08/21/2023
Amigos de Salud 2023
It had been six long years since we at Clínica Fara had been witnesses to all the goodness that can take place when a medical mission group comes to spread healing, six long years for those on our waiting list to receive the gift of relief from pain, discomfort, bleeding and sleepless nights that varicose veins can cause. All 20 volunteers arrived paying for their own plane tickets and accommodations to volunteer their expertise, their time, their care. It was a magical time.
We arrived to Matagalpa on the later part of Sunday, July 2. Having just enough time to get settled at the clinic and review some 12 cases before it got late. On Monday we were all greeted by the long line of smiling excited patients. They had all been previously examined by the local personnel at Clínica Fara and they had all presented health records to avoid any difficulties for medical staff. You could feel the joy in the air from the patients who had waited a long time to receive treatment from the medical personnel. The medical staff was so excited to be back giving away their gift of healing and for all the new volunteers getting to experience for themselves what they had only heard about. At the end of the week, some 360 patients were treated. Considering that there were only 3 doctors, that is a very significant number.
The week after the medical mission, there were 70 ulcer patients who returned to the clinic for wound care. This year every medical personnel from Clínica Fara learned to treat and bandage the open ulcers. It gives us such a joy and we feel so privileged to be the witnesses of each of these patients healing. We are all so proud to witness them “Graduate” to a pair of support stockings. A month after the mission, 10 of the ulcer patients are healed.
This year we treated a patient with an open ulcer that went almost all around her leg. She had the open ulcer for 30 years and had been too afraid to be treated, worried that her leg could be amputated. There were patients from many, many different places in the country. There was one whose journey to the clinic took two days as she was from a very remote place.
The week went by so rapidly. Each day we all (visiting volunteers and the Clínica Fara personnel) worked so hard and diligently making sure each patient was very well taken care of.
We want to express our gratitude to
Tony Jakubowski for organizing this mission, for always bringing joy and good cheers, the latest equipment, efficient and kind family members and ultrasound expertise. We are grateful for all the hard work Tony’ daughter Molly Jakubowski did organizing our supplies, sorting through all the inventory that was previously at the clinic and creating spreadsheets of all that was available. We all so much treasured her joyful demeanor.
A huge thanks to Dr. Nick Morrison and Terri Morrison from Amigos de Salud for their leadership in bringing also 5 medical missions in previous years, for recruiting all the talented doctors, nurses, supplies and sharing their gift of healing with the people of Nicaragua. This year they brought the gift of their family too, son-in-law Josh Lorenzen and grand kids Joshua and Makala Lorenzen ( All the while Kelly their daughter, wife and mother stayed home healing from major surgery. How very comitted to this mission they all were). It was Joshua and Makayla’ s first trip volunteering and they worked so diligently with their dad and grandparents non stop. Josh a well experienced paramedic was so very helpful in procedures.
To Dr. Giovanni Mosti for all the years curing wounds from those who have suffered the most. Making sure we have all the wound care supplies necessary for the mission donated.
To Dr. Alessandra Nacchia on your “Maiden Voyage”” to treat so many wounds, next to your wonderful Professor Mosti. Hope it was your first of many missions.
To Andrea Brennan for her magical hands and expertise in cleaning wounds, helping those with lymphedema manage their illness, training all the patients on bending their knees and techniques to help their bodies heal.
To Joe Brennan who helps his loving wife procuring the perfect treatment for each patient, for adjusting bandages and make them “Fit”, for fixing anything that breaks.
To Philomina Duesdieker who so much wished all these years to return to Nicaragua to help our patients with her ultrasound expertise and experience and to share her knowledge with a couple of her students, who certainly had the experience of their lifetime while helping others heal:
To Hannah Valverde and Theresa Castorena, the very committed ultrasound students.
To Philomina’s husband Giles Duesdieker who thought he was coming to volunteer for a day and then would be going hiking. Instead, he gave invaluable help to the group the whole time. He did not miss one minute.
To two wonderful students (to whom we wish the best in medical school) who came so full of joy and worked so hard assisting in procedures and whom we hope to retain fascination with this field and further pursue phlebology (God willing so they may continue this mission)
Morgan Cody
Clare Connelly
To two magnificent nurses who who put their healing hands in so many procedures.
Jessica Homicki
Diana Sanchez
To Marilyn Schartz to whom we are greatful for giving her great services and expertise a second time in Matagalpa.
To the “Cheerleader” of the group and the “MediUSA Ambassador” Christopher Miles, who measured so many legs for the right size support stockings. Who taught others in the group how to accurately measure legs and choose the right size, strength and kind of stockings. Who checked on ulcers too for the right products.
To the Personnel at Clínica Fara who worked for a long time preparing on the ground for the mission.
Dr. Flavia Soza
Dr. Ninoska Vélez
Dr. Ada Francis Arguello
Martha Castro
Junielka Salgado
María Angélica Matamoros
Rosibel Blandón
Parisa Farahani
Lucy Guzmán
Maria Hernandez
Sabas Hernández
Iris Castil Blanco
And Matagalpa volunteer Jocelyn Hernandez
To my daughter Leila Farahani, my right hand on doing our part and my sister Marcela Cisne-Zadik who makes sure everything is in order and ready for the mission at the clinic.
To Alejandro Pita who does the legal work for our permits in Nicaragua and Terrance Reese who makes sure all required papers are properly notarized.
To MediUSA for supplying the necessary stockings and for sending us Christopher.
To Lohmann Roche Medical Supplies and Michael Fuchs who provided the medical supplies needed for wound care.
To Sigvaris and Juzo for supplying support stockings, and UMI Imaging, a big thanks!
With our hearts full of gratitude we wish to express to everyone our hope that we would continue this mission year after year. And that we actively recruit others to join. May you all have a very blessed year until we meet again as Amigos de Salud 2024 in Nicaragua.
By Maria Cisne Farahani
