Look What We Are Doing

I went into healthcare for selfish reasons. My passion is to help people specifically women. That is a cliqué; but it is very true in my case. My personal healthcare journey lead me to one of the most rewarding adventures of my life so far. In the fall of 2021, I had an opportunity to join a talented group of healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, surgical techs and volunteers) from Illinois, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee; on a medical mission to Honduras in South America. This was my 3^rd mission trip, but my first surgical-medical mission.

We were a part of the Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International (BMDMI) team who traveled together to this beautiful country to perform much needed surgeries such as abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies, removal of ovarian masses, bladder and prolapse surgeries and laparoscopic tubal- ligations. Thirty-five surgeries were performed in 4 days; we had only 3 operating rooms to work with. The women we helped waited many months to years to get their care. They traveled many hours to get to the city to see the gynecologist.

The first day of the trip; the MD saw 50 women and had to identify which women were candidates for surgery. The first three (3) nights after the major surgeries were performed, the Honduran women stayed overnight at the hospital for recovery. Every woman was released in less than 24 hours with a bag full of supplies that were provided by my church Faith Temple Church of God in Christ. The expenses for the supplies were paid for by my employer The Woods Women’s Group.

I am Grateful to The Woods Women’s Group for allowing me the opportunity to serve this group of women in Honduras. It is a continued depiction of the dedication of service provided by them not only to the women of Lake County Illinois but also around the world.