Pucallpa, Peru - Susan Fossum, ReSurge volunteer nurse.
Volunteering with ReSurge International is a wonderful experience, not just for the good it does for the less fortunate, but it is the mechanism by which friendships are made whose memories will last a life time. Working with such wonderful people has been an honor and a pleasure and has left a priceless memory in my mind and heart.
Pucallpa, Peru - Susan Fossum, ReSurge volunteer nurse.
Gino, a very outgoing and bright 10-year-old, came to see us because of an old electrical burn and scar on his thumb. The scar prevented him from holding a pencil and being able to write in school. Although he was excited about having his hand fixed, he was frightened about the experience. This is one of the times when our translators are especially valuable – allaying the fears of our patients when they come into the OR, comforting and explaining in their own language what’s about to happen.
Going to a hospital for surgery can be a very frightful experience for most of us. It’s even more so when you as the patient do not speak the language of the people who are about to operate on you!
Pucallpa, Peru - Susan Fossum, ReSurge volunteer nurse.
Just several weeks ago we were all just names to each other. This person from here, that one from there -- except for a few, none of us knew each other, yet within days we were about to use our combined skills and heal others.
The introductions begin at the airport as we anxiously wait for our plane to begin this odyssey and heal the less fortunate. All effort is made to remember names when we are introduced to each other as this helps facilitate a cohesive team. We talk about common interests, our families and ourselves. After our long and tiring journey we gathered together for our first team meeting. By now we know each other by first names. Then we’re off to work as a cohesive team, each one of us with a specific set of skills–our goal is to accomplish and work in unison, just as we would do if we all worked together back home.
The first day in the O.R. can be challenging since we’re not sure what to expect, in our patients and even each other. However, by the end of the day we found things worked out well. We retired to our hotel proud of our accomplishments. Later, we had dinner together, which only reaffirms our cohesiveness, despite the fact that only hours ago we were mostly strangers.
Pucallpa, Peru - Susan Fossum, ReSurge volunteer nurse.
Tony, an 8-year-old, came in with a burn to his foot caused by a cooking fire. He was brought in by missionaries from his village which was more than a two-day trip away because the river was high and the boat broke down. Tony came to us because he had severe burn contractures to his toes which caused considerable pain when he played soccer. The scars would break open when he attempted to play. His desire was to be able to play soccer with his friends. Our team leader and surgeon, being an avid soccer fan, player and coach, felt the need to allow Tony to become a future Peruvian soccer star. After two hours of meticulous release and grafting of the burn contractures, his toes wiggled independently of one another. What a successful case!
Pucallpa, Peru - Gail Cohen, ReSurge International board member
I made my way into the OR to see the final touches of surgery on a 7-month-old little girl. She is a beautiful baby, even more so now that her cleft lip has been addressed. Her mom was so happy holding her in the recovery room while she slept peacefully. The baby was able to breastfeed right away and no complications are anticipated.
Pucallpa, Peru - Susan Fossum, ReSurge volunteer nurse.
There is one operating room available, large enough to conduct two operations simultaneously. The PACU is close by with two beds for patients to recover in. The facilities are adequate with helpful local staff; their assistance is key in making our trip successful.
Pucallpa, Peru - Susan Fossum, ReSurge volunteer nurse.
Clinic days are always eventful and chaotic as we want to interview, examine and approve everyone who comes to us for services. Many of the potential surgical candidates come from near and far; some travelled four days by boat, some via plane. There were 60 pre-registered potential surgical patients for cleft lips, palates and burns. Our clinic seemed well-organized and efficient with a team composed of surgeons, anesthesiologists, a pediatrician, nurses, Resurge staff and of course the translators who made everything run fabulously! Unfortunately we can’t approve everyone as not all are safe surgical candidates because of malnutrition issues, genetic anomalies, or because the scope of the procedure would not be appropriate for the timeframe in which we are here in the city. This trip is the first two- week opportunity for ReSurge in Pucallpa. Amy Laden, ReSurge director of international services, was interviewed by local television crews in hopes of spreading the word about ReSurge and the services that we provide.
Pucallpa, Peru - Susan Fossum, ReSurge volunteer nurse.
After 24 hours of travel and a couple of layovers that allowed us to make sure that our supplies (17 large boxes that carried all of our equipment) made it through customs, we arrived at the airport in Pucallpa. We were warmly greeted by Shipibo music and dancing provided by the local Lion’s club. Supplies were loaded onto a truck and taken to the Es Salud Hospital. The rest of us went by van to the hotel.
