| Each volunteer on the mission is invited to share their thoughts and reactions to the project with you here. You can respond to their comments via e mail or on the discussion page. |
Making
a team
April 5, 2000 5:36 PM Barcelona, Venezuela
| This is only the second time that Operation Rainbow has taken both orthopaedic and plastic surgery teams on the same mission. Combining the disciplines isn't easy, but the crews have similar goals and are lead by two surgeons who are both named Rick. |  |
| Dr. Rick Coughlin is the the head of the orthopaedic team and has volunteered for more than 15 missions with several organizations, including Operation Rainbow. Because the logistics of traveling with an orthopaedic team are so challenging, Coughlin invites team members he has worked with and knows he can trust such as registered nurse Gary Fuller and nurse anesthetist Ricardo Charles. He then fills out his team with young doctors and nurses who have never been on a mission. |  |
"My crusade has been to introduce senior or chief ortho residents to overseas experiences," said Coughlin. His hope is that mission so early in their careers will "enable them to have volunteerism as an essential part of their career and life."
Coughlin has found that by bringing medicine to the people - and especially the children - of another country gives him an introduction the culture he would miss as a tourist.
"You're accepted not as a traveler, but as a part of the community," said Coughlin.
|
Dr. Rick Bosshardt is on his sixth mission for Operation Rainbow and he heads up the plastic surgery team. While the orthopaedics had to ship 14 cases of equipment for their work, the plastic surgeons can take their tools in their carry-on luggage. To fill his team, Bosshardt didn't have to worry about logistics as much as the enthusiasm. |
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"My main criteria was a willingness to go," said Bosshardt. He was able recruit five medical team members from the Central Florida area where he lives. They are all first-time mission participants. Some of Bosshardt's team were looking the opportunity to contribute to a foreign medical mission and were convinced to join Operation Rainbow in part because of Bosshardt's evangelical enthusiasm for this kind of work. His commitment started after his first mission to the Philippines when he returned exhausted, but exhilarated. "Within days of coming home, I was looking forward to my next trip,"said Bosshardt. |
Video: make rounds with Dr. Rick Coughlin. (Requires QuickTime 4.0)
109
hours into the mission
April 5, 2000 9:45 AM Barcelona, Venezuela
In medical school, they teach residents to sleep "when you can" because of the long exhausting hours. Tuesday's schedule included 18 patients. [. . . read more . . . ]
Video:
Cesar Euribe
April 4, 2000 1:30 PM Barcelona, Venezuela
Anesthesiologist
Cesar Euribe talks about getting patients ready for surgery
Posted April 4, 2000 (requires QuickTime 4.0)
Mamacita
April
3, 2000 5:55 PM Barcelona, Venezuela
There are misunderstandings. The language barrier causes problems and cultural differences come into play. Elva Williamson knows that left unchecked, these conflicts can undermine a mission and that's where she can help. [. . . read more . . . ]
The
sounds of the OR -- Medical and Cultural Exchange
April
3, 2000 1:14 AM Barcelona, Venezuela
Walking
down the hall of the operating suite at Razetti Hospital, the sounds of
each operating room are a unique blend of instruments of many kinds. Mixed
with the expected sounds of patient monitors and the hiss of oxygen and
anesthesia machines are the sounds of music. [.
. . read more . . . ]
Bobby
Satcher and D'Juanna White Satcher
April 2, 2000 6:14 PM Barcelona,
Venezuela
Many mission volunteers give up a week of vacation with their families to travel with Operation Rainbow. Two doctors however, have been able to make a commitment to the Venezuela mission while still spending time with their spouse. [. . . read more . . . ]
First
Cases - Healing in Venezuela
April
1, 2000 6:03 PM Barcelona, Venezuela
In many of the surgical cases, Operation Rainbow doctors are working side by side with Venezuelan medical residents and doctors, helping them lean new skills and improve techniques learned during their education. [. . . read more . . . ]
First
Looks - Assessing the need
April
1, 2000 9:20 AM Barcelona, Venezuela
The hallway
in the basement of Dr. Luz Razetti hospital erupted into applause as the
team of 20 volunteers from Operation Rainbow made their way to a small
room which doubled as reception hall and assessment room. Waiting for
the team were potential surgical patients and their families. The expectant
looks from each expressed the hope that the visiting doctors, nurses,
and lay volunteers would provide change in their lives by repairing the
deformities and birth defects.
[. . . read more . . .
]
Delivering
the instruments of change
March 31, 2000 6:44 PM Barcelona,
Venezuela
Operation Rainbow's mission to Venezuela hit the ground at 8:54 PM Thursday local time, arriving at Simon Bolivar airport in Caracas. The team then transferred to a military C130 for a short flight to Barcelona, on the northern coast of Venezuela. [. . . read more . . . ]
The
Universal Language of Caring
F.R. "Fritz" Nordengren -
Project Producer
Welcome and thank you for taking time in your life to share the stories contained in this site. What you are reading is the result of work begun in August, 1999 in Armenia. During the mission there, the idea for this site was born.
Now, though the cooperation of the project sponsors, and my fellow producer Tom Burton, we are able to bring our work and the work of Operation Rainbow to you via the web.
This web site gives you, the reader, a chance to participate in a mission to heal children in Venezuela. While you may not be able to attend in person, what you will read here are the thoughts, reactions, and observations of the events, as they unfold. Once or twice each day, the project participants will publish new stories, photographs, and interviews with the team members, patients, and families making this project possible.
The people who you will meet and get to know come from a variety of backgrounds, nations, and families, yet all share a common language . . . the language of caring. We look forward to having you with us March 31, - April 8, 2000.