Mission trip to the Dominican Republic - Day 2 – Juan Bosch Hospital

The rooster crows & crows & crows

The rooster, I swear was on my window sill, crowed through the night.

​Today started off very early much earlier than expected when the rooster started to crow outside of my room about 12:30 AM. That bird must’ve been extremely confused as was I startled out of a somewhat deep sleep. I was able to get back to sleep with some help from my headphones and rise at 5:30 AM the rooster crowing again, in time to get ready, pack my gear, and arrive in the lobby for 6:30 AM bus ride to the Juan Bosch hospital about 30 minutes away.

A rather cramped bus ride along a bumpy highway, dodging in and out of motorcycles and scooters, the preferred or at least more common form of transportation here in the Dominican Republic,  got us to the hospital. The sun rose and it was just incredible to see the palm trees and jungle foliage silhouetted against the orange of the sunrise. 

Command central, getting ready for the day.

​And thus my day began with a slew of interviews with my companions and personnel working with us at the hospital including a mini documentary following a new patient as they arrived in the OR pre-op area and then following them through the surgery which was a hip joint replacement performed by Dr. Duwelius.

​Our meals at the hospital consisted of local cuisine mainly the main staple being cooked Plantains a common thread throughout most of our native meals.

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Village Coordinator Argentina Gonzalez, (Cooperadora de la salud) champion for the villagers!

The highlight of the day for me was being able to interview one of the village Coordinator's Argentina who without their help none of this would be possible at least as it is performed today. She is a dynamic delightful beautiful woman with a huge smile and you can feel the passion she has for her work with the mission extruding from every pore . She told of her passion and of how grateful she and  the villagers are for the mission and the doctors and staff which come from the United States to provide the surgeries . And above all another common thread was the gratitude to God.

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Praying before surgery, a tradition in the D.R.

​Another unique tradition is the saying of a prayer before each surgery to bless the doctors and the surgery and for a healthy recovery for the patient. This is done before each surgery something you don’t see in the United States. The Dominican Republic is definitely a very religious and spiritual country and people.

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Leaving Juan Bosch Hospital after a long day.

​The day finally concluded about 8:30 in the evening when we boarded the bus and once again to travel back to the hotel for a few slices of pizza some more camaraderie with the team and then to bed to rest and do this all over again tomorrow . I’m looking forward to continuing my interviews and getting some b-roll at the hospital, interviewing the residences and Dominican Republic doctors, and getting their take on how the doctors from the states help and teaching have impacted them.