I Am Thankful For You!

Just wanted to let you know that my staff and I are very thankful and appreciative of you!  We just completed our 19^th annual food drive and it was a huge success.  Needy families in Fort Bend will be enjoying a lovely Thanksgiving Day meal because of so many of our gracious patients.

Having recently returned from a medical mission in Guatemala, it’s very easy for me to be reminded of even the smallest item to be very thankful for…clothing, water, a home, work, indoor plumbing, plenty to eat, paper, a pen, access to healthcare, all the basics, and then, of course, the luxuries.  Any one of us could spend days writing down each item and every person in our life we are thankful for.

Perhaps a good family exercise this holiday season would be to spend some time with the family making a list of all that you have to be thankful for.  It will be an eye opener.

Though there are many who are joyous during Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are many who are suffering.  Pray for those who are suffering from the pain of ill health or the loss of family.  Hold your family and friends close during these holidays.  Each day is a blessing.  Be grateful. 

Blessings to you and yours.

Thank you.

Dr. Rick Barrett

The Pope and I

Love, peace, charity. 

Caring for the disenfranchised, the poor and the weak among us is the message Pope Francis shared with the world entire on his historic visit to the U.S.  This is the message Francis has lived and shared with people throughout his life.

The United States is the most generous and giving country in the world; a country whose citizens donate more time, energy and dollars to those in need than anyone else.

Pope Francis has seen what America stands for.  That we, as a nation, comprised of many races, religions, and ethnicities are united in a spirit of generosity and compassion, working together to care for our fellow man, improve the human condition, elevate all people, defend freedom and act to improve the lives of people throughout the world.

This is not the experience he had living in Argentina I’m sure.

Pope Francis has challenged Catholics in previous writings to become involved in the mission of serving.  He said that we should go out to where the people are and come back tired, dirty and smelling like sheep.

I realize not everyone is ready or willing to smell like sheep, but there are those of us who derive some strange pleasure from getting dirty and smelly, travelling long distances to remote areas, overworking, sleeping little and in uncomfortable places, fighting mosquitos, enduring harsh weather,…(pouring rain, heat, humidity, or cold) horrible bathroom and bathing facilities, eating differently, becoming sick, and more… to serve those who need medical attention.

I am one of those people and associate with quite a few who feel the same.  We have been living Pope Francis’ challenges for many years.  Our team’s members represent Catholics and many other religions, as well as a few non-believers.  They, too, have wonderfully generous hearts open to helping their fellow man.  Two thousand fifteen marks my 20^th year participating with medical missions; about forty to date.  Obviously, the number isn’t significant, just interesting to reflect on because it calls to mind that our doctors and support personnel have touched and impacted an extraordinary amount of lives.  Based on the number of patients per trip, I estimate we have treated approximately 60,000 people!  That’s staggering to contemplate.  Our teams have travelled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Honduras, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

Next week, our team (St. Francis Medical Mission) will be travelling once again to Guatemala.  This will be my fourth trip there, but I eagerly anticipate this mission as we will serve the indigenous of a different region.  It involves a four to five hour bus ride and another hour or so boat trip up the Rio Dulce.

I know many of you have valid concerns about our safety, but honestly, the only thing I worry about are the “dang” mosquitos carrying malaria, dengue and chikungunya.  Mosquitos, unfortunately, love me.

 

As always, I appreciate all prayers.  It is not reciprocal, but as Pope Francis said, if you are a non-believer, just wish me well. 

I thank you all in advance for the love, support, prayers and financial donations.  You have always been there for the team and me.

Blessings,

Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S.  Mary has been working on upgrading our mission website.  Please check it out.  Any suggestions are welcome. http://www.stfrancismedicalmission.org/

Also, if you care to donate, please:

-send me a check

-use the donation box at the office

-go directly to the website

-or, if you want me to personally find families or individuals with specific needs while in the country of Guatemala, send me a check or use the donation box in the office and I will gladly see that your donation is used appropriately.

Lastly, I have a few items in my office to use as silent auction items for donations.  Please come by, take a look and bid on them.

Tips For Those Who Drive

“It Won’t Happen To Me…”

…are the words we all have said or thought at some point in our life.  Often, we are wrong.  Though “it” may not happen to us, it still could. We are all susceptible to chance, luck of the draw, and so many circumstances just out of our control.  Life is not like the reality show, “Survivor”…none of us hold special immunity protecting us differently than that of another person.

One example of “it won’t happen to me thinking” are ACCIDENTS, in particular, vehicular accidents.  I know you don’t think it applies to you, perhaps not at this moment and hopefully never, but then again you just don’t know.  So don’t let this message be like other times in your life when you’ve thrown something away, and then found you could have used it after it’s been discarded.

Intellectually, you know all the reasons that during your driving lifetime, you may be involved in a motor vehicle collision.  Such as you are at risk the more hours you spend on the road.  Traffic conditions and weather play a part, inexperienced, and inattentive drivers, eating in the car, putting on makeup, using cell phones, road hazards, construction and much, much more.  You get it.  Driving is like walking in a mine field.  We spend a huge amount of time driving or being driven.  You need to be prepared should the unexpected happen.

I’d like to share some tips should you or a loved one should ever be involved in a motor vehicle collision. Obviously, I’m not an attorney, so I’m not doling out legal advice only some tips from experience.  I have an attorney in my family, a good friend who is an attorney and several patients who are attorneys.  I also have patients who are in law enforcement.  I have patients who are insurance adjusters and you know I’ve treated thousands of patients over twenty plus years who have been in accidents.  People forget this sometimes because I have a wellness practice, but I do treat trauma.  Therefore, I want you to learn from this collective body of knowledge.   I’m an old Eagle Scout (getting older every second).  I believe in being prepared.  You may not need this information now, but you might in the future or it may benefit a friend or loved one.  Or even you in the future.  (I pray not.)

I am about to share some secrets that your well-meaning medical doctor may not know and insurance companies definitely don’t want you to know and could possible hide from you.  These secrets are important even if you’ve just been in a “fender bender”.  Also, I’ve created a special card for you to keep in your vehicle with some facts and steps to take should you have an accident.

It’s FREE for you!  Just come by my office and pick up a few.  I have plenty.  A sample can be viewed at the end of this report.

I have found most people to be God loving, family oriented, work like crazy to feed and care for their family folk, who don’t want to take advantage of anyone (including insurance companies).  All they want is their vehicle fixed or replaced, their injuries healed and to get back to their lives after an accident!

Unfortunately, it’s usually not that simple.  There’s more involved and the last thing you need or want is to have residual health problems down the road.  You can always buy a new car, but you are living in your body forever.  So you better repair it the best way possible, as fast as possible!  While it may be inconvenient to undertake treatment because it takes time out of your busy schedule…your future depends on it.  Do you want to set aside time now or be robbed of it in the future?

I urge you to seek help with any symptoms you may have, however minor they may seem.  Don’t have obvious symptoms?  Still get checked!  Many symptoms can “show up” further down the road after you’ve closed the case with the insurance company.  During a thorough examination, signs or symptoms can be elicited by the doctor that you may not have noticed.  Remember the doctor will look for less than obvious problems and will likely want to take x-rays to check for internal spinal problems.

Thinking you’ll get better on your own or with some pain medications can be a big mistake and won’t heal the biomechanical (musculoskeletal) and neurological damage that occurs to our bodies when they’ve been traumatized.  I’m sure your medical doctor is caring and proficient however, he or she is ill prepared to treat you through a soft tissue recovery process.  They can give you meds and send you on your way, but they can’t actively treat you.  You need a doctor trained in these types of traumas to care for the body and layers of damage sustained by the spinal nerves, muscle, tendons, ligaments and joints.  Frankly, you need a chiropractor.  One that can co-manage your recovery (healing) with other medical professionals who specialize in trauma when or if needed.  Some people do need additional testing such as MRIs or nerve tests.  Others may even need pain management injections in conjunction with receiving chiropractic and physical therapy treatment.

Obviously, if you live locally, I’ll be happy to help should the unexpected happen to you.  But if not, please find a chiropractor to assist in your recovery.

Some facts to consider:

1)      Although the “rear-ender” type of accident represents only 20% of motor vehicle accidents, it causes over 80% of injuries giving long-term and persistent symptoms. [i] [ii]

2)      A surprised accident victim does not have a chance to brace for impact which can result in more serious injury to the spine and nervous system. [iii]

3)      An older accident victim will generally suffer a more serious injury because of decreased elasticity, dramatic loss of flexibility and strength, and slowing of the natural healing rate. [iv]

4)      In general, a woman’s lighter musculature means that she will have a higher incident of injury. [v]

5)      In a typical collision, having the head turned to one side such as when talking to another passenger, can dramatically increase the amount of neck injury. [vi]

Several myths associated with whiplash injuries are:

1)      If you’re hit from behind at low speed, you won’t be injured. 

2)      The more damage to your vehicle, the more severe your injuries. 

3)      If you’re injured, the injuries will completely heal within one to three months.

Here’s an exercise for you:

Make a list of all those things you enjoy, want to do now and in the future.  Maybe it’s… play golf, lift the kids and grandkids, ride bikes, play sports,  boat, fishing, or simply sit comfortably watching movies, tennis matches, or at a concert.

Now envision your life without these things or trying to do them with neck or back pain, headaches, weakness, numbness and tingling in the limbs…that’s not much fun is it?  In fact, it’s miserable.

Here is one critical tip worth its weight in gold that you must act on now.  Yes, even if you have not had an accident.  Please call your insurance agent and verify that you have personal injury protection (aka, PIP) on your policy.  If you don’t have it, have your agent add it immediately.  PIP in Texas is voluntary and has three coverage amounts—$2,500, $5,000 and $10,000.  This pays for your medical bills, so you don’t have to pull money out of your pocket for doctor’s visits.  There’s all kinds of scenarios where this is important such as being hit by an uninsured motorist (in Texas, this is real likely), or being in a hit and run.

Suppose you needed diagnostic testing such as an MRI?  That could cost $1500.    So you can see that medical bills can escalate quickly.  It’s better to be prepared with adequate coverage.

Just a short note on attorneys; this is a hot topic for many people and I don’t want to offend anyone, hurt feelings or be disrespectful.   Like anything else in life, there are good and bad in all professions.  There are good attorneys and not so good attorneys.  I’ve seen patients use attorneys that have done great jobs for them, effectively handling their case to the satisfaction of all.  But, I’ve also seen cases where my patient really gets jammed up financially thinking they were being taken care of only to have the attorney dump them, or foul up their case in court.  I was once involved in a case for my patient where I was called as an expert witness.  During the trial, the judge reprimanded the attorney (of my patient) multiple times in court for things he did or didn’t do that was harming his client’s case!  

A good attorney can be very helpful, worth having, and likely you’ll never have to go to court.  A bad attorney can really ruin your case and create unnecessary stress in your life.

Interestingly, the insurance companies know who they can push around and who they can’t.  They have lists!

Just recently one of my patients of many years had an accident on the loop 610.  She was shaken up, but she remembered the bright red postcard I had given her and used the information on the card.  She was happy she had it.  Fortunately, she didn’t need any care other than a couple of days of treatment with me, nor did she need an attorney.  All worked out well for her.

Remember:

It can happen to you. 

Be prepared.

Know what to do. 

Be informed. 

See your chiropractor. 

Seek good legal counsel.

(A good attorney will tell when you don’t need legal representation.)

Have adequate personal injury protection.

Please don’t sign up for a life of chronic pain and diminishing health simply because you “thought you’d be fine”, there was minimal car damage, or you didn’t want to take the time up front to treat your body.

I am at your service and hope to be the chiropractor you wish you had in your family.

Blessings,

Dr. Rick Barrett

---

[i] Incidence and Duration of Neck Pain Among Patients Injured in a Car Accident, Deans GT (16986), Br. Medical Journal, 292:94-95

[ii] The Whiplash Syndrome, Mcnab, I, (1971) Orthopedic Clin North Am 2 (389-403).

[iii] Controlled Automobile Rear-End Collisions, An Investigation of Related Engineering and Mechanical Phenomena.  Severy, DM, Mathewson, JH, Bechtol, CO, Canadian Services Medical Journal, 11:727-758.

Neck Strain in Car Occupants: Injury Status After Six Months and Crash Related Factors, Emol and Horeguchi, Ryan, G.A., et al, Sept., 1994 pages 533-537.

[iv] Effect of Age and Loading Rate on Human Cervical Spine Injury Threshold, Pintar, F.A., Yoganandan, N., Voo, L., Spine, Sept. 1998, Vol.23 (18), pp 1957-62.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Turek Orthopedics Principles and their Applications, Lippincott, 1977, p. 740, Stuzenegger, et al., 1977, p 740.

About Your Donations and Prayers...

Our medical mission team was highly successful this year once again in part because of your support.

Thank you!

Yes, as usual I did most of the work while everyone else took siestas most of the time!

Okay…the truth…We had forty-four extremely hard working team members;

Chiropractic

Medical

Dental

Vision

Pharmacy

Translators (Spanish and Cabecar)

Spiritual

Nurses

Support and logistics

We worked in wet weather due to the start of the rainy season in Costa Rica.  By the end of the week, we were wet, exhausted, muddy and somewhat beat up!  We looked forward to returning home to some sunshine. 

Fat chance!  It’s worse here than in Costa Rica!

I’m sick of the rain…I know you are too.  I pray none of you have had flooded homes. 

With the cash donations collected at my office we were able to select some extremely deserving Cabecar Indians to help.  The money was able to purchase bags of beans, rice and sugar.  Approximately thirty-five little care packages were made and then distributed based on questions we asked.  They were all deserving.  Many had walked with kids in tow through the mountains, in the rain, same with horses and walking eight to twelve hours!  Twelve was the longest time I knew of by inquiring of one of my patients.

One Cabecar woman traveled with her six year old daughter for hours on foot from deep in the reserve to our clinic site.  They had nothing but a little bag of clothing.  The little girl had been suffering from cardiac and respiratory issues for several years.  The mother told us that when they were able to see doctors, they weren’t of much help.  We don’t know why, but somehow the six year old girl had two surgeries and needed a third!  She was very eager to see our pediatrician for help and counsel.  They were given a hot meal to eat and the care package from you.

Another Cabecar woman traveled with a one week old baby by foot with nothing for twelve hours to see our doctors.  They stayed in the hostel on church grounds the night before clinic started—a simple structure with wooden benches, a basic shelter to stay out of the elements.  There are no comforts though it has an outdoor stove.  If they have food, they can cook.  Pots and some utensils are there for their use.  Apparently, all respect it and leave it for others to use.  After waiting to be seen by the various doctors and dentists, they finished around 2 p.m. and began their long trek home.

The hostel can accommodate quite a few families at a time.  We met four to five of them.  Some bring chickens to slaughter for food, others just some rice or whatever they have at the time. 

I hope this provided a little view of our mission and the people who were helped.

Quite humbling really.

Can you imagine working outdoors and living in less than desirable accommodations everyday with the rain we are experiencing?

It sheds a different light on what we think of our own problems with or without the rain.

Thanks again for your personal contributions.  If you’d like to see a few pictures, go to http://barretthealthcenters.com/medical-missions/costa-rica-mission-trip-2015.html

Blessings,

Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S.  I reprinted photos from last year’s mission, hung them up for the people to see and take if they or someone they knew was in it.  It was a simple thing that brought big smiles and tremendous happiness to all who saw them.  (Another thing we take for granted…photos!)

Marilyn Monroe and I at the Hampton Inn

...But it's not what you think. Our Tri City Business Alliance pulled off a successful fundraiser supporting the Habitat for Humanity in Fort Bend. It was held at the Hampton Inn located in Missouri City.  The final numbers aren't in yet, but it looks like we raised about $10,000! It was a fun time with lots of silent auction items. Marilyn looked beautiful and sang a few of her classics. Thanks to all who supported our event!

Room to Grow

Now… (If you haven’t already done it), is a good time to purge and start fresh.

We all do it…accumulate “things’, “stuff”, useless out of date items.  Those things we save and hang on to because…we may use it someday.

This accumulation is true for our emotions, people, habits, and beliefs, too.  Now is the time to take a deep, thoughtful look at one’s life and surroundings and start anew.  I’m in that process now.

I've been a bit overwhelmed this past year (2014) with, let’s call it “life circumstances”.  It was my lost year.  It chewed up my time, energy, emotions, money, etc.

I want to thank all my patients, staff, friends and family that made it better and helped us through 2014.  I am truly grateful.  Now it’s time to break into 2015 and make it a stellar year!

A lifetime of collecting “things” is a bit overwhelming.  Especially when the collection includes over 25 years of chiropractic, nutrition and health information (articles, magazines, books, cassettes, video tapes, DVDs, CDs and more)

Oh yes, I still have the lighted 18 foot chiropractic sign from my previous office that couldn’t be used on my new building.  Anyone want it?

Right now, I’m purging many things…mostly paper.  It’s got to go.  But I’m also discarding and clearing out bad or useless habits, negative beliefs, and yes, even people that aren’t uplifting, or are false in their behavior or actions, or don’t share the same values.

Basically, anything that doesn't serve me or my family in the positive and healthy course I want to pursue in my life.

Clutter in our lives, whether it be an overloaded closet, junk drawers, boxes in the garage, emotional, mental baggage or people will only serve to waste our precious time and block goodness and abundance from entering our lives that bring ultimate happiness and fulfillment.

I am privileged to have contact with a large group of people in my practice and it’s always fascinating at the beginning of a new year to hear their many goals and feelings about the new year ahead.

One patient chooses a word at the start of each year.  Last year it was courage.  This year it’s open.

I love the idea of doing this.  No elaborate resolutions to possibly fail at.  Just one simple word.  Open is a wonderful word with magnificent possibilities.  Open to change, open to new ideas, open to learn, open to people in her life, open to endless possibilities for growth and happiness.

Often times in life one chapter must end for a new one to begin.  Being open to the idea of cleaning out old unused, outdated physical and emotional clutter, letting go of our death grip on these things allows us to be like an innocent child at Christmas awaiting the return of Santa Claus with new, fresh, clean, exciting gifts.  Open to the wonder of it all and knowing absolutely that good things are coming.

I am in that process of discarding and being—open.

While cleaning out files at the office, I came upon some special notes and cards that patients have given me over many years.  Yes, I’ve kept them all.  Now it’s time to let go of them.  Physically, but never emotionally.  They are very special to me and remain in my heart…always.

Here’s one I’d like to share…

11-18-04

Dear Dr. Barrett,

Thank you for being so helpful, considerate and kind.  You have made my life so much better in the last 3 months of receiving your treatments-and I know the people you have just helped on your recent mission have been blessed because of your care for others.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, your staff and all of your patients.  And thank you for sharing and spreading happiness and good health.

Thank you-God Bless.

Sincerely,

Martha

And here’s another…

Dear Dr. Barrett,

While waiting for inspiration to write on this card, I happened to notice the book, “Heart Tales”, and read it.  It occurred to me that the most gratifying work for an adult is that which emanates from the joyous child’s heart which we all retain.  It appears to me that your business, your patient work flows from that perfect place of a child’s heart and love.

Bless you and your employees, patients and their families.

Maggie

I am truly grateful for those and many other notes and verbal compliments my staff and I have received over the years.  My patients have been a wonderful blessing in my life, allowing me to participate in caring for them.  Certainly, I have not had the ability to provide pain relief and healing to everyone’s satisfaction.  Only God can do that one.  But God has allowed me to be successful in the majority of patients I see.

I thank all patients for the opportunity to be your chiropractor and nutritional advisor.  I will continually strive to do the best job I can for you, and those whom you refer to me.

I am open…

…to any suggestions on improving my service to you as we go into 2015.

Blessings for great health,

Dr. Rick Barrett

Guatemalan Dream Team



Fifty-eight.

That’s the number of highly motivating, selfless professionals and lay people that came together for one week to serve the people in five Guatemalan towns.  Our “dream team” this year was almost double our usual size.

It also had a beautiful international flavor with members from the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia and Canada.  Our team consisted of chiropractors, medical physicians, vision, dentists, a physical therapist, an acupuncturist, nurses, a deacon, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, translators and other lay non-medical personnel.  With our broad skill sets and large group and help from many generous Guatemalans volunteers, we were able to treat about 4,000 people!  Más o menos…(more or less). 

Our team is organized, caring and most importantly…effective.  We are a family. 
We have also grown since our humble beginnings.  I was fortunate to be involved with the second mission team serving in Mexico.  It consisted of twelve members.  I am happy to report that 2014 is our 20^th anniversary as a medical mission team or brigade as some call us.

The name has changed a few times since our inception as the brain child of Bishop John McCarthy of Austin, Texas.  Currently and officially we are St. Frances Medical Mission.

This year proved to be a very gratifying mission in so many ways serving the people of San Andres Osuna, El Rodeo, San Vicente, Chapernas and Guanagazapa.

Exhausted, happy, sad, exhilarated, fortunate, honored, humbled, encouraged and thankful, are some of the words that express our missionaries’ feelings during and after our trips.

This, our team’s third trip to Guatemala, proved very interesting.  Two towns were new to us, others we had served in the past.  It was exciting for me to see and treat many people I had on previous trips.  When one young girl in San Andres Osuna with cerebral palsy saw me, she immediately smiled a huge smile, awkwardly elevated her arms and allowed me to give her a big hug.  She couldn’t speak, but made sounds of joy having recognized me.  I was equally thrilled to see her.  It was a heartwarming experience.

In Guanagazapa I had similar experiences.  Upon arriving at the building that would serve as our clinic, I noticed the first man in line colorfully dressed in his red and white striped pants.  He was a Mam Indian that I had treated two years prior.  Throughout that day, I encountered more old patients.  Remembering them and them remembering me was especially gratifying.  Some remarked how much better I had made them feel and some admitted to not doing the exercises I had taught them.  They seem to suffer from the same memory problems as my patients at home.  More proof that people are the same regardless of where you are in the world. 

I have the odd privilege of patients not following my recommendations in numerous countries!

Oh well, what can a poor chiropractor do?

Each mission trip is unique and brings with it its own set of frustrations, joys and sadnesses.  Certainly one of the joys of this trip was treating previous patients.  To see their happiness and enthusiasm when they recognized us and knowing it brought them pleasure having our team return to their town was gratifying and joyful for me.

As usual, we encountered people who endured the hardships of walking many hours seeking our health care.  Six hours was the longest time I personally heard of someone walking, but likely there were others who may have travelled further.  That’s nowhere close to the record of a two day walk in Honduras, but still I wouldn’t walk six hours to have my tooth pulled.  Would you?

Just as high as the exhilaration can take you, the lows can be devastatingly low.  An emotional roller coaster ride of highs and lows is what most of us experience during the trip with after effects lingering well beyond our return home.  The joy, however, always outweighs the pain and a real sense that something good was accomplished always remains within us.

Part of this year’s sadness was the loss of a good friend, and one of the organizers of our Guatemalan mission.    Erick Morales passed away suddenly just a few weeks prior to our arrival.  He will surely be missed.  He was loved by many. 

At the end of a long hard day after putting in several hard days already, Dr. Steve, one of our physicians took his last patient, a young boy.  The boy, about 8 years old had a large infected cyst on his abdomen that needed to be removed.  We were working in a large community hall built from cinder blocks and a metal roof.  This type of building becomes very loud when filled with people.  It was very hot and humid this day, much like a typical summer day in Houston, Texas.

Partitioned clinic rooms for the doctors to see patients are made, as they often are from sheets hung on lines. My clinic area was close to an open dental area which is where Steve brought this young patient.  The dentists were using old dental chairs transported in for their use, and this became a perfect surgical site for Steve.  I had just finished treating a patient when I could see some commotion and several team members trying to assist Dr. Steve who was hunched over this young boy.  The scene was somewhat reminiscent of what you’d see on a M*A*S*H episode…commotion, instruments, syringes, gauze, blood and lots of people.  It was a less than calm setting with the commotion and a screaming, scared boy.  I approached Steve to see what he was working on and offer my assistance.  At that moment, he was making an incision into this boy’s belly.  Blood was flowing, gauze was mopping up the blood, syringes being filled with medication, the best help I could offer Steve was to hand him clean gauze and to wipe the sweat from his face.  Dr. Steve asked me to hold his glasses tightly on his head to keep them from continually sliding off his face from sweat.  

As he bent over the boy, performing this impromptu surgery, I became Steve’s human eyeglass holder.  The boy was crying and screaming as nurses held him down and as still as possible.  Dr. Steve caressed his head talking to him in a calm and soothing voice assuring him that all was okay.  I’m sure he was screaming more from fear than pain.  The poor boy’s screams echoed throughout the huge building well above all the other noise.

I don’t want to exaggerate my role in this surgical procedure at all.  I played a bit part in assisting a loving, talented doctor and nurses perform a delicate procedure that helped this boy tremendously.   Yes, I tore tape, handed Steve some gauze and became a human $1.50 eyeglass strap… but for that short moment in time, it was necessary.  It felt good to be of assistance. The boy, of course, calmed down…the drugs helped.  He was patched up and sent off for follow up care.  I am confident he was fine.  The surgery was a success!  And now I can add surgical assistant to my resume.  This will look good next to my dentist credentials, since I’ve pulled a tooth in Honduras before!

Besides all the other patients that Dr. Steve helped over the many days we spent in Guatemala, I am convinced that the purpose for him to be in Guatemala, in that town, was for that one boy.

In my opinion, if Dr. Steve hadn’t treated any other patients, it would have been okay. It was that particular boy, on that day, at that moment that he was sent to minister to.  I think that’s true for all of the team in a variety of ways. 

We’ve all experienced some moment of divine awareness…a message delivered to our heart, mind and soul highlighting our purpose and the reason to show up to do what we do.  It’s shown to us in a person, an emotion, a feeling, a shift in perception, a change in attitude, a rebuilding of human love, an alteration of consciousness that is presented to us with clarity…  Some people call this an Ah Ha moment.  A defining “thing” that’s intangible but real for each one of us.

We are brought to that moment in time for a reason and it’s not just for physical healing.  The locals were brought to help us in that moment too for our own growth and our combined salvation.  We are brought together to give and receive love that saves us in some way.

If we are listening, if we are paying attention, if we are in the moment and receptive to it; God is talking to us.  God is teaching us.  God is embracing us…maybe even testing us.

I have experienced these people, these shifts, and these moments on missions before.  There seems to be something unique about a mission setting. Of course, they happen throughout our lives too, not just in a mission setting.  We just need to be open to them, watching and paying attention.  It is a tightened down, concentrated, moment of compressed time…in which, miracles do happen.

I encountered a woman pushing an eleven and twelve year old boy and girl in a child buggy.  She was referred to me by another member of the mission team so that I could treat the children.  Karina and Deri couldn’t speak, nor could they walk.  They lay in the buggy contorted with contracted muscles, unusually small bodies for their age and microcephalic heads.

What could I do for them? Was the question in my mind.  Certainly there wasn’t going to be much I could do…especially with one treatment.  Maybe the best I could do was laying on of hands, and showing them love.   Luckily, my colleague, Dr. Charles Hensley, was available to treat Deri while I treated Karina.

It was an emotional experience to see these two children afflicted with conditions that trap them in their bodies and render them helpless; knowing that they live in less than ideal conditions which adds to their difficulties and burdens the family.   While lifting Karina out of the buggy to place her on my adjusting table, I was met with a big surprise.  I lifted her with ease.  Though I had no means of weighing her, I am confident she couldn’t have been more than 15 pounds!  I could have easily held here with one hand.  The mom said she lived on milk alone refusing to eat solid food.  Lack of proper nutrients and no physical exercise meant Karina had little muscle mass and fragile bones.  She felt as light as a piece of wood that had been eaten out by termites! 

Dr. Charley and I did the best we could with gentle manipulations and soft tissue mobilization.  We also counseled the mother about dietary options for them.  Thanks to the generosity of my patients, who donated significant sums of money for me to use when I felt it appropriate, and with donations from Dr. Charley and Dr. Rudy, I was able to arrange to help this girl.  Since she refused solid food and only drank milk, it was important to find a way to get the lacking nutrients in her body.  We sent our local helpers to purchase a six month’s supply of PediaSure® and a juicer.  The area has an abundant supply of fruits and vegetables, a rich source of nutrients, and the juicer will allow her to drink a liquid.

We also arranged for a baby to get medical help at a hospital who would otherwise die.  In another town, San Vicente, I treated a woman who had a mass (likely a lipoma) near her spine that needed further evaluation and removal.  I was able to pay for her to go to the hospital too.

These are just a few of many stories of people we were able to help through the power of touch, the power of love and with the financial donations from team members and my patients at home.

I could go on and on with many stories from this trip and from twenty years of mission trips, but I won’t.  It’s easy to write about the mechanics of it, but so difficult to capture the emotional and spiritual component of our mission experience.

Medical missions have been one of the best parts of my life and I pray I will be able to participate for many years to come.

Blessings and thanks to everyone who has ever supported our teams’ efforts through prayer and financial contributions to bring healthcare, love, hope and encouragement to those amongst us whom have less. Though you may not have personally been with us, you are a large part of our team.

Enjoy the many photos.

Dr. Rick Barrett

And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."  Matthew 25:40