Home again...

GeoTagged, [N25.78598, E80.28164]

Well, MIA has complete another successful medical mission in Jamaica focusing on gyn and primary care. Yesterday was supposed to be the last day in clinic, a clinic originally scheduled for Thursday. Because of a mix up, that wasn't going to work. In order to meet the need, the four team members remaining, 2 docs, a pharm D, and a non medical person, volunteered our day off (Friday) to go to this clinic and see patients. We were in the van, halfway there, when the community leader called our driver and turned us around. Apparently there had a been a shooting over night and because of the risk of retaliation, we were asked to stay out for our own safety. Unfortunate, but now we really had the day off! Our hostess graciously volunteered to drive us over the mountains up north to Annato Bay. There we visited Sommerset falls, a waterfall frequented by locals, and visited the somewhat rocky beach. Finally some sun! Returning to Kingston we were treated to more homemade Jamaican fare (jerk chicken and stew peas!). After dinner we went to a playhouse in New Kingston, where we saw a really funny murder mystery. The character actors were over the top! And there were several memorable lines that I'm sure we will repeat for a time to come ("Della, don't touch me there!"). And that was the finale. This morning it was up at 4am and off to the airport...
So here I am in Miami, almost done with a long layover. But before we jump to the flight, let me tell you about my fun here. ;)
I arrived very motivated to get some exercise, so I googled nearby gyms and took a cab to the closest. After being dropped off, I realized it was closed, so I walked half a mike to the next one, carrying my 20 pound backpack in the Miami heat. No luck, another one closed. So I gave it one more try, this time going a mile and a half on foot, only to be disappointed again. BTW, the app "dex" is NOT up to date in its search! So I gave up, and just as I was about to call a cab, my eyes set upon a small weekend farmers market going on across the street. Having plenty of time and loving being outside the airport for this long wait, I headed over. That was the right choice! There were all kinds of food, vegetables, produce, restaurant fare...I picked out a $0.50 homemade chocolate chip cookie and a BBQ pulled chicken sandwich for $5 and my lunch was set! Super nice people, too. So if you are ever in Coral Gables on a Saturday I highly recommend it...
Now back to the trip home...safe travels to everyone as always!

Medicine in Action...

GeoTagged, [N18.04594, E76.78646]

Jamaica, February 2011. The team has been here since last Friday, I arrived Sunday morning and spent the first three days in the OR. We've done a total of 22 major cases (hysterectomies, oophorectomies, myomectomies, pelvic floor repair). Many of these women have waited over 2 years for their surgeries and as a result they have significant pathology. 14 cm fibroids, 24-28 week size uteri. No malignancies so far, thank goodness. The clinic team has been seeing 40-60 patients a day in our make shift clinics. No OB on this trip. Today and tomorrow is clinic only, then back to the states. During these trips we stay at a convent in Constant Spring, an area of Kingston heading up to the mountains. The rooms are clean and comfortable with ceiling fans that mimic hurricane winds. Hot showers later in the day, we prepare our breakfast and lunch in a small kitchen at the end of the hall. Dinner is usually brought in for us but Last night we had a real treat--Dr. O, an MFM from Miami took us to Devon House for dinner where we had Jamaican favorites such as curried chicken, and escovitch. Every time I've made this trip, the group has been so much fun to spend time with and get to know. So many interesting stories! The Milner family that has done missions in India and Alaska, Dr. O who has done City of Hope and worked with groups in Africa and Afghanistan, Pablo who works in environmental education, David who does locums on Indian reservations in the southwest US...all of them are such great and generous people, God bless them...
I am truly humbled and motivated to contribute more due to their selfless examples. And, as always, a trip to the third world makes me appreciate what I have in my world! A blessed day to everyone :-)

The art of doing nothing...

Today I watched the sunrise in Miami. Two nights of inadequate sleep, one day of travel across the US, and somehow I ended up at a Marriott resort for the night, thanks to Priceline. Don’t know why, but I just couldn’t sleep despite the down pillows and comforter. Maybe excited, or nervous, about my trip to Jamaica? My trip to Atlanta for the Tough Mudder? My trip to New Zealand spending 6 months away from family and friends?! Too many possibilities…I need to slow down. Somehow I need to learn how to do that. The problem is that I get too excited about doing or seeing things, and when I have unfilled time I insert the activity first on the list. There is no “do nothing time”. Doing Nothing is truly an art. You have to actively release yourself from responsibility, plan nothing, and DO NOTHING. Of course, this doing nothing can be watching reruns on TV, playing video games if that is your thing, read a book for fun, or lay in the grass on a sunny day for an indefinite period of time (love the last one). I really thought I would be doing more nothing when I quit my job, but somehow I haven’t stopped running! I’ve been too busy doing nothing to do nothing! And what’s worse, to do nothing, I actually have to make it part of my schedule! Doesn’t that seem contradictory? So, yes, I need more practice at doing nothing…maybe I can fit that in next week…

So, at this moment I have arrived in Kingston and I am waiting at the home base for the rest of the MIA team to arrive. I am happy to see old faces and meet new ones, including finally meeting Debbie Chong who help to found the group. I am so impressed by what she has done with this organization. I don’t know yet what the schedule will be like for the week, but I am hoping for some OR time. All of my proctoring but not laying hands on a patient has made me itchy for direct patient contact and care, especially in the OR. Still, the point is to fill a need, so I go where they tell me. In the meantime, I am readying myself for the culinary delights of the trip: jerk chicken, festival bread, juicy patties, Devon House ice cream, super yum! A year and a half ago when I first came down here, I had no idea what all of that meant, but now I am well versed in Jamaican treats! Did I mention the rum and Red Stripe? ;)

Okay, I am off to do SOMETHING!

Oh, sh#t, I missed the chicken run!

Okay, okay, no idealistic political commentary, I promise. And I will save my diatribe on how healthcare is by necessity a socialist entity for another blog. Today's is just fun...mostly. So, I first started skiing when I was 21, and my maiden voyage was a Christmas holiday in Breckenridge, Colorado with my sister, and my good friend Taylor. We were there as guests of her family, and it was one of the best trips ever! I learned to ski, and despite being responsible for 100% of me and 25% of Taylor's dad--inside joke, but very funny if you know it ;)--I didn't break anything. I did, however, develop a health respect for the face of a mountain, specifically the steep face. :( After that I made a couple trips in college (does Michigan really count as skiing, though?). Flash forward to 2009, when after living in Tahoe's backyard for several years, I decided I needed to get back on the slopes. So, started heading up to Sierra at Tahoe on days off, and who would believe it, practice does pay off! I'm not saying I'm the next Peekaboo Street, but I was pleased at the progress. So along comes 2010, and I make it out to Steamboat Springs for a godson visit, and I am ready to hit the slopes. I am ready to show off my skills! Look at me, I can ski! Yeah, I was pretty annoying. So head up the mountain, fun day of skiing, and now it is time to come down. Now, this mountain actually has a gondola that takes you down. Of course, I am the big shot skier, and I don't need the gondola, do I? Wrongggooo. I got to the lip of the run and I looked down at the steepest face I have ever seen, I swear! Holy...so I started down the run, making it two feet before wiping out, admittedly terrified. The fact that I started to slide down the mountain sitting on my skis did not help. I managed to stop, but I couldn't get up without sliding again. I looked back up at the top and it seemed too far to climb to, and was doing my best not to look down. I wanted to cry, I was so scared. So I did...cry that is, for about a minute. Then I took a deep breath, pushed myself up, focused and slowly finished the job. I don't think that makes me special or gives me any fortitude, but it did prepare me for the next time something like that happened. Which was yesterday. Me, skiing at Red Lodge in Montana, last run of the day. I had taken the second lift to the top of the mountain and they had just closed the ski lift behind me. Okay, maybe not the best idea given that I seem to be barely above novice, but one of the lift operators told me there was a nice groomed blue run that could get me down. Well, I totally missed it. One minute there was a sign for it, next minute, I am heading down moguls on my first diamond run, EVER. Oh, how I envy those who make it look easy... Once again, I am starting down the run slowly (don't look down, don't look down), and of course wipe out. This would not have been a big deal--I've done this before, right? Focused and slow, focused and slow--except, the ski patrol was coming down the mountain behind me, making sure everyone is off. How embarrassing! Here, in my finest hour (whatever!), I am being escorted down the mountain by two ski patrolmen who are watching my ski, fall, get up, ski, fall, get up, all the way down this run, probably thinking "What a stupid novice! She should know better.." In my defense, I didn't fall too many more times, and the view alone made it all worth while... amazing, big sky country... :)