Christinethemachine

Reflection from Guatemala Medical Missions

Reflection: I met a lot of women in Guatemala in bleak circumstances – many single mothers, child brides, and victims of domestic violence. The many trials and burdens they bore were overwhelming. During triage, my team and I learned to identify female patients who needed additional support and social services. Many did not want to speak up, but when prompted with questions regarding their safety at home, they would imply toxic situations at home. We would call in a few Guatemala nurses trained to address these concerns through housing assistance or social services. This portrait is inspired by the female patients I met, who did not have a voice or choice. I recall their feelings of being trapped and silenced. Yet, their strength and endurance was equally apparent. This portrait is inspired by hope blooming amidst cold and unforgiving circumstances.

Reflection: One of the joys of being in a clinic was working with children. It saddened me to see the shoeless children with gaunt frames and chemical burns from being in the landfill. A majority of the children were malnourished because of poverty and the parasites infecting the landfill. Yet, my triage team was constantly flooded with children with wide grins and playful hands. They asked for stickers, glow sticks, and necklaces. Simple pick-me-ups caused their faces to light up. This portrait depicts the children who I met. Their spirits and resilience light up the room in dark times.

Reflection: A lot of the patients we met do hard labor in inhumane working conditions. Shoes and necessities for these workers were in demand. I was appalled to see patients with deformed hands and feet from arthritis and working out in the sun without protective wear and shoes. This drawing is meant to reflect on the patients who do backbreaking work on the farm with the sun beating on their backs. I am humbled by their patience in long waiting lines to see the doctor and their resilience.