As I think back on my Guatemala experience I primarily remember all of the amazing people I met. I think of the wonderful clinicians that went on the trip and also the incredible interactions I was lucky enough to have with the local people and patients. I had virtually no expectations going into the trip just because all of my previous service experiences have been so different from each other. My only hope was to get out of my comfort zone and be able to make an impact. As it turned out – this trip far exceeded any expectations I could’ve had. Guatemala is an incredibly beautiful country and it was a unique opportunity to see another part of the world. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Guatemalan culture and it was striking to see how close-knit the family is in Guatemala and how the community works together to support those in need.
The most impactful part of the trip was working with patients there. I will never forget a particular patient I had who came to the clinic due to a diagnosis similar to a spinal cord injury that had occurred when she was 15. It was clear from the beginning of the session that she was anxious and emotional. Seeing her fear but also determination to do the best she could in spite of the circumstances brought me to tears. I can’t express in words how much it means to be able to help people when they’re at their most vulnerable. Her mom traveled quite a distance to bring her to the clinic and after working with them I stepped outside to hear more of their story. The patient was depressed as a result of her physical limitations – seeing her mother’s love and refusal to quit was inspirational and a testament to the strong emphasis on family in Guatemala. I’ve treated thousands of patients over the past decade and this girl made an incredible impact on my life in just an hour. It reminded me of the true reason I’m in this field. I have the honor of helping people achieve their physical goals and maximize their quality of life. We very much take for granted the level of education and resources available in the US; this trip reminded me of the needs there are around the world.
I grew a lot during this trip both clinically and professionally. I had to push myself professionally by treating pediatric patients and also adult patients with diagnoses I don’t work with very often. I much appreciated the opportunity to learn more about global physical therapy and enjoyed the challenge of trying to be an effective physical therapist communicating in what can only be described as limited Spanish. We also had several chances to interact with Guatemalan physical therapists and physical therapy students which fostered great conversation and learning on both sides. In their physical therapy clinic it’s typical for there to be one or two physical therapist running a clinic, but the patients are all treated by students who operate fairly independently due to the ratio. It made me uniquely grateful for my clinical experiences and the consistent mentorship I was given as a student. Despite the limited close supervision I was very impressed with the students and their breadth of knowledge across all ages, diagnoses, and settings. They took everything in stride and treated patients with confidence and compassion.
The reasons to go on a mission trip are too many to list. The biggest take-home for me personally was to refresh my perspective and renew the love I have for my job and the opportunities I’m given to interact with people. It is an invaluable experience to leave the US and engage with a different culture. I’ve found that any time I’ve gone on a service trip I’ve grown both personally and professionally. Though some of these experiences are definitely challenging, they’ve made me not only a more experienced and stronger clinician, but also a better person.