First day of volunteering

On thursday afternoon I had my first day of volunteering at Hospital Lagomaggiore here in Mendoza. Me and another girl Alex (from my study abroad program) met with Anita, an around 70 year-old lady, and another hospital volunteer, Susanna. From what I could understand, Anita is the head volunteer, and she might have even began the program years ago. She lives alone and comes to volunteer twice a week at the hospital. When I told her I wouldn't be able to come at this time in the following weeks because I have class, she eagerly asked when I could come and suggested that she could come earlier in the day if that worked well for me. She is a gentle and grounded lady, who has the soft eyes that are common among those who spend their time giving all they have to others. I could recognize this about her from the moment she introduced herself to us. Susanna described herself as the secretary (organizer maybe?) of the volunteers. Later, I found out she was a burn patient from her chest down on one side of her body.

We sat in a tiny little room (basically a walk-in storage closet), and Anita explained to us what it is that the volunteers do at the hospital. Basically they keep their storage room stocked with all different sizes of sweaters, shirts, pants, baby clothing, shoes, shampoo and other hygienic products, and tea and sugar. They put some of the supplies in bags and they walk around the various floors of the hospital explaining that they are there to serve the patients letting them know what they have to offer in case they are in need of anything. Then, if the patient seems open to it, they begin to ask more about the patient and the reason they are in the hospital. Sometimes the patient will open up and talk about their fears, anxieties, and thoughts, and sometimes it is obvious they would rather be left alone. Anita's program is a Christian program. We prayed before leaving the supply closet/room, and she offers to pray for and/or with the patients as well.

After our brief orientation, we headed out to the maternity floors to see what they do. First we went to the 3rd floor which, in my understanding, was for pregnant women, or women who recently had their babies, who either are at risk themselves or who's babies are at risk. We walked through room to room asking if we could assist them in any way occasionally talking to some who needed to let out their anxieties. There are a couple that I remember distinctly. One woman was laying down alone in her room with her eyes closed. At first we thought she was sleeping and began to leave, but she alerted us that she wasn't. She had a look of extreme pain and discomfort on her face, and she confirmed to Anita that she was experiencing pain, as she had just the day before had a cesarean section. From what I understood, her baby was in the NICU with some kind of breathing problems, and she mentioned something about a husband or boyfriend not being there. Anita simply began speaking to her in a soothing way insisting that she must have faith that both she and her baby would be okay. She also explained that all of us in the room were women and that women are strong and independent. She told her that with or without a male she would need to, and could, take care of herself and her baby. I loved this part of Anita's advice. You could tell that this woman was suffering both physically and emotionally and that she was completely alone. She did not take her eyes off Anita as she shared her comforting words of wisdom, and I could see that she was absorbing every single thing Anita was saying. By the time we left the room, I felt as though this woman could wait with a bit more ease for news of her newborn.

On another floor, of which I was not quite certain of it's delegation, we talked to a very pregnant, very young looking girl who was standing apprehensively in the doorway of her room. We found out she was only 17 years old. We do not know her story. We do not know whether pregnancy was something she chose, or whether she is even remotely aware of the responsibility she is about to face. She looked terrified, confused and anxious. She did not seem eager to talk to us, although she was receptive to Anita's advice about how to go about childbirth. This struck me, as I could not begin to imagine what it would be like to be in her position. She, as with the other woman, seemed completely alone, about to face a terrifying unknown. She had no one to stand with her and give her company and no one to listen to her fears or give her advice.

This was a theme I saw with most all the women on my first day in the hospital. They all seemed solitary, scared, and without anyone to relieve them of their anxieties. I hope that in the days I get to come volunteer at this hospital I might be able to be a friend to these women for a few moments or at least be the person they can express their thoughts to.

I am so excited to see what this experience will teach me! Finally, I am getting my feet in some real world global health experience.

Below is a photo of Alex, Anita, me and Susanna in our "guardapolvos" which we wear when visiting patients.