HELPS Trip #1 - San Cristobal

Orphanage Outreach, Day 1

HELPS International Trip #1 - San Cristobal

The hour long drive from Coban to neighboring city San Cristobal seemed to take forever. While Justin and I rode in bed of Bernie's pick-up truck, I was plagued by a massive headache and longing for a place to lay down. As we arrived at the hospital, the scene outside was enough to make me forget my head-pains. For at least a half-a-mile leading up the hill to the hospital, a long lane snaked down an old, washed out road. It was apparent that many of the Guatemalan queuers had camped, maybe for days, seeking the first-class medical attention that HELPS has to offer.

As our truck rolled up, the members of the line turned and began to applause our arrival. Justin and I were humbled beyond belief; it was a significant foreshadowing of what we were about to experience during the week.

Meeting The Team

The hospital was kept in a "base camp" about the size of a football field. Surrounding it was a tall fence adorned with barbed wire. The actual hospital would be considered derelict in the United States, but for Guatemalan standards (and for what we wanted to accomplish with it) it worked. Many rooms were missing door handles, ceiling tiles, and functioning lights. Our living space, which was smaller than a St. Thomas Hall dorm room, had lights that didn't turn off and was missing a significant amount of ceiling tiles (steam room at night, refrigerator in the morning). As we explored the hospital and tried to find people who could use our help moving things, translating, or setting things up, Justin and I played the role of unexpected guests (recall that Erin, our contact, was not in attendance). 

"Hi! I'm Thomas Joyce." …  "Yep, I'm from Minnesota, too! I'm volunteering here for a year through a program called the Saint John's Benedictine Volunteer Corps." … "We're staying in Coban; in a monastery called Resurrection Priory, actually." … "No, I don't think I want to be a monk, but it's been a very enlightening experience! I'm just a volunteer."

Dr. Joe taking a break

After introducing myself as such to a nice lady named Ruth, she got excited, "YOU are from Saint John's?! Oh, just wait till Dr. Joe hears this." Immediately, Ruth took me to the dentist's area, where she introduced me to Dr. Joe Wenner (SJU Class of '68). "You're from Saint John's? Come on over here!" Joe put his arm around me and told me that I'd be working with him for the week.. 

"This guy is working with us! He's a Johnnie so he'll definitely work hard!" Here I am, thousands of miles away from Collegeville in the midst of the Guatemalan mountains, and yet I cannot escape that wonderful thing that is Johnnie Pride. Dr. Joe introduced me to his whole team, with whom I spent the whole week with. Joe's mentor, fellow hunter and Stearns County member Dr. Bob of Albany, MN (just north of Collegeville), mild-mannered Dr. Wilcox, and Dental Assistants Stacy and Ruth composed the rest of the crew. After meeting everybody in Dental, I was thrilled to have been established with a fun, high energy group. I knew it'd be a great week!

Room and Board

As mentioned previously, or room as quite an interesting predicament: no windows, ceiling tiles gone, lights don't go off. Instead of keeping the lights on 24/7, we choose to pull the LCD lights out from their sockets (now instead of external Wal-Mart light, we had "crack" room darkness.). Still, our room was a lucky break for two reasons: 1) we got a room to ourselves. 2) we were the safest room in the hospital. Just outside our room stayed a whole platoon of Guatemalan soldiers hired to protect the hospital campus. While we weren't worried about a riot/rebellion, I suppose it is comfortable sleeping knowing that 15 AK-47's stand between you and the rest of the world. 

Another perk of the HELPS trips for us specifically is the food. While I'm not completely disappointed with what the monastery has to offer to eat (I had a fantastic lunch of burger and greasy enchiladas today, in fact), we do love having that flashback to the classic American diet. On this trip, we enjoyed a constant flow of hot dish/casserole, tomato soup / grilled cheese, spaghetti, Special K bars, Oreo Cookie Dessert, etc. Meals are an incredible event for us every day at those medical missions. There's nothing like going to bed early with a satisfied stomach.

Dr. Thomas the DENTIST

Monday through Friday, I stuck close with the dental team, learning a lot from Dr. Joe and Company. Our first two days were "outreach missions" to a local orphanage in San Cristobal. On the first day, Justin and I worked as the Dental frontline: we brushed the kids' teeth, applied fluoride, and assessed which teeth needed to be filled or (more likely) extracted ("Extracted…NOT pulled!" -Dr. Joe). From our station, the kids would wait in a long line to see the dental crew for extractions. Word spread throughout San Cristobal, and soon enough we had adults lined up for examination, too. In all, we saw around 40 some patients the first day. Occasionally, Dr. Joe would come up to us and say the following,

"Isn't this great?! We're really doin' it. But they keep on comin'. Back to work! YOU tell Brother Paul... he NEEDS to get down here. We're doin' REAL work down here! You tell him!!!"

There you go Brother Paul. You're being called out by a Johnnie dentist. Remember... I'm just the messenger.

Justin examines some small molars

Us with Mother Mary of the Orphanage

First Brush

Taking a break

On the second day, Justin stayed at "triage" (gathering information about and admitting patients),  at the hospital. The crew was a bit smaller this day- Stacy, Dr. Joe, and a pretty translator named Paola from Guatemala City. I was left as the only guy on the frontline. After cleaning teeth, examining, and diagnosing extractions for over forty people, our queue was full. Starting at around 11:30a.m. that day, I began my hardest job I've ever had to perform with HELPS: turning people away. Because word spreads fast, many city-goers would come to the orphanage hoping for a free tooth extractions. I had to explain in Spanish countless times that the outreach clinic was full, and that they might try the line at the hospital (fully knowing that was probably full, too). I stood fast for three hours as dozens of hopeful faces slowly slumped away in defeat. I hope to never have to experience that again.

Nearer the end of the day, I observed a few extractions and fillings, and even helped translate between patient and dentist. On one particular occasion, a little 3 year old girl came into the operating room. As soon as Stacey boosted him up to the seat, she began sobbing uncontrollably. Dr. Joe took one look at her and realized he couldn't extract anything now… she'd have to "go under" on Saturday (with this HELPS team, each doctor/dentist is allocated 6 surgery times, this little girl was lucky enough to get one of Dr. Joe's slots). While Paola was explaining to the little girl's mother that they would need to get to the hospital for the little girl's operation on Saturday, the little girl continued to sob loudly. I couldn't stand it! I picked her up and her arms grasped tightly around my neck. Pretty normal human reaction, I'd say, but she still made my heart melt. 

At the hot seat

Stacy comforts a tired patient

Dr. Bob and Ruth hard at work

Wednesday was a lot more fun and less-stressful. I stayed with the Dental Team at the hospital all day. I'm not sure of exact numbers, but we must have seen at least 75 some patients. I worked as the primary translator for the two dentists, which pretty much made me the official "hand-holder" for little kids (another very heartwarming experience). I was amazed at how tough some of these kids were.. and the mothers were even tougher! I saw a Guatemalan soldier wince in response to getting a quick extraction, whereas I saw a Qui'chi' mother's gums get dug into by medical tweezers and not see so much as a flinch. 

While most patients were tough, I did need to help hold down a few as well. Needless to say, we were absolutely exhausted at the end of the day. 

"We're Done!!" -Stacy and Dr. Joe

Dr. Schwegler helps a family out

Justin helps at Triage in Tactic

Thursday and Friday consisted of assistance at another outreach location: a church near Tactic (about 30 minutes from our hometown Coban). The dentists set up their stations in a very new, clean parish gathering building and saw around 150 patients in two days. On Friday, a team of doctors also assessed, assisted patients and distributed medication. Justin assisted the doctors with Triage in another building close-by, while I remained with the dentist's team, doing a mix of everything I had done in the first two days (applying fluoride, translating, "Toothbrush Use 101", etc). As before, work became stressful at times with pushing patients and limited "instruments" (NOT "tools" -Dr. Joe). Still, everyone kept a great attitude and persevered.

Dr. Bob and "Legendary" Jon Cain prep for another extraction

A Good Day's Work

On Friday night, the whole crew enjoyed a delicious banquet held in the hospital hallway. I exchanged contact with several new great friends like Casey and Connor (HELPS post-undergrad volunteers staying the next few months… our friends and contacts for future trips!), Lance from Texas (great music taste), Ana, Paola, "Sweetheart" Luisa (translators from Guatemala City), Peter, The Cain Family, The McMillan Family, the whole Dental team from MN, and many others. At the end of the night, a few marimba players came to the hospital, and a big dance floor manifested itself. I did my best to attempt the salsa dance without liquid confidence (I may or may have not looked very, very foolish). A fun night regardless, and a great way to end such a rewarding week.

Paola tries to teach me salsa

Lance and Margarita tear a rug

On Saturday, January 28, Justin and I left the hospital, reassuring the team that we would meet up with them in Antigua for the celebration banquet. We wished to make a return trip to Coban, however short, to freshen up, settle down, and relax.

Sunday, January 29, my birthday, was wonderful. I woke at noon, and did very little except for play and listen to music. Justin brought me brunch in bed- a delicious grilled cheese and potato chips. In the evening, we headed out to Casa de Acuna for a delicious pizza meal. Our friend, Guiseppe, served us all the best; he brought out a special drink for me to try (his own invention, called "Piensamiento" or "A Thought"), and even did the embarrassing "Ya Quieremos Pastel" Guatemalan Birthday song. I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend my birthday.. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Cullen and Luisa hit the dancefloor 

Joe preps his big bag o' coffee for back home

On Monday and Tuesday, Justin and I traveled to Antigua to spend time with the San Cristobal HELPS group one last time. On Tuesday afternoon, we took a bus to the top of one of Antigua's surrounding mountains. There, I enjoyed a fine lunch (paid for by Dr. Joe) and a fantastic view of Antigua's valley. In the evening, we attended the HELPS Banquet. In all, I believe an estimated 1,800 people were medically assisted in some way by this HELPS crew, and over 60 stoves were installed in the local communities (more on STOVES in the next HELPS International blog entry). I was even surprised by the presence of Kelly Bechtold, friend and CSB student studying abroad in Guatemala, whose uncle Dr. Boyle was involved in the HELPS mission. Afterwards, a few of us went out for some quick drinks, dancing and good times at MONO LOCO, a local Antigua hotspot. All-in-all, in the few days of Antigua and week in  with this medical team were wonderful moments that have been permanently imprinted in my memory of Guatemala.

The Team