Dr. Sayuri operating iwth the local plastic surgeon and the intern Samuel.

 

She was our OR assistant.                                              Here is Fernando, the OR tech. Yes, every one has a cell phone!

                   

Dr. Karina is the Chief resident, although she has one more year to complete her training.



Dr. Jason, the surgical oncology resident and Dra. Zyama, a gynecology resident, assisted me with a case.




Dra. Karina with medical students from one of three medical schools in Honduras. They were observing on this day. One of teh medical students scrubbed with us on our first day.




Dra. Karina, Dr. Samuel and a local surgical oncologist.




Dr. Sayuri operating.




On the first day I worked with Dr. Junior on two really big cases and do not have a picture of him operating. Here is a picture of Drs. Sayuri, Junior, the anesthesia tech, and Jason.


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As per our tradition, we are provided with a little site seeing on the last day of our week. Karina and Samuel took us to the national park wiht the Cristo del Picacho. The view of the valley is spectacular. There are beautiful gardens and a chance to do a little bird watching. There were a lot of school children up there that afternoon. 








Couldn't resist the pigeon on the head of the statue. No disrespect intended. But the pigeon does have a "birds eye view".




Here is a photograph sans pigeon.



School kids running up the stairs. We walked !



Everyone takes pictures!




Cristo statue. One cannot get a photograph of the front due to the cliff.



Here is a domestic bird. 







A great horned owl.Yes, he was looking right at us. Beautiful bird.


 

Look at those claws.



The grounds keeper took us to see the owl after he observed us looking at orioles, blackbirds, and sparrows. That was really very kind of him as he had to lead us down the backside of a trail and point it out to us. What a special treat. 




Basilicia.




Samuel, Sayuri, Karina






After the walk in the park we headed up to Santa Lucia for lunch. A beautiful little town in the mountains, it has an old church and a lake with ducks and turtles. There also is the opportunity to rent a paddle boat!









  

Tres Puntas, the restaurant where we had lunch. It was delicious.





Boating on the lake.




Some pretty flowers.
  

A little bird watching as we walked around town.  He thought he was hiding in the leaves but we found him.


    




View of Santa Lucia.

And let's not forget the dogs enjoying the beautiful day!

This was again a very rewarding trip to volunteer at the hospital. I do hope to be able to continue this for a long time! I enjoy all aspects of th etrip, from taking care of some wonderful patients who are grateful for our work, to the residents in their program who enjoy our company and the chance to learn from us. They are good doctors, and I am always impressed woith the skills and knowldge of the local surgeons. It is an honor nad provelege to participate in the training of their residents and provide care for their patients.



And yes, the Christmas trees in the hotel. Love it!



  


Until next time, may you all enjoy good health and happiness.