We recently shared Rae Smith’s reflection on her mission trip last year with Baylor University’s Alpha Epsilon Delta, a national health pre-professional honor society.

Once again, we took you through her journey as she began her second mission with the group to the Dominican Republic municipality of Azua. They provided the communities’ healthcare facilities with vital medical supplies, donated by Company Nurse. Follow along on the rest of Rae’s journey.

 

By Rae Smith, member of Baylor University’s Alpha Epsilon Delta

 

Day 5: Peralta

Today my group had rotation at the hospital in Peralta. Although this medical facility is considered the top in its area, it’s still in dire need of help.

We went to the OB/GYN unit, where I helped Dr. Rodriguez with his paperwork so that he could see more patients before lunch. After lunch, a physician stopped by to tell us he had a surprise for our team. He led us into the “sala de expulsion”: we were going to help a mother through childbirth.

Suddenly, a power outage took over the entire hospital. There was no air conditioning in the room nor machinery running to monitor the vitals of the mother. Using only the light from my cell phone, the physicians began pulling out the baby.

When the baby finally arrived, the cord was wrapped around her neck and she was purple. I could sense the panic from the physicians as they immediately turned the baby upside down and tapped her back. After the longest three minutes of my life, she finally let out a cry.

Seeing that birth opened my eyes to how much the community needs supplies. In Peralta, this situation is common. Childbirth is a risky procedure.

But in the U.S., we have the technology and supplies to properly monitor the mother and the baby. In our country, if the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck, we would know ahead of its delivery and find a way to safely get the baby out.

 

Presenting the head physicians with medical supplies for the community

Day 6: The Regional Hospital de Taiwan

Today my team did their last rotation at the largest public hospital in Azua: The Regional Hospital de Taiwan. Having visited this hospital last year, I was eager to return.

But when I discovered I would once again see a childbirth, I was nervous. The experience I had yesterday was one I would not soon forget.

The birth I saw today was a cesarean section. The mother was given a spinal tap before the surgery and then laid down on the table. When the baby was pulled out, it started crying immediately. A wave of relief rushed through me.

We donated a lot of our supplies to this hospital last year and I can see how greatly they had benefited.

After the surgery, our team traveled back the house that we constructed throughout the week. It was being given to a wonderful family. I was selected out of the group to pray over the family and present them with their keys. It was amazing to see the outcome of all our hard work.

That night, we returned to our flat to have dinner with the head physicians of the clinics and medical facilities in Azua: Dra. Rosario, Dra. Acosta, and Dra. Feria. All these women are married, mothers, and hardworking physicians that go above and beyond for their patients.

Presenting them with the donations of medical supplies, they expressed their gratitude for our team’s support. The physicians will divide up the supplies among the medical facilities we visited throughout our trip. It was a very emotional day.

 

Day 7: Goodbyes

We left Azua at 6:00 AM the next day to travel back to the United States. It was hard to say goodbye to the physicians and staff from Orphan’s Heart. The 23 hours of traveling were filled with intense nostalgia and hugs goodbye. It was an incredibly successful mission and I am so grateful for Company Nurse’s support of the medical personnel in the Dominican Republic, my team, and myself on this mission. It is a true testament to Company Nurse’s value of compassion for everyone.