I am a CRNA and will be giving anesthesia in Guatemala working with a surgical team.
Underserved pts that would otherwise not receive life saving surgeries
The impact will be enormous. Patients will be able to return to work to care for their families. Children will receive surgeries that will their future
I am so grateful to Doximity for helping make it possible for me to participate in this medical mission by providing support for my airfare.
During the week, I had the privilege of providing anesthesia for children undergoing cleft lip and palate repair. Many of these families traveled incredible distances just for the opportunity for their child to have surgery. I spoke with one mother who had traveled 13 hours with her child to reach us. That conversation really stayed with me and reminded me how easily we can take access to medical care for granted.
For these children, repairing a cleft lip or palate is about so much more than appearance. It can improve their ability to eat, speak, and interact with others, while also changing how they are accepted within their communities. Knowing that the care we provided could affect the course of a child’s life made every long day worthwhile.
Our team also cared for patients with other conditions that greatly affected their daily lives, including large neck masses and urinary incontinence. It was amazing to see what could be accomplished in such a short period of time and to witness the relief and gratitude of the patients and their families.
I have participated in medical missions for many years, and I continue to come home reminded of why I do this work. As a CRNA, I have spent my career caring for patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. Being able to use those same skills to care for children and families who have so little access to specialized surgical care is incredibly meaningful to me.
This trip was a beautiful reminder that sometimes a surgery lasting only a few hours can change someone’s life forever. I feel very fortunate to have been a small part of that change.
Thank you, Doximity, for supporting me and other medical professionals who give their time and skills to this work. Your support did more than help provide an airline ticket—it helped us reach patients and families who had been waiting, sometimes traveling many hours, for the opportunity to receive life-changing care.
