Samantha Baxter, OMS-II
Participating in an international outreach trip as a medical student who just completed her first year seemed a daunting prospect at first. Pathology had barely been introduced into our curriculum and pharmacology was as unfamiliar to me as a foreign language. I worried that I did not have enough of a knowledge base to be very helpful to the people of Masara, Kenya. Armed with my physical exam tools and a suitcase full of medications, I joined eight other students at the Bonyo’s Mama Pilista Clinic to help serve the community to the best of our ability over the course of our 18-day stay in Kenya.
After arriving in Kenya, we were struck by its beauty and the kindness of the people welcoming us to their country. The lifestyle was so relaxed that it gave us a chance to adjust without the pressure of overcoming jet lag. Our first day at clinic was a Monday, giving us a few days to review our exam skills and OMM treatments that might be useful for the population of patients we would encounter in the upcoming days. The excitement of being able to work with real patients kept me from sleeping the first few nights. I could hardly believe that in a few short days I would be able to make a difference in the lives of the people around me. As an osteopathic medical student, I was acutely aware of the differences in culture between myself and those from Kisumu, and therefore tried to soak up as much Luo (the local dialect) as possible before my first day. Morning runs to Lake Victoria gave me a chance not only to keep myself well-rounded but also the rare opportunity to glimpse locals at their jobs and the natural beauty of a lakeside city.
The thing that struck me the most about my time in clinic was the simple victories that medicine affords not only the providers, but also the patients. Every day that we saw patients was the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Over the course of our trip, we welcomed over 500 patients. The experience that stood out to me, was an older woman who came in too weak to stand. A neighbor who spoke English sat by her side, patting her hand and translating back and forth as I asked her about her symptoms and performed my physical exam. The simple kindness this neighbor displayed spoke of the strong bonds present in the community. My patient had collapsed outside three days before and had since been unable to eat or drink anything. All her symptoms pointed to malaria, so I admitted her to the clinic after her rapid test came back positive and helped the nurses start her on fluids and treatment. The next time that I saw her was the next morning as the nine of us were completing rounds with the doctors, nurses, and clinic director. Where she once was quiet and barely responsive, she turned to survey all of us from her cot. I asked her, with the help of a translator, if she was feeling better. She took my hand and told me “I feel much better. Thank you so much for helping me.” Those simple words were the greatest gift that I could have asked for. Later that day, my patient was up and walking and came to sit next to me during a short break. A translator helped me to understand more about her and her daily routines. The emphatic gesturing during her stories and the bright smile she wore warmed my heart. A day before, this woman was barely able to lift her head in response to my prompting, and now she was telling me about her family. Like many people, I chose to pursue a career in medicine from a desire to help others, but up until this point I didn’t realize just how large an impact doctors can have on their patients. What seemed like a simple solution to a clear problem to me made a world of difference to her. That experience is one that I would not have been able to have if I hadn’t chosen to go on an outreach trip with DOCARE.
At an opportunity to attend church in Masara we were introduced to the community. The welcome that we received and the gratitude we were shown demonstrated how important this mission was to them. Some of the members of the village would not have been able to receive care without these trips to the clinic. I walked from the church back to the clinic hand in hand with some of the local children, a few of which I had treated myself. Their excitement to show me their games and houses made me smile and appreciate my surroundings even more. These were real people, with real problems, that came to the clinic at their lowest asking for someone to help them. Each day we shared chapati and tea for lunch with the translators and learned about their hopes and dreams. Every experience in the village and the clinic taught me to appreciate the patient as a whole person in a way that I am not sure I would have learned without the opportunity to take this trip. I learned the importance of a kind word and gentle touch to make a connection with someone who is scared and doesn’t understand what is happening to them. That kind of experience can’t be taught. It is part of the art of medicine.
I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to participate on this mission to Kenya. My perspective was forever changed by the small difference in the lives of the people of Masara that nine American students were able to make. Though I have always been interested in global medicine and outreach programs, I could not have predicted what a profound change it sparked in me. I learned the importance of meeting your patients halfway and treating them not just as a case, but as a unique individual. The necessity of working as a team with limited resources brought all of the student doctors closer together and demonstrated how a unified approach is invaluable to medical care. It is my hope that I will one day be able to return to Masara as a practicing physician and be able to once again donate my time and skills to help the wonderful members of the village and community of Masara.
Hey ya'll! I wanted to share an essay/perspective that my BFF did after we went to Kenya together! This is a couple of years old, but still amazing. Thanks to her for this awesome piece and allowing me to post it on my blog.
Cheers!
