A Stolen Heart . . . Thoughts from a First-Time Volunteer
My name is Amber Raibley and for the past 9 years I have been working as an acute care surgery and trauma nurse practitioner for Evansville Surgical Associates in Evansville, Indiana. I had the privilege to travel with the first vascular surgical brigade to serve at Manos Amigas Clinic in January 2020. A medical mission trip has been a personal goal of mine since attending nursing school at Indiana University. When invited by my brigade leader, Dr. Angela Martin, to join this brigade as a first assist in the operating room, I immediately agreed without any prior knowledge of exactly where we were going or who was sending us. All I knew was that it was a surgical mission trip and I wanted to be a part of it!
During our week at Manos Amigas, our brigade was able to serve 68 Hondurans and provide them with durable dialysis access. These patients no longer have external catheters and can receive their necessary dialysis with a largely reduced risk of infection. Aside from working in hospitals for almost twenty years, traveling and exploring the world is a passion of mine. Some trips are enjoyable but come and go, while others leave a permanent stamp on your heart and in your soul. My team and I spent only one week in La Entrada, but this trip made a lasting impact on me and one I will cherish for the rest of my life. We had planned to visit the Copan Ruins and a coffee plantation in our down time, but unfortunately there was none. We had one day of pre-op clinic and planning and five days of operating.
This week spent among the three operating rooms at Manos Amigas was unlike any other week of operating I have ever experienced. We were functioning with half the support staff we traditionally function with on a day-to-day basis and much of the support staff we did have did not speak English. Nonetheless, we pulled together as a team, a team of complete strangers, and was able to meet our goal of providing access for all 68 patients. Thanks to the gratitude of not only the patients but the staff at the clinic, we were able to persevere despite long hours and utter exhaustion. Even though there was a language barrier, the kindness and gratitude displayed by the patients and their families was evident to our whole team. The clinic staff at Manos Amigas Clinic were eager to help our team despite their unfamiliarity with the procedures. This was truly an example of teamwork and service.
Before ever departing at the airport I knew this would not be my only medical mission trip; I was not finished helping these people who need our help the most. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to serve with the other members of Serving at the Crossroads and look forward to contributing to a healthier Honduran future. It took one medical mission trip to steal my heart…
Vascular Surgery Brigade: Standing left to right: Jean Patterson, RN; Jim Patterson, MD; Angela Martin, MD holding Luke Martin; Mark Vickers, MD; Holly Vickers, MD; Amber Adams, CST; Amber Raibley, NP, Valorie Qualey, retired RN; Jodie King, SATC board member; Andrea Jester, MD. Kneeling left to right: Kerwyn Martin, OR assistant; Lexie Martin; Brad King.
