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Intern Journal: Kristine Zimmerman

The most important questions we ask are the ones that don’t have easy answers. They are the questions that call into mind our thoughts, ideas, and behaviors. They are the questions that beg for action and for more than passive opinions. The world asks us how we value the importance of a life. Are we willing to hold hand of a man that needs assistance up the stairs and kiss the cheek of a woman in need of a proper home? Are we willing to show the world that there are things we can do to improve the lives of many by not focusing simply on our own?

          Through MEDLIFE I have been given the opportunity to hear the stories of many patients. While on a patient follow up visit with a MEDLIFE nurse, Beatriz, I met Dionicio. He had a neurological disorder that inhibited his speech and mobility. In addition, he also suffered from diabetes and hypertension, which caused him more pain and inconvenience. He was still dependent on his mother. We visited him that day to ensure his identification and insurance paperwork was in order for him to be able to see a physician.

It was quite difficult to get up Dionicio’s house from the road. Because there were no stairs or even steady footholds, I felt like I could have fallen multiple times with just a misplaced step. This presented a minor inconvenience for me, but for Dionicio, it was exponentially more difficult. Imagine living in pain from a treatable disease, unable to get the treatment you need from your local healthcare system. The unavoidable pain increases as you walk, sit, stand, lay down, and you feel restricted from leaving your own house, deterred by the thought of subjecting yourself to more discomfort.

As Beatriz talked with Dionicio and his mother about his current condition, I saw how he winced in pain with each movement of his feet. I listened to his voice break as he spoke of the pain that plagued him with simple movements. Then, while Beatriz shuffled through his patient records, Dionicio began to cry.

To share in that kind of vulnerability with a patient, to comfort them, and to offer help when it seems like they are facing the worst, this is what MEDLIFE aims to do. The MEDLIFE mission is about more than providing health care for people who have limited access to it. MEDLIFE asks the hard questions, gets to real answers that empower people to ignite sustainable change and improve the wellbeing of all who are deprived of it. Being a part of the MEDLIFE movement has challenged me to truly listen to the stories of those living in poverty, and if I can, ask myself what I can do to help. I have stopped thinking; “what is the minimum effort I need to invest to be able to sleep at night,” and instead stay up all night thinking about what more I can do.

Two years ago I came to Lima with MEDLIFE as a volunteer and I experienced what it was like to pour all of my mental, physical, and emotional effort into a movement focused so intently helping people. I saw the results of this effort and then pursued further involvement in the organization as a year-long intern. Already, I can see the positive effect this investment has had on my perspectives, thoughts, and actions. I only hope that I can help MEDLIFE continue to expand, keep asking myself those hard questions, and work for real solutions. 

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Hear it From MEDLIFErs

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Reya Seby
Western University

This trip motivated me more to pursue a career in the healthcare field so that I can use my resources to help those who need it the most, similar to MEDLIFE’s mission.

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Victoria DiCanio
University of Connecticut

It was most enjoyable to finish the hard work and see how big a difference a group of individuals can make. It was such an amazing experience.

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Anita Woo
University of Toronto

I enjoyed the mobile clinics the most, especially the dental and triage portions. I would definitely recommend a MEDLIFE trip, it was a great experience.

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David Saff
Maclay High School

The most enjoyable part of my trip was hanging out with the amazing group of kids I was with. I would highly recommend a MEDLIFE volunteer trip to others.

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Sydney Sansone
Nova Southeastern University

This trip made everything that I was learning in my public health courses come to life and immersed me in a new culture while also learning about medicine.

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Abygail Youmans
College of Charleston

Being involved with MEDLIFE is not like joining another club - its bigger than that. It is about joining a movement that seeks to help change people’s quality of life for forever.

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Emi Hofmann
University of Central Florida

Not only was I able to participate in a week long Mobile Clinic, shadowing doctors of all types of specialties including pharmacy, dentistry, gynecology, and more, but I was also able to learn about the culture and visit incredible places.

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Julian Takagi-Stewart
University of Toronto

One thing that I really loved about this trip was that MEDLIFE made sure that the volunteers got an understanding of the complexity of issues that lead to underprivileged people in communities outside of the main city

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Hannah Van Hofwegen
University of Ottawa

Whether it was basketball with the local kids, assisting the doctors, talking with families, building washrooms, holding babies, or spending time with the people who were on the SLT with me, this was an amazing opportunity that I would do over and over again.

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Isabelle Holt
Cornell University

I loved learning about the patients MEDLIFE has followed and how they offer real help to people with chronic/urgent conditions. It is amazing how the organization formed real connections with the communities.

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Valerie Lindeborg
Parent

Our family had the privilege of participating in multiple trips with Nick [founder] and his amazing staff. Their expertise made the trips unforgettable while instilling in my boys the fundamentals of good character: selflessness, compassion, and empathy.

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Harry Vildibill
University of Georgia

As an aspiring physician, MEDLIFE motivated me to further continue my goal of becoming a doctor. In fact, I enjoyed the Tanzania Service Learning Trip so much that I decided to go on another trip to Cusco, Peru.