April 15th Yuri: Day Four, Part One

Fellow RN, Vicky, and I loaded in the back of the hospital truck (one of few vehicles with a pass during the strike).

Another hospital day! Today was the day we headed over to officially present donated items to the hospital in Yurimaguas. As I mentioned previously, McMaster University Hospital from Hamilton had donated several items in response to my request, including the ever so needed masks for ambu-bags. Somehow, the strike issue let everyone through today...it really feels inconsistent...and we met with the 21 people who had come to the training session the day before. We also met one of the head Pediatricians at the hospital who was there, on behalf of the hospital, to accept the donations. I can't remember his name and I feel terrible about that but he is a lovely, lovely man. He was so excited about the masks for the ambu-bags! It was really interesting because he didn't speak a lick of english but I understood everything he was saying about how their masks are often too big or too small. It was a tremendously satisfying moment to see his excitement and gratitude and to understand the significance of this gift together.

Pat, RN, the Pediatrician and myself in the official photo for presentation.

Such an amazing group of people...so gracious and kind and grateful.

One of the things that had been suggested to bring from Canada was scrub sets for the nurses. Pat, our team leader, who is an RN that works for 3M had some contacts at St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener and these nurses from Canada donated several scrub tops and sets for us to take to Peru. You would not believe how excited these women got about the scrubs!!! It was sensational to see the joy on their faces as they picked out a set for themselves. Pat also took several stethoscopes, donated by 3M and it was once again so humbling and amazing to watch the wonder on the faces of these people as they tried out their stethoscope for the first time.

Pat with several of the the RN's in their new scrub tops.

The Pediatrician and one of the midwives. It was so humbling watching her open her new stethoscope. She just ever so gingerly opened the package a little at a time with this huge smile on her face the whole time. It was beautiful.

The Pediatrician with his new stethoscope.

So it was a good morning...a morning that makes you remarkably grateful for all that you have. Truly, this is such a privilege to serve these people. It is a privilege to learn from them and alongside them and I would never have wanted to miss this moment in time.