Vaya Con Dios.......Until we meet again

Our final day in El Salvador began at 6:00am, as usual.    Evelyn arrived at 6:30am to start getting us ready for the day.   She has been so amazing all week to have our breakfast ready for us, and every day but today, has sent us out the driveway with a packed lunch. I think she heaves a sigh of relief when we leave the house and she's left alone to clean up. We headed out the door at 8:00am, ready to get to town---a day of plans awaited us.  Our final trip up the mountain road and into the city traffic was bittersweet; on one hand, we wouldn't make that treacherous trip again, taking turns gasping and holding our breath.   On the other hand, we wouldn't make that trip again, seeing all the sights and the people and beholding the view of the gorgeous countryside.   We arrived at the Hospital at 9:10am and went in to begin our morning.   We knew today would be our day of goodbyes; there were patients we wanted to check on, patients we wanted to talk to, staff we hoped to spend time with, and of course, the difficult task of saying goodbye to Sister Julia and Dr. Reyes.    Our first stop of the morning was to check on our young patient who was sedated yesterday.    She was still alive this morning, but breathing peacefully, and not bleeding.   Her mother looked much better, and took the time to answer a couple questions for us before we gathered around her bed and prayed together.   Then we went and said good morning to our poet---again, she was smiling beautifully, and welcomed us.   Estefan wasn't at work today--it was his day off, and we were sad to find out we wouldn't get to say goodbye to him.   Sister Julia greeted us shortly afterwards, and we finalized some plans with her.   It was time to start giving out our "uniform" shirts that Gloria made for us, and we had so much fun giving them to the women and taking pictures with them.   It's amazing what a simple gift a woman's top is, and yet it was like giving a rare treasure.   They were all overjoyed to receive them!!   One patient told us, "I will wear this and will never forget your visit".     Dr. Reyes wasn't coming to  work until 10:30am when his weekly clinic started.    He runs an out-patient clinic every Thursday and sees approximately 50 patients each week.    The hospital provides the patients with all the pain medication they will need for the next week.   We went outside to have a drink and Gloria left us to go and pay for the van rental.   Jane went and sat in the church and the rest of us sat outside.   After about 20 minutes, a male nurse came and asked for Gloria.   Uh oh...........    In my halting Spanish I said, "Gloria no aqui" (Gloria not here), and he understood!!!     He had a look of panic on his face---how was he going to deliver his message without our translator?   Amazingly, even though he couldn't speak English and we couldn't speak Spanish, we soon discerned that Sister Julia wanted to see us upstairs.   Jane joined us as we went upstairs and met with Sister Julia.   She, too, had a look of trepidation when she found Gloria missing from our presence!!   Fortunately, the Pharmacist knew a "smattering" of English and figured out that we were trying to explain that Gloria had just gone to pay for the van and would be right back.  To our horror, Sister Julia began to tell us why she wanted to see us---WITHOUT Gloria!   I felt bad for our friends---I'm sure they felt the need to be hospitable and converse with us, but seriously, we would have been ok to sit and wait until Gloria returned!   It worked out well, though, as Sister Gloria and the Pharmacist showed us where the narcotic medications are kept.   We were shocked at how BARE the cupboards were!   They had a tray of medications ready to go to the clinic, where Dr. Reyes and the Pharmacist would dispense the outpatient dosages, and what was left in the cupboard was minimal.   Somehow, we were able to understand as Sister Julia showed us exactly how much medication our check for $2,150.00 would buy:  less than 3 weeks of just ONE desperately needed pain medication.    They use a lot of Oxycontin at the hospital and ONE bottle of 100 tablets was $575.00.    One bottle would last about 1 week.   Again, my mind raced back home as I thought about how much we waste and how much medication is destroyed, and here was a hospital full of people desperate for what we discard.    I was saddened.   As we were sitting there, Gloria found us, and there was a corporate sigh of relief, both Canadian AND Salvadorian, when she appeared!!   Until that time without her, I wasn't certain I truly understood how mentally draining the week must have been on Gloria.    It was her job to translate every word for us, the staff of the hospital, the patients, her family, and every merchant we encountered!   She patiently answered every question we had, gave us history lessons, lessons on culture, geography lessons, and kept us safe.  Any success we would enjoy from this trip, we owed to Gloria and the passion she possessed for her people, her work, and her friends.   We finished up with some photos and then we made our way outside--it was time for our first party of the day!    Before we came to El Salvador, we decided to do something "special" for the staff on this day, knowing it would be our last.   Once we arrived, we chose to involve the entire hospital, instead of JUST the staff.    Gloria ordered 120 Pupusas and all the fixin's!    A pupusa (poo-POO-sa) is a traditional Salvadorian dish made of thick, hand-made corn tortilla that is filled with pork, beans, and cheese.   They are traditionally served with a light fermented cabbage slaw with red chilies and vinegar and a watery tomato salsa.   We went outside and saw that Sister Julia had already set everything in motion;  tables and chairs were being set up under the shade trees.   Nurses were putting out the table cloths.   Patients who could ambulate freely were beginning to congregate outside.   Everyone knew lunch was being served outside today!   As patients came outside, they carried their own eating dishes.   Staff began to bring patients out in wheelchairs, or assist those with canes or walkers.   Festivity was in the air!   Our dear friend, Estefan, showed up!!   On his day off, he came to say goodbye.   We were happy to see him, and touched by his efforts.   Even though it was his day off, he began helping out, gathering everyone for the luncheon.   Soon, the patients, their family members, the staff, Dr. Reyes, and Sister Julia were congregated, and Dr. Reyes asked for everyone's attention.    He gave a speech about us---he explained who we were, why we had come, what we do for our work in Canada, and how grateful he was that we had come and spent the week with them.  As he was speaking to the crowd, Gloria was translating for us, and we were weeping.   Then he asked a patient to come forward and he said Jane's name.   There were 4 patients who had been selected to present each of us with a gift and thank us for coming.   Jane, Angela, Rose, and I all accepted our gifts with tears and gratefulness.   Then Sister Julia presented Gloria's gift to her and spoke of her passion and the hard work she had done to bring us to El Salvador.   It is nearly impossible to put into words what we felt in those moments.   I just know that every one of us would say it counted as one of the most important times of our lives.   After this very inspiring presentation of gifts, Sister Julia gave thanks to the Lord for the meal, and lunch was served!    It was time for our final goodbyes, and they weren't easy.    In a few short days, we had made life-long friends, and the effect on OUR lives was indelible.   We hugged, took final photos, and then climbed into the van to leave.    As we drove down the driveway, my final vision of Hospital Divina Providencia was watching patients wave goodbye to us amid cries of, "Adios!"    Our eyes were full of tears, both happy and sad.    As we made our way back into city traffic, the next critical decision was about our own lunch---we were very hungry!!    A local Wendy's was the PERFECT choice, and oh, my goodness!    YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!     We couldn't dawdle over lunch, though---we had to get home---we had ANOTHER party to host that afternoon!!!    We drove home to the beach house and had a swim, played in the sand on the beach, and cooled off before we got ready for our Fiesta.   I'm sure you're wondering WHO we would be inviting to this party!   We'd already partied with Gloria's family and the people at the hospital---who else could we invite to a party??    This party would top any other;  we invited the neighbourhood children to come to our house for a Pinata party!   At 5:30, 18 neighbourhood children, ranging from 1 year to 13 years old came to our house.   We had asked Evelyn to invite them for us.   They arrived, looking a bit nervous and excited, too!   Evelyn and 2 other adults came with them.   I imagine Evelyn had to vouch to all their parents for the fact that we were, in fact, very safe, and this was all good!   They were the most beautiful children----they were dressed nice, as if they were attending the best party ever.   They were SO very polite.   I tried my best to hold the two babies that were there, but they weren't having anything to do with me!!   Our hearts melted when "Joshua" arrived.   He came in, hobbling on an old pair of wooden crutches, with one leg missing.   His smile would have captured anyone's heart---ours were instantly his!   He was very shy, but you could tell he was so happy to be there.  We asked Evelyn about his missing leg;  a few years ago, a cement block fell on his foot/leg while a wall was being built.   His bones were crushed so badly, they couldn't save the leg, and they amputated it.   I wondered, as I looked at him, what would become of this beautiful boy.   Gloria asked Evelyn if Joshua had any brothers or sisters and she said, "yes, but they weren't clean, so his mother wouldn't let them come!"   That made us sad, for we know it didn't matter to us, but as a mother, I also understood her pride in sending her children to a party clean and presentable!   It was time for the party to begin.   I'm sure you're wondering what we were going to do with 18 children in our yard---we bought 2 pinatas and 20 pounds of candy!    "DORA and DIEGO" each stood approximately 3.5 feet high and each of them were filled with 10 pounds of candy!   We had gift bags for every child (including Joshua's siblings) that had a hand-crocheted doll in it, a pen, a pencil, and a sucker.   Gloria bought a little bottle of soda for each child, as well.  Weren't we great?   Invite 18 children over, get them all jacked up on candy and soda, and then send them home!!!   It was fabulous!!!!!   We laughed so hard and enjoyed it so very much.   Antonio, our neighbour, came over and strung the pinatas from the tree for us and swung them while the children hit them.    He loved it as much as the children!    Gloria even persuaded Joshua to take a turn at the pinata, and I thought Jane would bust with joy as she watched him participate!!   Even the shyest child loves taking a swing, trying to be the hero that spills candy all over the patio!   Then, as if that weren't enough, Gloria set up a game of musical chairs for the kids.   As the children were eliminated, they were handed a $1 bill.   They loved getting money!!!   Two little girls, warring for a chair, actually broke it into pieces, and we were all hysterical with laughter!    All too soon, the sun set once again over the Pacific Ocean, and it was time for our guests to go home.   Joshua took 4 gift bags home with him, and the other children left happy.    None were happier or more satisfied than the 6 women who lived in that house, though.   We had witnessed human joy in its most beautiful form--the pure laughter of children.   All that remained of Dora and Diego were battered paper mache forms, and the remnants of a resin patio chair sat in the yard.   Our hearts, however, were FULL of joy and contentment as we considered all we had experienced since waking that morning.   As adults are prone to do after a children's party ends, we collapsed on the furniture and talked about our day.   Later that evening, Gloria's sister and family arrived to say their goodbyes.    We couldn't thank them enough for our week and for everything they did every single day to make our visit memorable.    The day ended with last minute packing and sorting.  Alarms were set for 3:30am, and our last goodnights were said.   As I drifted off to sleep listening to the Geckos (yes--they make noise and they're LOUD) accompanied by the ocean waves and the night time breeze, I thanked God for allowing us this week.    We serve a great God!!!!

  

.....and then we met the children

Wow!   What a day we've had!!   Our day began with the usual, but not-taken-for-granted greeting of hugs and kisses from Sister Julia, Estefan, and Dr. Reyes.    We were going to meet with Sister Julia to give her the check we brought for her, but Dr. Reyes grabbed Rose and I right away and said he needed to sedate a young patient and he actually checked his dosages with us to see if we thought they were alright!!  He explained that he ordered a 10cc bolus of Midazolam and Normal Saline to be given IV push.   Midazolam is a drug we use for sedation in health care and it works very well.    He would give the dose of Midazolam and then when she was sedated, he would order a continuous IV infusion to continue.   We accompanied him to the bedside of a young 16 year old girl dying from Leukemia.   All treatment has failed and she is very sick.   When we saw her yesterday on rounds, she was bleeding from her nose.   This morning she is bleeding from her mouth and eye, and is very anxious, thus the need for palliative sedation.    We were not at all prepared for what we would see.    Her mother was on one side of her dabbing the blood from her nose and eye, the nurse was giving the IV medication, and Dr. Reyes stood on the other side of her.   Gently, he bent down, kissed her face, and whispered in her ear, "We are all here with you.   Your mother is here.   We all love you.  Remember that."  He bent down a couple more times and kissed her as he waited for the sedation to take hold.   I held her hand, feeling for a pulse--it was rapid and weak, which indicated to me that she was getting closer to death.   After a few minutes, we took leave of the area, giving the family the privacy they deserved.   Never, in all our time here, have we been made to feel as if we were intruding or unwanted, but there is something sacred about a mother tending to her dying child that we did not want to disturb.   When we went back out in the hall, Dr. Reyes asked Rose and I to look at the orders he was writing and tell him what we thought.   We gave him the "thumbs up".   He stood up, kissed us, and hugged us as we complimented him!!   He also told us that if this sedation didn't work (we told him it probably would), he would contact a colleague at the General Hospital and ask for Propofol.   I think, but I'm not sure, he might have to purchase it himself!    After that, we asked Sister Julia to meet us in the chapel--there, we presented her with a check for $2,150.00US--money we had raised through donations to purchase narcotics.   Sister was so grateful and assured us that EVERY PENNY would be used to buy the much-needed medications!!    So much had happened already and it was only 10:00 in the morning! Remember the patient having the painful dressing changes that I mentioned yesterday?   This morning, when we walked in, she was sitting up at the side of her bed having her breakfast and smiling so beautifully!!   She was positively radiant!   We brought her a writing book and pens today, as yesterday we learned that she writes poetry.   She is 20 years old and wants to use her poetry to convince young people to always choose a life of good instead of bad.   Jane spent some time with her with the help of a young bilingual volunteer named Rebekah.  One thing we learned early on in this trip---NEVER go anywhere without a translator!!  Jane said to the young poet:  "I'm sorry I don't speak Spanish, but when I go home, I'm going to learn!"   The reply from the young patient:  "Next year when you come back you can read my poetry."    Her writing book and pens meant the world to her.  Meanwhile, Estefan was looking for Rose--he wanted her to go to the clinic area to show the nurses how SHE would change the dressing on a gentleman with an extensive head/neck wound.   Rose was AMAZING---she had only gauze and tape to work with.   That's it.   No ABD pads, no netting, no fancy dressings with fancy names infused with fancy medications or silver.  Plain old gauze, tape, and normal saline.  For the next 45 minutes we worked together on this dressing explaining every step of the way what we were doing and giving the rationale for it.   Remember---Gloria has to translate every single word back and forth!   Finally, when we had the dressing changed, instead of using gauze and tape wrapped around his head and neck to secure it, we decided to try a surgical mask secured against the side of the face and tied around his head and neck.   Our idea was met with snickers and cast glances, but we explained it was just an idea!   The patient wraps a towel around his mouth and neck area when he goes out in public anyway, so when we were done, he wrapped himself up, and was VERY happy at how comfortable it was.   We discovered quickly that there are differences in our technique and theory, and we weren't sure if the nurses were impressed or happy with us, but we did the best we could, and the patient seemed content.    I made one little mistake.   Around his dressing area, there appeared to be embedded dirt on his face.   After we packed the wound, Rose and I set to cleaning the dirt off, but when the nurse saw us, she quickly stopped us.    It turns out, the "dirt" was actually his radiation markings.   I know you can't wash radiation markings off, but I've never seem them applied with what looks like charcoal---I've only seen them tattooed.   Fortunately, we weren't too far into our good deed when we were discovered, and no harm was done.  Rose was then asked to go to the bedside of the young poet---her dressings were being changed again, and Rose was able to work with the nurse to provide some education and change the experience for the patient and the nurse, making a positive difference, as she always does.    We were finished up in the hospital for the day and it was time to leave for the orphanage.   The hospital, orphanage, and a retreat house 1.5 hours from San Salvador are the three properties owned and operated by Divina Providencia.    We had a quick drink outside with Estefan and Rebekah and then Sister Julia ushered us into the hospital transport van and her driver took us to the orphanage on the other side of the city.    We arrived at the locked security gate of Hogar Para Ninos Divina Providencia, and when we drove inside, we found a beautiful church at the top of a sloping driveway.  Behind it, a huge building.    We walked inside to meet the matriarch of Divina Providencia, Mother Lucita.    She is 84 years old, wheelchair-bound, and still works every day as the secretary for the orphanage!    Sister Julia introduced us, and we were shown to a living room that had windows overlooking beautiful gardens with a statue of the Virgin Mary and showing us part of the childrens' home.   For the next hour, Mother Lucita regaled us with the amazing and humerous story of how she acquired the land for the hospital, built it, ran it, and then to her surprise, one day found herself promising a dying mother that she would look after her children.   And with that promise, the orphanage was built.   Began in 1984, it is home to 40 children, ages 5-17.   Not all children are orphans, by definition, Mother Lucita explained.   Some of the children have parents, but their parents don't want them.   Those are the children with the toughest emotional and psychological issues to deal with; they struggle with resentment and anger.   Priority for admission is given to children of dying patients at Hospital Divina Providencia.   The orphanage receives no government support and the sisters want it kept that way, for then the government cannot dictate how many children will live there or how the sisters will care for them.   As does the hospital, the orphange depends on 100% donations to run, and again I was awestruck at how much can be done with the monies they are blessed to receive.   Every day, the children go out to school.   Mother Lucita explained that it is important that the children are as much a part of society as possible.   Four teachers are employed by the orphanage to help the children with their homework in the afternoon/evening.   In addition to the teachers, there are 4 staff psychologists, a dentist, and a nurse (who is one of the sisters living at the orphanage).   As were were finishing up our time together, the children arrived home from school.   As they ran by Mother Lucita's windows laughing and playing, many of them called out greetings to her.   A few of them noticed there were "foreigners" visiting, and we were greeted as well.   Two or three younger children stopped to look at us!   They were beautiful and so happy and healthy!!!!   Next, we were treated to a tour of the grounds.   They are extensive!!!   They grow their own food in gardens, raise their own livestock for slaughter, and raise their own fish (talapia) for catching!   The children are given daily chores in addition to the requirement of making their own beds and straightening their living area before they have breakfast each morning.   The home teaches them valuable life skills so when they leave at age 17, they are prepared to face the world and be productive in it.   The dormatories were beautiful--neat, tidy, and very well kept.   The children were having their lunch as we toured, so we didn't get to meet most of them, but there was a group of older girls just hanging out, and after talking to them (actually only Gloria talked to them), we all had a photo taken together.   Our tour ended back at the office, and after gifting each of us with a Divine Providence medal, Mother Lucita bid us farewell and we knew we would never forget this woman as long as we live.    We all piled into the van again to complete our final task of the day:   yesterday, before we left, we asked Sister Julia to tell us what she needed MOST for the hospital.   We said to her, "ANYTHING".    Our thoughts were that we would spend around $500 and then fundraise like crazy women when we returned.   She thought about it overnight and this is what she desired MOST:   wastebaskets in every patient's room.   That's it.   She wanted a plastic wastebasket for every patient.  She knew exactly where we could get them, and so we found ourselves downtown at a plastics factory to buy wastebaskets.   When we arrived at the store, Gloria took all our cameras from us, shoved them down into her purse and gave us one order:  NO TALKING.    We emerged from the van, and like ducklings running from a predator, we followed our two mother ducks into the store in complete silence.   We all should have remembered that we had our Divine Providence medals in our pockets, thereby having some protection, but when Gloria speaks......    Sister Julia and Gloria found the wastebaskets and Sister picked out the ones she liked.   Then came the arduent task of making her tell us how many she wanted.   It was like playing a game on "The Price is Right"!    She said 24, we said 40, she said 30, we said 40, she said nothing, we said 50, and the deal was made!!!   They cost all of $1.00 apiece.    It was difficult for her to ask for the bags to go in them---we bought her 400 for $40, and $92 later, we exited the store and got into our van.    After another trip through the city, we arrived back at the hospital, wished Sister Julia a good evening, bid Rebekah farewell, and got into our own vehicle.   Our air-conditioned van seemed happy to have us back, and took us right to Pizza Hut for supper, and then back to the beach house afterwards.    I have failed to mention the driving and traffic conditions in El Salvador.   Imagine, if you will, the most treacherous bumper card ride you could ever get on, and then multiply it by about one hundred!    First of all, those red octagonal signs that say ALTO (we call it STOP)---they mean nothing!    Secondly, there are round-abouts EVERYWHERE and seemingly, no rules.    It is survival of the fittest; drive aggressively or die.   Cars come at you from every direction and blinkers---hah!!!   Gloria drives very aggressively and very well.   She has safely delivered us to every destination we've chosen this week.   Surprisingly, we've only heard ONE swear word from her mouth, and a few gasps and shreiks from our own!!    I'll take Toronto at rush hour ANY DAY!!   And so, as we sit here, contemplating our day and enjoying another fleeting sunset on the beautiful Pacific, we are reminded that God is in control, and all the time..... He is good.      

Hospital Divina Providencia, Monday and Tuesday

It's hard to know where to begin trying to describe all we've seen, heard, and experienced in our first two days!    Monday, our day began with a tour of the hospice led by Estefan, a male nurse who has worked at the Hospital for 8 years.   We met Sister Julia (Hoo-lia) for a tour of the grounds, and then we sat and had our lunch in the shade outside the hospital.   The hospital provides food for all the patients, but not for any family members, so there is a food-for-purchase area outside the hospital.    Patients are expected to have at least one family member with them at ALL times.   After our lunch, Sister Julia took us on a tour of the church, where Monsignor Oscar Romero was assasinated in 1980.  He is revered as a saint for the Salvadorian people.   We stood on the spot in the church where he was killed;  he was taken down by a hail of bullets during the Consecration of the Eucharist during Mass.   It was sobering to be on such hallowed ground.   Following this, we went on a tour of his little home, which has been preserved exactly as he left  it when he went to church that day.   There are large cases of photographs of him as a young boy and priest, and all the memorabilia of his assasination, including his blood-stained shirts, vestments, and cincture (the rope worn about the waist).    His Toyota Corolla still sits in the driveway.   There is a banner that hangs in the church that reads (paraphrased):  "I will not abandon my people.  I will accept the consequence my ministry chooses for me."    At the altar, it reads, "On this altar, Monsignor Oscar Romero offered up his life for his people".    It was hard to catch our breath with all the emotions of the day, but Sister Julia pressed on and we gathered upstairs in the hospital with Estefan, Dr. Reyes, Sister Julia, and the 6 hockey bags FULL of donated supplies.   It was like Christmas morning for them as they began to unpack the bags and look at everything they were being given!   Dr. Reyes was hilarious as he pulled out mesh panties from one bag and a comb from another.  He wanted to model the panties and demonstrate the comb, but he's almost bald!!!    They were overwhelmed with the generosity and the contents of the bags.   Tuesday morning we would find that all bags had been unpacked, sorted, and put away under lock and key by Sister Julia!   She guards ALL donations carefully, so they're not squandered or wasted!!   As we were leaving, we met Dr. Colorado and 3 young volunteers, who spend part of every Monday afternoon dressed as clowns visiting and entertaining patients.   They find that their "Patch Adams" work does wonders for the patients.    Shortly after their visit with the patients began, Dr. Colorado was asked to attend the bedside of a young 20 year old patient who had just died.   We met her just this morning and we were shocked that she died.   Dr. Colorado was asked to speak to her Dad, but he was reluctant to do so because he was dressed as a clown, and felt it would be disrespectful, but he took his clown hat off (makeup still on) and attended to the family.    Our hearts were broken as we left for the day.    There was no blog written on Monday night as we struggled to digest and discern our day.    Tuesday morning we awoke with new excitement.    As we arrived at the Hospital, Sister Julia greeted us like we were already old friends.   Estefan was waiting for us, as were Drs. Reyes and Romero.    We did rounds with the physicians for the entire morning, meeting each patient and hearing their story.    We met their family members, gave gifts to the younger patients, gave lots of hugs and smiles, and marveled at how well this hospital operates with what little they have.    Their linens are a mish-mash of sheets, pillows, and such.   On two beds, it looked like the patients were covered with old sacks instead of blankets--they still had the printing on them!    Almost no one uses pillows--Sister Julia says they're not comfortable using them.    Every patient who was alert enough smiled at us, welcomed us and were delighted to have their pictures taken with us!    Aside from one woman undergoing very painful dressing changes, we saw little physical suffering.    No terminal delirium, no congested respirations, no one crying out.....absolutely NO odor whatsoever, and a peace that was unmistakeable.   Dr. Reyes greets every single patient with a kiss and hug, as well as his staff.    Sister Julia told us that in his younger years, Dr. Reyes would actually lie with patients as they were dying or right after they died.   She finally convinced him that he had to let go a little bit or suffer burnout.    He is loved and adored by all---it is clearly evident.   He welcomed us with open arms and asked us to teach him and his staff.    Tomorrow, Rose will take the dressing cart on rounds with the nurses and show them better ways to use the dressings they have.    They have the 0-10 pain scale in every patient's cubicle and they use it well.   Sometimes, if patients cannot understand the 0-10 scale with numbers, they compare the numbers to sizes of fruit!!!   10 is a watermelon!!   For women, they compare the scale to labor pains.    Genius!!    Another thing we found out is that although patients are required to have a family member with them at all times, there is nothing for the family to sit on except a resin patio chair, and there is NO bed for the family member--they must make up their own bed on the floor.   The shower chair is a resin patio chair bolted to a wheelchair frame.  Never again will we complain about anything we have at our workplace!!   Rose helped with a very painful dressing change and we all laughed when she showed the nurses that Mefix can be torn at the perforations instead of cut with scissors!!    They were in awe!!!   After patient rounds, which consumed our morning, we had our lunch in the shade of the tree with Estefan and Dr. Reyes (we shared our food with them), and Dr. Reyes asked Kelley and Rose to please teach him what nurses in Canada are taught about Hospice Palliative Care.   Such humility and grace.....wow!     We decided to leave at 1:00, which was early, but we have a full day tomorrow with a trip to the orphange  and to visit the Sister responsible for starting Hospital Divina Providencia around 40 years ago.    Our day ended with a visit to the market to buy souvenirs and dinner at Pollo Campero, the Salvadorian version of KFC, but much better!!

Feliz Cumpleanos, Gloria! February 19, 2011

Our day began with breakfast cooked by Evelyn at 6:30am.     We had toast, fruit, refried beans, yogurt, juice, and coffee!   For Yours Truly, a can of "Coca-Cola Light"!!    At 8:30am, we climbed into the van and began our drive out of town.   We met Gloria's family at a gas station, and her brother-in-law led the way.   Our first stop--a towel factory!!   They make towels there for all different companies, including Tommy Hilfiger.    Their outlet store proved to be fun shopping----we bought over 20 beach towels at $5.00 apiece!!   Incredible deal!    While we were stopped there, we saw a womens' softball team getting ready to play, and graciously, they agreed to let us pose for a photo with them!  Everywhere we go, people are so good to us!    Salvadorians are happy, kind, gracious, and when they hear the English, they seem to go out of their way to show off their country and their culture!!    One of the things we found out yesterday as we traveled about the area is that MOST locals travel either by bus ($0.25 per ride) or in the back of pick-up trucks!   Small children ride in the back 

of the trucks, and there are no car seats in the cars!    How safety concious we've become....   AND yet, there is a motorcycle helmet law here!!    Our first sight-seeing stop for the day:  SAN ANDREAS.    San Andreas is a Mayan ruin that was uncovered in the 1900's.   We spent an hour there, looking about, climbing the ruins, and enjoying the museum.     Our next stop was HOYA de CEREN, which is the "Pompeii of the Central Americas".    It was a fabulous trip, and we learned a lot about the culture and history of the Salvadorian People.    After a meal at a very modern mall, we chose to return to our house instead of going to another Mayan ruin.  Again, we were exhausted!!    The fun wasn't over yet----today was Gloria's birthday and her entire family showed up at 8:00pm with supper for us, birthday cake for Gloria, and Pinata, and "Huevos Chimbos"--this is a Salvadorian tradition in which you take dyed hard-boiled eggs with confetti inside instead of the yolk and white!   You take the egg and smash it onto the birthday girl's head---it was SO MUCH FUN!!!!     We loved subjecting Gloria to these customs.   Her family was lovely and spoiled us rotten.   It's evident they love her so much.    It was hard to leave the mess for Evelyn to clean up, so we tried a little bit to clean, and then gave up and went to bed.   Evelyn wasn't nearly as annoyed with us as we thought she'd be!     All in all, it was a fantastic day, filled with fun, laughter, time with family, and we agreed that we would take advantage of God's "day of rest" on Sunday and not go anywhere!    

Getting there is half the fun......

Thursday, February 17:   the first to arrive at the house at 1:30pm was Deacon Chuck, a friend of Jane's from church--he was coming to pray for us and send us with a blessing.   Everyone started arriving soon after, and within a short period of time, the living room was laden with luggage and excitement was building as everyone gathered, hugged, and welcomed the adventure!   We handed out the sweatshirts as soon as everyone had arrived, and everyone loved them!!!     

The reporter from the Observer arrived at 2:30pm and until 3:00, we spent time interviewing and describing the trip we were making.   He was an excellent reporter, and covered everything exactly as we wanted!!    At 3:00pm, my husband and Gloria's husband began to load the van---we rented at 12 passenger van to get to the airport, and there wasn't ONE extra inch of room once we were finished!!!

We pulled out of the driveway, Jeff driving, our vehicle looking like a "Grapes of Wrath" special!    On the way to the bridge I collected all the passports and began preparing for the border crossing, knowing it would take at least an hour, if not longer, with the luggage and hockey bags full of supplies.   God showed Himself as we drove through Customs in less than 5 minutes!!   The officer(s) were cautioned by Jeff that if they opened the back of the van, luggage would fall out, so they didn't!   They verified everyone's identity and sent us on our way, not even ASKING what was in our luggage!!!    And with that, we were bound for Detroit.    After a great dinner at Applebee's near the Detroit airport, Jeff left us, and we all said goodnight and headed to bed.    The time:  8:00pm!    We had to be up at 2:30am, so any sleep would be precious!!   The next morning, a very kind driver picked us up from the Marriott and drove us to the airport at 3:30am.   He was annoyingly chipper and happy for that time of morning!   His ability to load our luggage, unload it at the airport curb, and find help for us, though, was priceless!!!  

Our flights, Detroit to Houston and Houston to San Salvador, were uneventful.    Continental Airlines went out of their way to help us check in at Detroit airport, and for that, I was impressed and thankful!!!    En route to San Salvador, the captain announced our descent; we came out of a cloud covering, and below me lay the most beautiful land I'd ever seen.   In all my life, I thought NOTHING would top my view of the Grand Canyon from air, but again, I was wrong.   El Salvador is lush, green, mountainous, and excuisite to see.    Flying in, we saw volcanoes, mountains, mountaintop houses, fields full of sugar cane being burned off, and then we flew out over the Pacific before landing at the airport.    I was like a child with my nose pressed up against the plane window, occasionally allowing Rose the chance to crawl over me and look, but selfishly wanting the view to never stop.    My heart was full of happiness and joy for Gloria, knowing she was HOME!   When we landed in San Salvador, Gloria took the lead.   We would follow her every instruction (not that we don't anyway), including the shutting of our mouths when she instructed us!     Our first line-up was for Immigration.   Two lines---"Locals" and "Foreigners".    Gloria could have gone in her own line, but she is full of mercy for us and our illiteracy, and took us through the Foreigners line.    Immigration was not easy, as the officer wanted an address for our ocean-side home and we didn't have one.   We gave him the address for the Hospital, but he insisted that we were not STAYING at the hospital.    Finally, he gave up and posted our address as the hospital's.   He had met Gloria Nickles and her power of persuasion!!!  One by one we passed through immigration and then we collected our luggage, paying a man to load it onto two carts.   After immigration, it was time to clear Customs.   You wait in line and they ask about your bags.   If you're free to go, a big stop light illuminates GREEN.   If not, it turns RED.   It looked just like a traffic light on a post!     All of us went through customs with a green light except Gloria, who accompanied the luggage to the inspection area.    Here's where God showed up again (I love it when He does this)!!  The Customs officer said to Gloria, "I cannot just let you go with this much luggage, so I am going to pretend to look through a few bags."   A few minutes later, Gloria gave the order, "Vamos!"   Let's go!!!    Gloria's sister, Lillian and her Grandma were waiting for us along with our rental van, and about 1 hour after we landed, we arrived in the ocean-side village of San Diego.   First, though, Gloria stopped and bought us "Leche".   Each of us were handed our own coconut with a straw in it and it was full of sweet coconut milk to drink!    mmmmmmmmmm     I knew that a fountain diet coke wasn't going to come my way anytime soon, so I enjoyed it!!!    The first view of our home was a metal gate surrounded by a cement wall with electrified barbed wire along the top.   When the gate slid open, however, a beautiful green courtyard and our house waited for us!    We are so blessed to be in this house!   It sleeps 13, has 3 bathrooms with showers, a kitchen, living room, and our yard, overlooking the pacific, has a beautiful pool, 3 hammocks, and a patio!    We have a locked gate and barbed wire along the back, as well.   Every day, Evelyn, a local woman, shows up at 0600 and cooks and cleans for us.    Her pay is minimal in our standards, but she is happy for the work, and so nice to have around!     Our ocean swim time is limited due to severe undertows, the sound of the waves is nature's music.   Rose sleeps in the living room, preferring the warmth to the air-conditioned bedrooms, and she loves the sounds all night.    After a dinner at an ocean side restaurant where we watched boys surf throughout the meal, we returned to the house and called it a night early.   We were exhausted, but happy, and lots of pinching going on to ensure this was real!!!!   Saturday would be our first full day and Gloria already had the day planned!!!!     As we went to sleep, the full moon and the stars, overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean, gave us proof once again, the God, in all His glory, had orchestrated this adventure for us!     

We made the news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2983894

Preparing for the Adventure

I once heard it said, "Focus on the journey, not the destination.   Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it."   It's been a joy preparing for this journey!    When we gathered initially to discuss the trip, we put forth ideas of what we would take with us.    Many ideas were brought forward, and finally we decided to put all our efforts into two areas:  1) Raising $3,000 for the Hospital to purchase much-needed Morphine for the patients, and 2) Taking donated dressing supplies and other health care items that could be used by the Hospital.   Here's what I have discovered universally:   people are inherently good at heart and they WANT to give.   I want to especially thank my Mom, Shelley Isaacson, here.   All I had to do was say the word, and supplies poured into my house!!!!!!!    My mom has years of experience gathering supplies for missions in Haiti and Mexico, and she blessed us so much!    Thanks, Mom!!  She wasn't the only one, though!   People we've never even met gave things to us to take!!   We are taking hand-crocheted dolls, made by a 94 year old woman with us to give to children!   Wow!!!   We are taking so much more than just material goods---we are taking the hearts of people with us!     Raising money was easy---again, all it took was talking about the trip and people opened their wallets and their hearts.   Once all the supplies were gathered and the money raised, we set to packing up for the trip.    Last night, Gloria and Jane came over to my house and together, we packed hockey bags FULL of donated supplies.  I was amazed over and over again as we packed a bag, Jane and I both thought the bag would be heavier than the 50 pound limit, and Gloria would assure us it wasn't over.   She was right---every single time!   A few hours after we began, we sat atop a mound of hockey bags packed full and ready to be loaded on Thursday!!    Three tired, but very excited women called it a night!!!



Quick, Jane!   See how much it weighs!!





Hospital Divina Providencia--Where we'll work while we're in San Salvador

Mission and Vision

        To provide atention in Palliative Care to patients with Cancer and their Extended Family, which generally come from Hospital Nacional Rosales and the Institue of Cancer, who have no ability to pay and who suffer because of the pain. The institution is supported mainly of the Divine Providence and the Support of Benefactors. We are known for being the only ones to offer this service in El Salvador.

        To deepen and extend our services in response to patients with various incurable diseases, promising to be an institution with highly qualified staff in Palliative Care



Hospital Divinia Providencia



History of the Institution

        Hospital Divina Providencia is born from the original idea of Carmelite Missionary of Saint Theresa, Sister Luz Isabel Cuevas, who sought to offer a place to shelter patients from the Instituto del Cáncer (Cancer Institute) who would come from places far-off from San Salvador to receive radiotherapy and, because of their economical circumstances, couldn’t afford but to install and sleep in the streets rounded about the aforementioned institution’s building. Sister Luz’s intention is blessed by God’s Providence in the form of Mrs. Bertha Rivas de Albiñana, who, not only donated the Hospital’s land, but suggested the nun the establishment of a hospital that could effectively nurse cancer patients.
        Hospital Divina Providencia is born from the original idea of Carmelite Missionary of Saint Theresa, Sister Luz Isabel Cuevas, who sought to offer a place to shelter patients from the Instituto del Cáncer (Cancer Institute) who would come from places far-off from San Salvador to receive radiotherapy and, because of their economical circumstances, couldn’t afford but to install and sleep in the streets rounded about the aforementioned institution’s building. Sister Luz’s intention is blessed by God’s Providence in the form of Mrs. Bertha Rivas de Albiñana, who, not only donated the Hospital’s land, but suggested the nun the establishment of a hospital that could effectively nurse cancer patients.
        At first, right after its founding, the Hospital received abundant contributions and donations from various benefactors, which permitted the institution’s development even without governmental or ecclesial contribution. This “Golden Age” was translated into the construction of eight hospitalization areas, an independent area for the Hospital’s kitchen, laundry area and a chapel also consecrated to the Divine Providence, were holly Eucharist is daily celebrated.
        During the seventies and eighties, elected archbishop of San Salvador, Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero finds himself sheltered by the nuns, establishing his house within the Carmelite community, staying close to the patients and fraternally living with the Sisters. His assassination the 24th of March of 1980 at the Hospital’s chapel provokes different reactions among the different sectors of society. For one part, the chapel and Monsignor Romero’s house become pilgrimage centres for a lot of people; but for others, his assassination and ideas became motives for stopping the help to the Hospital. Donations became scarce, and, at some points, patient attention became economically unsustainable. Since then, and during the first years of Salvadorian post-war, Hospital Divina Providencia found itself in an institutional lethargy.
        Since 1999, the Carmelite Missioners of Saint Theresa community begins a careful re-evaluation of the attention received by the patients in the Hospital, deciding to appoint Sister María Julia García as head of the cause and to hire a full-time physician. The Hospital’s path is again supported by the direction and reciprocal collaboration of a lay and a nun. Since then, different agreements of mutual cooperation have been signed with different institutions and pain relieving along with spiritual assistance become the Hospital’s daily concerns.
        Nowadays, Hospital Divina Providencia prepares to take on this millennium’s challenges looking at the horizon with its trust set in God Almighty, who has blessed the Hospital since its beginnings, who has walk with it through it difficulties, but who, above all, has blessed it with his Divine Providence, manifested in every good-hearted people that become sensible to the pain of others.  

And so it begins.....

Fall, 2010--  Gloria Nickles and I were working together and talking.  Gloria shared something from her heart--she wanted to take a team  to El Salvador to work with her people for a week.    I believe God had placed a calling on Gloria's heart and given her a vision, and she courageously shared it with me.   We began talking more earnestly about the possibility, getting excited at the idea.   God had never burdened my heart with a mission before, and when Gloria spoke to me about this one, I knew without a doubt this was God's work, and not ours.    Gloria emailed Hospital Divina Providencia in San Salvador.   She explained where our group would come from and what we do here in Canada and asked if we could come and spend a week with them.   The reply came immediately and was full of excitement and welcome!   I began praying about a team of people.    We began to ask if people would be interested, and in January, 2011, 5 women made the commitment to make what we pray will be the first of many journeys to El Salvador.   Gloria Nickles, Jane Regnier, Angela MacDonald, Rose Tanner, and myself will leave February 18 and fly to San Salvador.   We will work at Hospital Divina Providencia for 5 days, caring for patients who are dying and those who will be discharged home at some point.   We will work with doctors and nurses we've never met, overcoming language barriers and professional differences.   We will see things we've never seen and encounter situations completely foreign to us.  We will learn more than we teach.  We will be blessed more than we bless.     Throughout our journey we will be ambassadors of God, doing His work, and using the many gifts He has given us, as we travel on this "Mision de Amor" or "Mission of Love".