Our Journey Begins
March 3, 2006:
PeaceHealth and Providence Health System came together to begin the Bajo Lempa Medical Brigade in Tierra Blanca, El Salvador. The few of us traveling from Eugene previously met for a ‘packing party’ and boxed our supplies for the week ahead. Kathy Garcia, PeaceHealth’s Mission Manager, and I headed for Seattle by car; Deb Dotters, Vern Katz and Stephanie Jocums flew later that evening. Others joined later from various PeaceHealth regions, along with Providence staff, a few other specialty docs and Sister Corky, our official traveling ‘Sister.’
During the long drive to Seattle, I received a broad overview of the country and the people we were about to serve. Kathy, having coordinated several past brigades, had much to share. In contrast to my anticipation, I was reassured to ‘just go with the flow.’ You see, the work we do in healthcare in the states is often at breakneck-speed. We often feel overworked, burnt
out, exhausted by the time we get home to our families. There is constant change and new requirements. For me personally, I wanted to be present during this time. Give attention, listen, and show care. I often feel rushed in my efforts to do this in my daily work. This I pondered all the way to Central America. Little did I know what was in store.
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Nearing Seattle we met Mark Koenig, Providence’s Mission Director, where we visited their warehouse and found several more tubs full of supplies. As you can see by the photo, Providence had their own contribution of bins - supplies, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. This rather large volume was to follow us all the way to San Salvador. Weighing in at nearly 50 pounds each, we had our work cut out for us, lifting and hauling and moving each . . . along with our own carry-on bags full of personal items. |
Here is our group who was soon to become a family for sorts:
Sister Eleanor Gilmore ~ Sisters of St. Joseph, PazSalud Mission Director, PeaceHealth, El Salvador
Kathy Garcia ~ PazSalud Mission Manager, PeaceHealth, Eugene
Mark Koenig ~ Mission Director, Providence, Seattle
Cathy Whittaker~ Pharmacy Tech, PeaceHealth Bellingham
Mary Kay Evans-Smith ~ Physician, Providence Portland
Catherine Potter ~ Director, Parish Health Program, Providence, Portland
Phil Andress ~ Physician, PeaceHealth Bellingham
Roland Trenouth ~ Cardiologist, PeaceHealth, Bellingham
David Shores ~ Optometrist, Port Hadlock
Zita Ptekus ~ Administrative Assistant, Providence, Seattle
Fil Jiminez ~ Interpreter, Providence, Portland
Sandy Kinsman ~ Pharmacist, PeaceHealth, Bellingham
Mie Curtis ~ Optician, Bellingham
Bryan Ortega-Schwartz ~ Patient Relations Rep, Providence, Portland
Terry Clark ~ Optometrist, Puyallup
Ken Henderson ~ Optometrist, Bellingham
Tom Schwartz ~ Physician, Providence, Portland
Patricia Wilson ER Tech/LPN, PeaceHealth, Bellingham
Walt Cassidy ~ Optometrist, Issaquah, Washington
Sister Corky Muzzy ~ Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, Seattle
Deb Dotters ~ Physician, PeaceHealth, Eugene
Vern Katz ~ Physician, PeaceHealth, Eugene
Stephanie Jocums ~ Physician, Oregon Medical Group, Eugene
Cindy Clair ~ Healing & Compassionate Care Coordinator, PeaceHealth, Eugene
(It is also worthy to note that several local volunteers joined us. Young people from the parish, several health promoters,
Emergency Health Fund Council members, along with two Salvadoran physicians all graced us with their assistance.)