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Project Dignity
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| An Open Letter To Our Patients: Return From Honduras |
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| We have returned from Honduras and WOW! It is truly difficult to know where to begin telling you about our journey. Let's begin with the $5,200 that you all so generously donated prior to our departure- on behalf of the women and men (both patients and staff) at the San Felipe Hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, THANK YOU! Every cent that was donated went directly toward helping the patients. (Photo showing the women's ward) Here are some of the things that we were able to accomplish in the short time we were there: |
| Both the women's and men's oncology units were painted a clean, bright shade of white, ceiling fans were installed in the women's unit, lights were installed and wall outlets were rewired and made safe; curtains were made and put up and plants were brought in; 6 televisions were purchased and mounted in three rooms for distraction and company for the women and a DVD player was purchased for chemotherapy education of patients. Screens were installed in the women's unit to prevent mosquitos and flies from entering and a gate and fencing was installed around the women's unit perimeter to prevent thieves from entering. A refrigerator was purchased for medication storage and 3 microwaves were installed for patient use. All items were mounted and bolted down to prevent theft. A massage table was purchased for continued use by two Honduran women who were taught to give gentle touch to the patients. Money was given to women for cell phone cards so they could speak with their loved ones, for their families to come visit them (or in one case so a mother could travel home to die), and 44 prescriptions for pain meds or treatment were filled. We also made 50 "kits" that we distributed to each patient upon leaving. These kits included flip-flops, hats, socks, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary items, pillows and lollipops!
That's the easy part, the financial report.
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| The rest is very difficult - to discuss the conditions of the hospital and of the women. The conditions of both weren't anything like we have seen in this country. It is hard to explain the unsanitary conditions (no gloves, no clean sheets, no pillows, no hot water, archaic medical supplies and equipment, no washing machines, etc.) Here, we are not used to seeing cancer in it's untreated form- there it was all too common and evident. Women appeared to be in late stages of pregnancy, when in reality they were suffering from internal tumors. Tumors were painfully large and covered every body surface, and in some cases even broke through the skin. The stories of the women were just as devastating to hear- women who walked 6 hours from their villages in the late stages of cancer to seek help. The common story of husbands leaving their wives and children as soon as they learned of their illness. Imagine knowing that you are the sole provider of four children and being torn between leaving them to seek treatment and praying they may be made well again, or staying to provide for them but knowing that life will soon end where the the dying process will be long and hard on both mother and children. Young mothers who missed their children to where they would quietly lay with tears running down their faces- never making a sound, but suffering in silence. |
| The women were simply amazing - their strength, their gratitude, their smiles. They were such an inspiration to us in the way that they were so appreciative of a touch, a smile, a listening ear. Physically, the demands were also difficult. On our last day at the hospital, in four short hours, 52 women were adjusted and massaged - 48 of them were patients. The others were family members who traveled from as far as 2 and 1/2 hours away having heard of our presence there. It was difficult to go to the hospital, but harder to leave. Once away, it was hard to imagine going back again. An emotional rollercoaster indeed! |
While the "picture" looks bleak, the bottom line is that with your help, we were able to have an amazing impact on the patients and staff! In fact, we have since heard that the hospital administration was so impressed that they have been motivated towards further training. We have also heard that the women are still talking about us. We shared many smiles, jokes and laughter with the women.
We thank you for your support and help and are putting together a presentation for you all. We will keep you posted on the date, but we are looking towards the Spring when the weather will allow for a pavilion picnic and power point. We will also continue to keep you posted on further progress in Honduras. If you would like to continue to support Project Dignity we have a bank account open and welcome any further contributions.
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Yours in Health,
Dr. Shelley
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