Ha Noi November 2008

Hanoi after 30 years

Tien, Gay Lynn, Liz, and I went to Hanoi for a quick visit to the National Cancer Center after we were done in Ben Tre. Most of the team was leaving for home on November 22, some stayed extra days and went to other places for vacation and we left for Hanoi in the same morning. I was in Hanoi 30 years ago, right before leaving the country. It was much difference then, the City was quiet with mostly bicycles. I remembered the old town with great French architectures, but tried exploring the City was not easy because the lack of transportation that are readily available now. It is a wonderful experience this time to get acquainted with the ancient city again for many of us who was born and raised in Saigon with parents from North Viet Nam. I also got a chance to visit Hà Đông and watched the villagers weaving their silk the traditional way, by hands.

The visit to Hanoi’s National Cancer Center was very interesting. Viet Nam has very high cases in lung, throat, stomach, breast, cervical, colorectal cancer. At this particular center, a thousand patients check in daily for cancer related problems. This high number of patients echoed when I talked to my friend, an oncology nurse at the Saigon Cancer Center. The centers are in needs of every thing. Cancer screenings are not available due to lack of screening equipments such as mammography machine. Thus, they are promoting cervical screening with Pap smears in Saigon, the education about cancer prevention still needs to be implemented. There were requested for more training about cancer education from every one we talked to. Gay and I did some basic training with the Red Cross personnel in Tien Giang, and with the sisters at the last two clinics, using some of the materials that we brought, some in English and some in Vietnamese. The training was very well received and they wanted yearly training if we can provided. Gay and I may have to be very creative about this request. May be we can do it via emailing and the internet on a regular schedule. It is an exciting time for cancer prevention worldwide.

Back to the reality at home now, I am glad that it is Thanks Giving weekend. We have so much to be thankful about. Thank you very much for your interest in our journey, and for your great supports, we could not do any of this with out your prayers. M&M

Week two in Ben Tre 11-17 to 11-20-2008

We completed the mission as our last clinic ended at 5pm. We did not have access to good internet here much. I lost my camera today so went my 4 gigs of pictures for the blog that I was planing to up load once we get back to Saigon. Oh well, all and all it was a great mission, we saw atleast 4,ooo people in 8 clinics. The last two were in Cai Nhum and Cai Mon convents so the sites were better, we got good home cook meal for lunches and the toilets were available none of us have to hold our blader for the 12 hour days.

The mission was great we all had a good time. The foods were plentiful, people were very nice to work with, the county side is beautiful. Wish you were here.

M&M

Week one in My Tho accomplished

We had finished our first week in My Tho today. Four days of clinic to four different locations. Total of 1,869 people were examed and given medications with a smile and sometimes a hug. There was always smiles of gratitude given back to us. The people are so wonderful and so sweet.

Starting at 6 am for team meeting, a quick breakfast, we then drive to clinic, we see patients until no one come into clinic any more before we pack up, drive back to the hotel, some night it was closed to 9pm. The days went so smoothly and in great order. We saw some pretty sick people, some cancer patients that we could not do any thing but provided words of encouragement. Gay Lynn found breast cancer in a man, and performed breast exam to anyone who complain of breast symtoms. The most common complain was backache and also high blood pressure. Children made up about one third, one third are the elderly and the mix bag of the other third. All went well, team members worked great with each other seamlessly. M&M

From Mary

Pharmacy

Huong, our very own Vietnamese pharmacist

Gay Lynn's starting her first mission like a veteran

Gift table

Dr. Nancy Alexis

Tien

See how nicely the patients are in the waiting room!

This woman came in with symtoms of a heart attatck and being assessed by Dr. Lynn Taylor. After we gave her an IV, turn out that she is just thirsty

Mick is giving out reading glasses to the elders

Kimberle with her patient, this woman has late stage ovarian cancer

The team of 33 from the US and Viet Nam


Nov. 12,2008

Dear ones,
Sometimes, medical missionaries make a difference. Sometimes, we can't -- and that hurts. Today we experienced both during hours of clinic at Tan Hung, a village 1 1/2 hours west of our headquarters at My Tho Town. I'm still very much out of whack regarding jet lag! My roommate, Glenda Condrey, and I both woke up at 3 a.m. today. (Yesterday, we woke up at 4 a.m. and I made us hot chocolate, which we enjoyed as we talked) We had a team meeting and prayers at 6, then a while later left for our mission. We rode 1 1/2 hours through this flat country with vivid colors: canary yellow flowers, turquoise houses, emerald green grass, scarlet dresses on ladies. Many buildings flew the Vietnam flag, distinctive with its yellow star on a red background. The Catholic churches were majestic and the temples were ornate. We saw thousands of scooters driven by people mostly helmets but a few in coolie hats. A surprising amount wore surgical masks too. We saw mostly one-story homes, some two to three story and a couple five story businesses. We saw some familiar signs such as Pepsi and Mobil gas but also ones we didn't know like Saigon Gas or Petro-Vietnam. By the time we got to the village, hundreds of people awaited us. We set up our stations in an open-air meeting place and got to work. Nine hours later, we had taken care of 458 sick, needy people. There's something delightful about practicing simple medicine near a palm tree as skinny chickens cluck nearby. Mrs. Cluckles (my chicken puppet who has gone round the world with me) brought smiles to people's faces too. This was an unforgetable day. I watched our medical leader, Dr. Nancy Alexis, work her gentle and wonderful magic on people of all ages. Now THAT'S how all doctors should be! I watched Dr. Lynn Taylor make crying children laugh. I also watched the blue eyes of Kimberle Deller, a nurse practioner, darken with pain at the suffering of some of her patients. Mostly, I realized that we can do a lot but not everything. Kim Deller had a patient in her early 30s, who was dying of advanced ovarian cancer which was discovered last year when the woman gave birth. Too poor to afford all the treatment she needed, she grew weaker and sicker. Her husband carried her in today, telling us that she hadn't eaten or drank anything in 20 days. An intravenous line provided some hydration but, Kim estimates, the woman likely only has weeks to live. Dr. Taylor and I had an 87-year-old woman with a colostomy which turned out to be OK and an abdominal scar which was not, The woman only had about five teeth but she never stopped smiling. Her daughters said they had no money to get her to a doctor for needed treatmen. I gave her $500,000 dong (Vietnamese money) and they were thrilled. We also had a 12-year-old boy with a rather severe ear infection, a man with possible neurofibromitosis and a variety of unusual skin rashes, muscle and joint aches and more. Around us, one volunteer distributed free eyeglasses to those in need and 2 pounds of sugar to each adult, two others distributed gifts and all team members gave love. Mostly, I saw a group of American and Vietnamese Christian medical professionals dispensing both medical care and God's love. I'm learning about unusual diseases, about lots of medicines and about life itself. My heart swells with pride at this wonderful team and I'm so happy tobe part of it. Along the way, I've come to realize that my calling as a missionary nurse is the most important thing I do in this life. Well, it's time for a cold shower -- that's all we have but it gets one clean too -- and some sleep. Stay well and I'll write again. God bless you and God bless America! Love, Mary

Tien Giang/ My Tho Nov.10

Monday in My Tho. The TienGiang Red Cross & Gay Lynn - I provided a presentation on "Cancer 101" that included information on the 2006 Vietnam cancer plan & statistics, cancer prevention, and information on lung, breast & cervical, colo-rectal and prostate cancer. We all had alot of fun learning breast self exam (BSE) and working with a breast model for practice and learning what differnt types of breast lumps feel like. The questions were terrific and we also laughed together many times.

From My Tho....Gay Lynn

Typcial Saigon Traffic...a view from a 'cyclo' A rather terrifying experience at first until you realize most of the locals know how to manuever around these older forms of transportation.

Gay Lynn taking advantage of some of the local affordable transportation. This is a "cyclo", a sort of 3 wheeled pedal bike with a front seat. Not recommended for the faint of heart. What a away to see the town as no other way can provide! ~Robert

2nd day

We went to school for the blind today, which is an orphanage for blind children. It is run by two nuns. The kids make things to sell to support the orphanage. The kids go to shool for 3 hours a day, they have to memorize what is being read to them out of a text book and then go back to the orphanage and write it in brail. A Deacon comes and teaches them how to play the mandolin or the keyboard. They were gracious enough to play for us. They were wonderful! We were able to tape some of their music to share with you. Enjoy and God bless you all. Elizabeth

First Day In Ho Chi Minh City

in the word of Robin Williams...Good morning Vietnam! Haven't seen much of the city yet-it was late when we arrived at the airport and later still when we got to the hotel. Lan Hotel is quite nice-rooms are without windows-which was restful and cool with the AC on. Not nearly enough sleep last night-was 3am before me & my roomie Liz settled down. They serve a breakfast buffet of traditional Vietnamese dishes, plus eggs to order, lovely fruit and beautiful french bread (remember-Vietnam was a French colony for approximately 100 years. The coffee was strong and everyone is very accomodating. Our maid lauhged when I drew her a picture of an iron & ironing board as I need to have my "meeting clothes" pressed-but the common language of smiles seemed to work! Today we are purchasing medications for the trip, possibly some meetings and out to the airport to pick up more team members this evening. I am glad to be here and to be part of this undertaking. Keep us in your thoughts...Gay

Arrived in Saigon Safely

Hello,
We got into Saigon at midnight safely. There are 11 of us here so far. Three more will be joining us tonight and the the rest of the team will be here on Sunday night, then we will all drive down to Tien Giang from the airport after we collected every one. Tan Son Nhat airport added a brand new wing this year, making things much easier and faster through custom. The weather in Saigon currently is about 80 degree F which is consider on the cooler side. We are staying at Lan Lan 2 Hotel, right in the heart of the City and it is nice just No windows in the rooms, so you feel like you are in a big closet.
Got to go get the meds that we ordered, will be back later and may be pictures can be load up when there is a computer with the USP port available. Marie