Working for health...

Today and yesterday the Nicaraguan Doctor and I went to more of the schools that Nicaragua Resource Network supports and gave all of the students and staff the anti-parasite pill as well as Vitamin A. We gave the pills like before classroom by classroom. We explain them and then pass them all out to the students. Class sizes vary from 18-52 students. Everyone takes the pill together and we tell them to hold it in their hand and then put their hand "Arriba, al Centro, y al Dentro" which means (to the top, to the middle, and to the inside. The Doctor and I wear gloves when we pass them out but then when we pass out the water we have to share cups from classroom to classroom. This bothers me in terms of infection control, but we are doing our best with what we have and we didn't have 400+ cups. Parasites like amebas are a big problem in Nicaragua because of the dirty water, the animal feces, and not washing hands or food before eating.

I realized that there is not soap at any of the schools. So when we tell them washing hands is the #1 thing to do to avoid infection, they have nowhere to do that. I could go on and on about how gross not having soap is but I bet you could imagine the necessity at a school pre-school- 11th grade in a developing world country should be so I won't get on my soap box (haha.) Getting soap in the schools and increasing the hand washing is my new objective. The Doctor and I talked about it with some of the school directors. Liquid soap turns into a toy and a lot is wasted, bar soap disappears, and sanitizer is too expensive. So we have decided it will be best to get the baseball size balls of soap that they have here and put it in a bag like the ones they use for onions (plastic mesh) and hang it on the wall near the sinks. One of the schools doesn’t have a sink...so that will be part of the objective too.

Also, the Doctor and I have done some home visits for some students that are particularly sick. One that just got out of the hospital, another that may have TB, another that hit his head really hard and has a big bump and hematoma. We helped the parents understand what the medical information the hospital/Dr. had given them, got the medicines/nebulizer that they needed and prayed with them. It was really neat. Nicaraguans are very welcoming and invite you right inside their 1 room concrete block/tin homes with dirt floors and are always happy to have guests. They smile and wave at anyone that passes them on the street and have a resilient energy and humility about them. Beautiful people!

On another note, I spoke with the mother of host family that I will be moving into next week. We are going to meet Friday evening. I am excited to meet them and really be immersed in the Nica culture in their home. Well, I am going to climb in to my top bunk here at the mission house and head to bed. I'll write again soon.

P.S. the Mangoes are beginning to fall and when they hit the tin roofs we call it "mango bango"...it is loud but so great...the mangoes should be all ripe in about another 3 weeks. Can't Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Ayla Landry

"Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World."  ~Paulo Coelho

Here...

I took a relaxing weekend taking naps in the hammock and journaling on the porch rocking chairs. A group from Austin came on Saturday and I know some of the women on the trip. It is fun to have them here at the mission house with me. We all went to play at the orphanage that Nicaragua Resource Network sponsors that is connected to one of their churches and schools. Also, delivered to one school the medical supplies we distributed for them. Here goes some stream of consciousness about the past few days:


I have so many feelings and reflections and epiphanies. I am growing and learning to love. Learning through seeing and reflecting and mostly from empathizing. Life here is so different and so bittersweet. Different from expectations is the so many things I am thinking that I can’t articulate and I am sad and elated at the same time. there is so many reactions in my head to things all around and it drives me crazy sometimes the way I try to problem solve everything but then at the same time have so much peace in that the people are living beautiful lives. Neighborhoods are the best and the worst at the same time. I love it here. And where is the mom or big sister of the toddlers wandering the streets and why doesn’t someone cover the naked men lying on the side of the road. Motorcycle accidents and busy streets. Blood on the highway. Someone was decapitated in another part of the country. They found the body first then the head. It was on the radio in the taxi. All the whistling at me. I react to it differently every time. The pastor emphasizes prayer and God's plan And I empathize with the people. Mothers crying. Children laughing and sleeping. Worshipping with music and dancing and clapping and hearing God so near just whispering to be still and love. Birthdays. Egg on the head. Mariachi band. Pinatas. Popcorn and choclate for dinner. sweet cards and celebrating life. To see them all playing is awesome. Playing is playing. And a ball is fun to play with all over the world and so is a new friend. And falling asleep on the dirt floor of your house.Because now that your mom had another baby there isn’t room for all 10 people in the family to sleep on the only bed that is there. They breast feed until they are older here because the transition from breast milk to food is hard and more expensive and not very accessible. At orphanage the kids fall asleep under a tree, on the cement floor or in your lap all the same. Rest to be able to play and go to church. I am mentally engaged a lot. This feels like home. I can’t really explain it. I am where I am supposed to be...


Love,
Ayla


"To a worm in horseradish the world is all horseradish." ~Anonymous

I made it!!!

Well, where to start....Let's see...I have made it to Nicaragua and I am loving it. I feel right at home. I arrived and have already begun working with the Nicaraguan Doctor named Karla. I am staying at a mission house where I sleep on a bunk bed, common bathroom, fan, breakfast and dinner provided by lovely ladies (Juanita and Yolanda). There is a big kitchen with eating area and big living room with a few couches. Most do not sit in the living room and instead sit on the many rocking chairs on the porches. The temperature has been in the mid/high 80s during the day and lovely low 70s at night. There is a breeze that cuts the sun a bit, but don't worry I am wearing sunscreen. My diet has been mostly rice, beans, tropical fruit, and salad with the occasional ice cream for dessert. Breakfast is at 7am and dinner is at 5pm. The time is central time but Nicaragua doesn't have daylight saving...so when you spring forward I will still be on the same time.


The first day I was here I went to visit several churches and communities that this organization (Nicaragua Resource Network) serves. It was good to see the big picture of what they do, but I was eager to get going on the healthcare work. The following day, I was picked up at 7:30am by Dr. Karla and we went to one of the schools called Rey Salamon to give parasite treatment/prevention pills to the students. We went from classroom to classroom and passed out the pill and everyone took it together. It was chewable but didn't taste very good. We had water to help. We also did a little age-appropriate teaching in each classroom about illnesses caused by parasites. Here in Nicaragua the elementary school (colegio) comes in the morning 7am-12pm and then the high school (secundario) comes in the afternoon 12:30pm-5:30pm. There is not middle school just Pre-School, Elementary which is 1st-6th and then secondary school which is 7th-11th grade. There are 4 schools where I will be helping each with about 500 students. There are a lot of needs and I am excited to work along Dr. Karla and see how we manage the task ahead of us.


The plan is to go to one school a day Monday- Thursday and then on Fridays have a day to do paperwork or other tasks. We will do the parasite prevention/treatment, physical exams on each student including the special education students, nutrition education, mouth and general hygiene, and hearing/vision screening. We will also see the sick children as needed and are working on the documentation. Woo-wee...this is going to be fun!


I'll keep you posted now that I have internet access. WOOHOO!!.......


Love,
Ayla Landry


"Go Heart First."

Ready, Getting Ready, Set, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”~Mother Teresa


So, I am off to Nicaragua in less than a week and have been packing, visiting with friends, resting, and getting ready to head off. I will be at first staying at a mission house with the leaders of the group I am doing the school nursing with and getting oriented. Then, I will be moving into a home with a host family. The host family seems perfect. The mom is a teacher. The dad is a preacher, and I will have 2 little brothers. I'll tell you more about them once I get there.


I have so many ideas about what to do and what I want to see and learn while I am in Nicaragua. Helping set up a school nurse program and referral network, supporting the nurses at the Women's Cancer Clinic, furthering and beginning friendships and professional relationships with those in Nicaragua, volunteering at the clinic that serves the community that lives in the trash dump, spending time loving on the children at the re-nutrition center, being a resource for groups that come down from the US that I know, understanding more of the culture, perfecting my Spanish, reflecting on my experiences to learn.....I think I could go on forever. But the main thing to keep myself focused on is just to serve and love everywhere I go.


Well, I am going to go now. Today, I need to pack and determine what I need to gather at the store to complete my packing. I am bringing one suitcase for me and one suitcase of donations.


P.S. I am working on getting the picture slideshow to work so I can show you everything with more than just my words.


Love,
Ayla Landry

My Visit to Nicaragua Jan. 9th -16th

Thank you to everyone who has responded and sent encouragement /donations in support of my Nicaragua adventure.  I will be moving to Nicaragua in February and can’t wait to see what becomes of this  adventure.

Mid-January, I was in Nicaragua and worked with Fundacion Ortiz Gurdian’s (FOG) campaign against cervical and breast cancer alongside an M.D. Anderson Doctor and Nurse Practitioner. (See pictures in Album January 2011) The purpose of the week long trip was to help FOG assess the nursing and patient flow at their new cancer clinic. During the trip we I the following:

·         Created the assessment checklist for chemotherapy side effects to be used by both doctors and nurses prior to each visit.

·         Wrote the patient education materials in Spanish that addressed symptoms described in the assessment checklist.  Topics included:

o   Preventing Infection, Fatigue,  Nutrition, Mouth Care, How to use the 0-10 Pain Scale, How to control/manage pain, Other effects: skin, hair, nails, sexuality, pain, Effects on nerves and muscles, memory and concentration, Tips to about N/V, Diarrhea, How to Prevent Constipation.

o   Printed and made folders for education materials and included a page explaining how to find more information on the internet for future use.

·         Had meeting with the nurses where we:

o   Showed the MD Anderson Spanish video chemotherapy class on the big TV in the chemotherapy room

o   Went over the Chemotherapy side effects checklist and how to use it.

o   Answered questions and facilitated discussion about patient care

o   Discussed  importance of the nurses and the need for them to be a voice for the patient and a vital part of the healthcare team

o   Gave certificates, bracelets, and took pictures

·         Met with some people, and determined details for the school nurse position I will have in February and shared vision for the program.

·         On the last day took a trip to Leon where we visited Ortiz Art Museum, an old convent turned hotel and the beach)

The trip was inspiring and now I am preparing all the details to move to Nicaragua come February. I’ll keep you updated…here we go!!!

Fundraising!...Give with the PayPal Donate Button to the right of the blog

Dear Supporters,

            Imagine trying to provide for your family, protect your home, and care for yourself on less than a dollar a day when you are sick, abused by your spouse, and have no access to proper health care.  Well, for the people of Nicaragua, this situation is a common reality.  As the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere (only after Haiti), the health needs of Nicaragua are countless.  This past May, I graduated from nursing school at Texas Christian University with a particular interest in international public health and health education. In pursuit of these interests, I will be moving to Nicaragua to volunteer alongside Nicaraguans as a school nurse and an on-site project liaison for US organizations.

             Even more so than in the United States, schools are a focal point for the communities of Nicaragua. As a school nurse, I will have the opportunity to be involved with entire communities by addressing health concerns of both parents and students. I will conduct general health education classes for grades K-12, as well as provide basic health care alongside a Nicaraguan doctor. Another part of my role will be identifying children in need of advanced medical care and matching them with a doctor who can provide them with the medical care they need. Student by student, and family by family, the health of entire communities can be improved.

            In addition to working as a school nurse, I will be volunteering for a campaign for women’s health issues in Nicaragua. This campaign, which I have been involved in since 2008, intends to provide comprehensive care for Nicaraguan women with cervical cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Cervical cancer, which is preventable and curable with early detection, is the #1 cause of death for Nicaraguan women under the age of 60. I will be hosting nurse education sessions that will improve the clinical skills and nursing practices of the local nurses, which will in turn benefit patients and their families. Currently, there is only 1 nurse for every 3,000 people in Nicaragua, compared to 1 nurse for every 25 people here in the United States. On top of this shortage, the Nicaraguan nurses are inadequately trained, often reporting that they do not have enough hands-on training to properly treat people. I will work for the campaign to empower the nurses in Nicaragua and promote women’s health screening and treatment.

            Nicaragua has been a special place to me ever since my first visit there in the Spring of 2009.  At that time I was learning about women’s health in nursing school and was able to apply the clinical skills in the labor and delivery unit of a Nicaraguan hospital. Needless to say the maternity ward in this developing country was quite different than anything I had experienced in the USA. Twelve women were all going through labor in the same room without interventions to control their pain and without the amenities of modern hospitals. The environment was unique and challenging. I was eager to put my Spanish-speaking abilities and newly acquired women’s health nursing skills to work.  One woman, Marta Susanna, and I made a special connection.  We were both 20 years old at the time, and I helped her throughout the entire  labor and delivery process by coaching her breathing, holding her hand through the pain, addressing and listening to her concerns, teaching her how to breast feed and assisting the medical resident in delivering her beautiful healthy baby girl into the world.  Then, after Marta was rolled out into the hall to wait for her baby, as is common in Nicaraguan hospitals, I helped to celebrate the birth and motherhood that was now part of her life. Marta Susanna appreciated my support, nursing skills, and companionship so much that she decided to name the baby after me! I have never felt so proud and honored.  The first and only person I have ever met with my own name I had just delivered into the world and was admiring and holding in my arms (picture of the Two Aylas included).  I have been praying for that family every day and haven’t been able to get Nicaragua off my mind since. 

            Consequently, I’ve been back to Nicaragua two additional times since that first trip, getting even more involved with women’s health and empowerment through volunteering and networking programs.  It is truly amazing what people can do with a vision, collaboration, determination and a heart to serve. I am excited and blessed to have this opportunity to go work as a public health nurse and serve in a place that I love so much.

            Since my work in Nicaragua will not be a paid position, I must raise the necessary funds required to live there.  You can support me, and ultimately help the people of Nicaragua, with a monetary donation.  I need to raise $4,500 by mid- January to help cover work expenses, food, housing, local transportation, communication, travel insurance, flight expenses and other necessary costs associated with this cause. A donation of $200 will pay for housing for a month, a donation of $550 would pay for a flight to Nicaragua, and general work supplies, weekly groceries, laundry, travel insurance, and other expenses will cost approximately $75 per month. 
            I appreciate your support with this endeavor which is bound to yield improved health for many Nicaraguan families and personal growth for me. Please use the PayPal Donate button on the top right of the blog to give the monetary donation of whatever amount you feel appropriate. If you would feel more comfortable sending a check by mail, please contact me at ayla.landry@gmail.com for further instructions.  I look forward to keeping you updated about this adventure through this blog. Similarly, if you have any questions, concerns, or encouragement to pass along I would love to hear from each of you at ayla.landry@gmail.com. Please keep Nicaragua and my future in your thoughts and prayers. Again, thank you for your generosity and for taking the time to consider my cause. Have a lovely day!

With Love,

Miss Ayla Landry, BSN, RN

"I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things."

~Mother Teresa

Nicaragua Bound!!!

Hi Everyone,
This posts marks the beginning of my Nicaraguan journey! So before we begin, here is the back story. I grew up with a loving family who taught me to dream big and facilitated my imagination. My parents have often said that I keep their lives interesting and looking back I can see why. I was always dressing-up and pretending to be everything from queen of the universe to the homeless person on the corner we saw yesterday. I have always been fascinated by people of different cultures and walks of life. Because of that interest and imagination, I have grown to posses a great deal of empathy for my fellow citizens of the world.

Now, as a young adult that same incessant interest in people, fervent passion to serve others, and ability to dream has brought me to the profession of international nursing.  I have known I wanted to do international nursing for a few years now and God has led me to Nicaragua. I cannot get the country and people I have met there out of my mind. I believe everyone has the ability to positively impact their circle of influence and with my Spanish-speaking abilities and skills in nursing I fully intend to somehow expand my circle of influence and positively impact the health care outcomes of the developing world.

So come along with me and stay in touch as I prepare to leave and move to Nicaragua in early 2011 and feel free to donate by mailing a check or using the PayPal Donate Button at the top right of this blog :)