This was my fourth trip with Light of the World and they have all been wonderful opportunities – but this one was very special. I have worked for 20 years with many of the people from Martin Memorial who participated in this trip, and we were able to provide help to a very needy community and change people’s lives.
Dr. James Vopal, a surgeon on staff at Martin Memorial, did remarkable work on a woman with a goiter that was larger than a grapefruit in her neck. With the assistance of Dr. Rene Loyola, also a surgeon on staff at Martin Memorial, Dr. Vopal removed the large growth. Now the small-statured woman is no longer embarrassed to be seen in public for fear of all the stares she received because of it. (In the picture to the left are Pam Penovi, Dr. Loyola, Terry Whitesell, me and Dr. Vopal).Dr. Antonio Beltran performed many surgeries on men for their prostate issues or bladder stones, many of whom have had to have a foley catheter in for years. Eduardo Suarez, a scrub tech at Martin Memorial Hospital South, was there to lend a hand as well.
Dr. Loyola did endoscopic gallbladder surgery and many hernia repairs. He was joined by Dr. Marlene Mercado for anesthesia, Luz Lutz (a scrub tech from the Martin Memorial Outpatient Surgery Center) and Karen DeLorenzo from the Martin Memorial Medical Center operating room.
Last but not least was the recovery room staff. We had Teri Whitesell and Kim Pitcock from Hospital South, Pam Penovi and myself from the Medical Center. We were there to make sure everyone did well before and after surgery.
If you would like more information about going on one of these trips, visit http://www.lightoftheworldcharities.com/. It was a very rewarding experience.
--Jeanne Teter, RN
PACU nurse
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