When Oxford resident Joy Casadei first heard about the need for nurses in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina hit last year, she was heartbroken when she couldn’t go down to help.
‘I wanted to go down there, but that would have been two or three months,? she said. ‘To leave your family for a few months would be hard.?
Then, Casadei was supposed to be part of a medical team traveling to India, but that plan fell through.
Now, it seems, life has given Casadei another chance, as she is planning for a two-week trip to Brazil where she and nine others will assist in close to 150 surgeries at a small hospital in Aquiraz.
Aquiraz is located one hour east of Fortaleza, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Although Brazil it is not typically considered a ‘third-world country,? Casadei said there are people who are in need of surgeries, but can’t afford them.
‘This is just in my heart to do something like this,? she said. ‘I wanted to take the opportunity and go.?
Casadei, who is in her 19th year of nursing at St. Joseph Medical Center in Clinton Twp., will leave for Brazil on October 13 with three physician surgeons, an anesthesiologist, two certified registered nurse anesthetists, two other nurses and one scrub tech from either the hospital’s Pontiac or Clinton Twp. locations for Mercy Missions.
Mercy Missions was started 10 years ago by a Dr. S. Reddy. Dr. Fred Schneider joined him in 2003 when it officially became a charitable organization. The group makes annual trips to foreign countries to provide medical assistance.
Casadei said residents from the area will walk ‘miles and miles? to get a health screening and for their surgeries. She will spend long days assisting the surgeons with things like hernia repairs and removing cysts or growths.
Some days she’ll be working until 4 p.m., some days she may be working as late as 9 p.m.
‘You just keep on going until your done for the day,? Casadei said.
Even though she hasn’t left yet, Casadei has learned a lot about differences between medical facilities in the Unites States compared to South America.
‘They reuse everything down there,? she said. ‘The tubes that they use to put you to sleep are cleaned and then they reuse them.?
Even latex gloves are washed and reused in the hospital setting, according to Casadei.
The medical team of Mercy Missions will be bringing many of their own supplies, like scrubs, instrument trays, medication and a cauterizing machine.
‘The suitcases that you would normally take, we’re putting medical equipment in there,? she said. ‘Your clothes you pack in a small carry on bag.?
With this trip being in a foreign country, Casadei had to get various shots, like for Hepatitis A and B and yellow fever, to prevent from illness, although she joked the bugs were one of her biggest worries.
‘It’s summer down there now with 90-degree weather and no air-conditioning,? she said. ‘I was just picturing that TV commercial where the couple wakes up with all the bugs on their mosquito net.?
Luckily, Aquiraz is right on the coast and Casadei said the breeze from the ocean keeps the bugs away.
The language barrier won’t seem to be a problem either because an English interpreter will be on hand to help translate for the Portuguese speaking residents.Casadei said she’s ‘proud to be a nurse? and is looking forward to helping the people of Aquiraz.’It’s a great opportunity,? she said. ‘It’s going to be fun!?
Mercy Missions is always grateful for donations towards their organization. Send donations to 43331 Commons Dr., Clinton Twp., MI 48038.