Touch

Thank you for patiently waiting for my reflection to the blog. I always find it difficult to jump right in and write about my time with the Regis Medical Team in Guatemala. I need a little time to sit and reflect on the week and let my feelings marinate for a while. Over these last few weeks one word that replays in my mind is ‘touch’. Webster’s Dictionary gives a few meanings to this word:

touch [tuhch} – verb (used with object)

    1. produce feelings of affection, gratitude, or sympathy in.

    2. come into or be in contact with.

    3. have an effect on; make a difference to.

I want to first offer my sincere feelings of gratitude to the student team and all the donors who contributed to our fund-raising endeavors. The students were asked to participate in fund raising events starting last fall to help to reach our financial goals – selling refreshments at football games, Loteria, textile sales after mass, and writing several donation letters. To our many supporters of our project, thank you for purchasing textiles after mass, buying products from our Target list for baby kit items, and for sharing the evening with us at the annual Guatemala Baby Shower and Silent auction. We could not have done all that we did in Coban without our support. I am touched and feel gratitude.

We arrived at the clinic at Ciudad de la Esperanza early Tuesday morning with a big list of things to do before we saw our first patient at 8:00 a.m. Suitcases to upload and then unpack (I think there were about 40). Triage supplies, dental supplies and the majority were loaded with medications to supply the pharmacy. None of this happened without first coming in contact with our friends and family at Ciudad. A handshake from Juan Pablo, Dr. Ricardo, and Josua, a big hug from Rosario and Irma, and then opening the door to that beautiful pharmacy!

As the pharmacist on the medical team, I have the pleasure of being the last station our patients come in contact with during their clinic visit. I give them instructions for the medications the doctors have prescribed. At the end our session, my student and I would ask if the patient would like close out their clinic visit and share a prayer with us. This year I noticed that more often than not we would hold hands during this time of prayer – completing the circle of being in contact with one another. I have been touched and feel a connection.

This year marks by tenth year going to Guatemala with the medical team and students. This is my fifth year with Regis University. This experience has definitely had an effect on me, it’s made a difference in my personal and professional life – I have been touched and effected by this experience. This project has made a difference in my life. I also hope that our efforts at la Ciudad de la Esperanza has had an effect on the beautiful people of Coban. I see the growth of the clinic – the work the residents have done to make this clinic at Ciudad a place where sustainability and capacity building empower the residents in Coban.

Eric Bertelsen

Pharmacist