Many Thanks!

We're back!

We had an absolutely amazing trip. We almost wish we were still there...

As a group we want to thank a few people for their support and for making this possible:

-Dean Galloway and the School of Engineering
-Professor Giorgio and the BME department, specifically staff members Tina and Ray
-Professor Galloway and the BME 271 TAs
-Dolores Black, Steve Wadley, Sharon Lowe, Stacy Klein (VUSE "swag" providers)
-Greg Cox and Lin Taylor at Project C.U.R.E.
-The Shalom Foundation, especially Cindy Bhavsar, Allison Bender, Maria Jose de Gallardo, and Victor, our bus driver
-Dr. Paschal and Dean White

Thank you all for your efforts. This opportunity was one we will never forget and never take for granted. Thank you again.

-Jessica, Garrett, Lauren, Jessica, Wade, Sung, Jim, Paul, Chris, Rosie, Katherine, and Karen

Day 7 - Final Day in Guatemala

We woke up and again headed over to the hospital. A group of Jessica P, Jessica K, Jim, Lauren, Freddy, and I worked on a few vitals monitors checking the ECG, spO2, and blood pressure functions using simulators. After lunch Lauren, Sung, Maria Jose, and I tested some defibrillators in the adult OR. We then headed back to the Nazarene center where we cleaned up and got ready for dinner. The food was amazing! It was tough to say our goodbyes to Maria Jose, Dean White, and Sophia (Maria Jose's daughter), but we got back in the bus and headed back to the nazarene center for the night, dreading waking up at 4:30 the next morning for our flight home.

Garrett

Last day of work!

Today, we spent the day working at the hospital. Dr. Paschal, Chris, and Paul worked on an ultrasound machine. Some of us tested vitals monitors -- the only problems we found were with blood pressure readings. Wade worked on a pump, while Lauren, Garrett, and Sung tested defibrillators in the adult OR. We had a delicious, traditional lunch provided by Maria Jose's mother. Tonight, we are going to a traditional restuarant here in Guatemala for our last meal. We leave tomorrow very early for the airport to head back to Nashville!

Jessica

Day 6 - Painting the Shalom School!

Before I start: here is a link to a picture album that Jessica K. made for us:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jessica.l.keener/JessicaSGuatemalaPicturesThroughWednesday#


We spent the day, like Jessica said, painting the library at the Shalom Foundation's school. It is a kindergarten through what we would call 12th grade. The last three years are called 'diversificacion', or diversify. After 9th grade, the students choose a trade that they will specialize in. For example, some trades are to learn can be a graphic designer, becoming a secretary, a teacher, etc. Some students are sponsored by people who donate $35 a month for a student to receive a scholarship and be able to go to school (the Shalom School is a private school). If you want to sponsor a student, go to theshalomfoundation.org.













Below are pasted the before and after pictures for the library we worked on:



Before:

After:

Painting!

Today, we visited the Shalom Foundation's school. They were constructing a new library and we painted the walls and windows. It took us all day to finish, but it looks really good! We took a lunch break outside during which we played with some of the elementary school students. Jessica K., Katherine, and Rosie played "duck-duck-goose" with some 7-8 year olds and had a blast. We came back around 5:30 to eat dinner and relax. We are all exhausted, so we are going to get a good nights sleep before our last day working at the hospital!

-Jessica

Here is a picture of us painting!

Here we are talking with some of the students!

Here is Jim sweeping the floor after we finished painting!

Day 5 - Universidad del Valle!

We got to the hospital and as the maitenance workers were greeting us the head doctor of the ER and OR came in to test the electrosurgery machine we had fixed the day before. He brought with him a chicken leg and a hot dog. After testing both the coagulation and cutting mechanisms of the machine on the chicken leg, he started to thank us for fixing the machine. They hadnt used the machine for over 5 years and to have another one made another OR room adequate for more types of surgeries.

In the afternoon, we came back to the Nazarene center, got cleaned up, and headed out to the Universidad del Valle. After touring their engineering school and meeting a bunch of the students and talking with them for a while, we met up in the conference room and shared presentations. Dr. P, Katherine, Wade, and Rosie each presented research they had been working on and three groups of UDV students each presented projects they had been working on. A professor from UDV also presented his research. The groups of UDV students presented on an artificial hand, a distilling machine, and a robot controlled through either thoughts, eye movements, or hand movements. They were all really interesting topics. They provided dinner after and we all had awesome conversations with the students. Another fire and bed finished off the night. Tomorrow we'll be painting the shalom foundation's shool!

-Garrett

Visit to the Universidad del Valle

Today, we worked in the hospital for the morning. I worked on cleaning microscopes and other equipment with Dr. P, Garrett, Karen, and Rosie. Lauren, Katherine, and Sung fixed vitals monitors. After working, we had yet another delicious lunch then headed back to the Nazarene Center. We got cleaned up and ventured to the University. We toured the engineering labs, which were incredibly nice and full of great equipment. Next, we shared presentations -- Rosie, Wade, and Katherine each presented their projects. Dr. Paschal gave a presentation about Vanderbilt and some of the research she does. A professor from the Universidad del Valle presented, as did three groups of students. We then shared a delicious dinner together! It was great to talk to the students and to share common ground with our engineering studies.

-Jessica

Second day of work

Today, we spent the morning working at the hospital, as Garrett said. Karen and I went with Jamie to work on the autoclaves. They were all functional except one, which needed a new part. We cleaned them up and then went to lunch, provided by Maria Jose’s mother. The Mapa de Relieve was really cool, and it claims to be 99.99% accurate. The Manos de Amor Clinic was a great facility. They provide care for anyone, with very low payment. We brought donations for the clinic that were graciously accepted by Pastor Alvaro, including items such as equipment and clothing. After the visit to the store, we had a little time to relax, which included soccer and basketball games. We just finished a spaghetti dinner, which was delicious. After dinner, we had a bonfire complete with marshmallows.

-Jessica

Here is a picture of Dr. Paschal, Garrett, and Jessica K. working on Bovie machine.

Here is a picture of Dr. Paschal opening up one of the tubs filled with donations for Manos de Amor.

Day 4 - The hospital and Manos de Amor!

Our second day in the hospital began with some new assignments. Instead of Katherine, Sung, and Lauren heading to the labor unit like yesterday, they were working on the circuit breakers for the Operating Room. Karen and Jessica P. went with Jamie to the autoclave area and cleaned some of the equipment there. Dr. Paschal, Jessica K., and I worked to repair an Electrosurgery unit. We gathered some parts from a junked unit and then replaced the switch on the unit we were working on. After some wire cutting, band saw action, de-soldering, and soldering, the unit was up and running. Maria Jose’s mom provided us with lunch again and we were off to the Manos de Amor clinic.

On our way we stopped at the ‘Mapa de Relieve’, a giant relief map of Guatemala that showed the volcanoes, jungles, and coast of Guatemala. We then went by the Manos de Amor clinic and toured its facilities. It has OB/GYN, dentistry, pediatrics, a pharmacy, and more - all for next to nothing. It was an amazing facility and the people there were some of the nicest and most genuine people. On our way back to the Nazarene center we stopped at the Wal-mart-ish supermarket again and picked up some marshmallows for our bonfire tonight. We’ll post some pictures a little later, so check back!

Garrett

Here is a picture of the map that we saw before going to Manos de Amor.

At the Nazarene Center we had a bonfire!

Day 3 - Our first day working in the hospital

We're finished with our first day of work... and with our first salsa dancing lesson (I'll explain that later). We woke up early again and headed to work at 1 of Guatemala City's 2 public hospitals. The group I was in - Jessica K, Karen, Dean White, and I - were sent to work in the neo-natal unit. When we arrived and they showed us the machines that they wanted us working on, they told us that the reason they were broken was because they didnt have the right sensor cables... something we couldn't fix. So instead of trying to fix it, we ended up cleaning some equipment they had labeled 'super incontaminado' so that they would now be able to use them. I should also include here that Maria Jose's mom made us lunch and it was amazing! After working at the hospital, we came back to the Nazarene Center and played basketball, ate dinner, and had a salsa dancing lesson... yes, a salsa dancing lesson. It definitely wore us out. That combined with a long day has gotten us to bed early again tonight, hoping to be rested for another full day tomorrow.

-Garrett

First day of work!

This morning we woke up early and had breakfast together at 7 AM. We then packed up our stuff and went to the Hospital General San Juan de Dios. We went on a tour then divided into teams. The different areas are the ER/OR, Labor and Delivery, Neonatal Unit, and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. I worked with Chris and Jim in the ER/OR. We wore scrubs as we tested equipment that monitors ECG, blood pressure, and SPO2. We had a delicious lunch break and then got back to work. It is a great experience being so close to the operating rooms and interacting with the doctors and nurses here. Some groups are working on cleaning up incubators and fixing broken equipment in the other areas. It has been a great first day thus far! -Jessica

Day 2 - Antigua!

We woke up early and had breakfast at the Nazarene Center. Jessica and I tried to figure out the internet and how to post our blogs... wasn't as successful as we hoped. We weren’t able get mine up before we needed to leave, which is why I’m posting yesterday’s update at the same time as this one. After breakfast we got to travel around Antigua like Jessica was talking about. The food was amazing and the city itself was a ton of fun to walk around in. The streets are all cobblestone and the buildings were incredible. From the outside it looks like you're walking into a small shop, but after you walk inside it opens up into huge, gorgeous courtyards with fountains and trees. So needless to say, our lunch and dinner/dessert settings were great! We learned a lot about the coffee farming process and got to see a wonderful city. It sure did tire us out though… we’re getting to bed early and resting up for our exciting day tomorrow!

-Garrett




A picture of the market in San Felipe de Jesus:










Our Group in front of the ruins of a Cathedral in Antigua:







From left to right: back-Dean White, Jessica P, Sung, Garrett, Paul, Wade, Karen. front- Dr. P, Rosie, Jessica K, Lauren, Jim. kneeling - Chris and Katherine

Day in Antigua

Our first full day in Guatemala happened to be a Sunday, meaning that we were not needed at the hospital. We decided to spend our day in Antigua, the original capital city. We left early this morning and spent about an hour on the bus. We first walked around a little market just outside of Antigua and purchased some souvenirs. Up next was a visit R. Dalton's Filadelfia Estate, a local coffee plantation. We were led by Carlos through the entire process of how coffee is grown, harvested, and roasted. After the tour, we tasted the coffee (which was delicious) and purchased some in the gift shop. By that time we had worked up an appetite, so we ventured to a traditional restaurant in Antigua, Fonda de la Calle Real. The food was delicious, and it was clearly a great place to eat as Marie Jose and Paul sat in chairs that were formerly used by Charlie Sheen and a former president of Guatemala. We then walked around and explored Antigua and its market. At 5 PM there was a procession in observance of the first Sunday of lent. It was great to see so many people and to be immersed in their culture. We visited the Jade museum, and we learned that it is so strong it can only be cut by diamond. Following the museum tour, we went to a bakery and pastry shop, which was delicious. By that time, it was getting dark, so we headed back to Guatemala City. We are now going to rest up for our first day of work at the hospital! - Jessica

The view from the top of the coffee mill, complete with coffee beans drying on the rooftop:

The view of the Cathedral in Antigua with people beginning to congregate to watch the parade:

Day 1 - Off to a great start!

We have arrived in Guatemala City! 5:15 came a little early this morning, but we all made it to Branscomb (more or less on time) and got to the airport with lots of time to spare. I guess I’m not the best to be giving you an update on the traveling part, I slept at the airport and straight through both of our flights – from Nashville to Houston and Houston to Guatemala City. Once we got to Guatemala City and made it through customs we were greeted by Dean White and Maria Jose, our guide for the week. Victor, our bus driver, was also there and after packing up the bus we drove through the city to the Nazarene Center, our home for the week. Driving through the city made me feel like I was at home, driving through some of the more hispanic parts of Los Angeles. The city itself is packed with people! Take one look at the city buses and the rear of the bus is almost sitting on the axles because they’ve got so many people packed in! The Nazarene Center is great. It’s situated on a hill and is very homey and comfortable. After getting settled in and setting our stuff down, we again loaded the bus and headed out for the site of the Shalom Foundation’s future surgical center. Maria Jose showed us around and, with a little creativity, we were able to see what it will look like after construction is finished. It’s definitely going to be an amazing place and do some awesome work in the city when it’s all up and running. After our tour, we came back to the Nazarene Center and had dinner and did some other activities before heading to bed. One activity included relfecting on the day and write ourselves some letters with expectations for the trip that we'll get to read on the final day. Anyway... off to bed - we’re going to need the sleep, we’ve got to be up and having breakfast at 7 tomorrow morning!

Garrett

The Nazarene Center:

A bus packed with people:

Our group walking through the Shalom Foundation's future surgical center:

We are in Guatemala!

We made it to Guatemala! Our journey began yesterday at the early hour of 5:15 AM. After packing up the cars, we ventured to the Nashville airport. Check-in went smoothly, and we even ran into the ASB group that is also spending their week in Guatemala. Our flight to Houston was fairly quick and went well despite a bumpy landing. Our flight to Guatemala City left a little late, but we arrived in the afternoon to meet Dean White and Maria Jose. After settling in at the Nazarene Center, we went on a tour of the surgical center that the Shalom Foundation is in the process of building. We had a delicious dinner back at the Nazarene Center. More updates to come later! -- Jessica