Med Mission Week

So thats where ive been this past week, Santo Domingo. Ive been participating in a med mission specializing in ear reconstruction. The perks were amazing. We got to stay in an amazing hotel. We were taken out to dinner every day for lunch and dinner, and not to just any old place, to AMAZING resteraunts. Just a preview of some of the food i had..... Angus beef tenderloin with melted gorgonzola cheese on top, Veal scaloppine, Beef Filete, Smoked pork chops, etc. Needless to say it was incredible! AND i did not have any intestinal distress!! Big week!

As far as the work went.....We worked for our food and accomodations. We put in five 13 hour days in a row. I have never worked so hard for so long. We were running back and forth between the operatin room and the post-op. I was removing IV`s and discharging patients with instructions on how to mantain their scars....Laura eat your heart out...haha. I got to scrub in on surgeries, holding peoples ears that were dangling by a thread as the surging dug for a hole. I got to fill needles with local anesthesia. We had a lot of responsibility, more than i ever would have in the US, lol. Our main responsibility was to translate for everyone, doctors, nurses, etc-It was a mind changing experience, though. The dominicans were so patient and soo appreciateve of the service we offered. It was refreshing to see the family element. Whoel families rallying behind their children as they came to and from surgery. To see their eyes light up as their little girl/boy was wheeled into post-op, still half asleep. The families would stay for hours. There were tears, hugs, laughter all that junk. The medical team that we assisted was incredible. 3 dedicated surgeons, and a handful of nursing staff. They were all super nice, and patient. They also paid for all of our meals, lol. Days were rough, and it felt liek we never got a break, literally we took 10 minutes for lunch. But, at the end of the day when you've worked your butt off for something bigger than yourself, it feels pretty good. It was miserable, exhausting, stressfull, mentally tiresome, but i wouldnt trade any second of it for anything else. This is the best thing i do here.

Also, on a more selfish note, i won 6000 pesos in the casino while in Santo Domingo. I keep winning, lol.....

So im back home now. Back to high schools and prisons, lol. Quite a change of pace, but im ready to be back-

Love and miss you guys tons. My parents are coming in 2 weeks!!!