The last two days of our trip put our vehicles to the test as we traveled on treacherous dirt roads through dense forest to one of the most distant clinics of the week. 

It was also on our last day that we met some of our youngest patients.

Although we're excited to be home with friends and family, we've definitely left a part of ourselves in Nicaragua.  Such a beautiful place, with beautiful people, that couldn't receive our love without yours.  

Thanks to the amazing volunteers from the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children for their help, support and friendship. We wish you the best and hope to keep in touch.

​Special thanks to everyone who donated to make this trip a success. Without your generosity, love and encouragement, this past week wouldn't have been possible. 

We look forward to "GivingMore" next year! 

After 8 hours of travel by plane and van, Team #5 arrived in Las Salinas, Nicaragua with 16 volunteers including 4 physicians, 4 nurses, 1 physician assistant, 1 nurse practitioner, 2 dental hygienists, 1 psychologist, and 3 translators.




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Upon arrival at the FIMRC clinic, team members were filled with a sense of nostalgia from past missions while feelings of anticipation and excitement brewed for the week ahead. Familiar places and friendly faces welcomed us, yet the place had changed, green covered the fields and trees thanks to the recent rainy season.

Facilities had improved thanks to donations and the efforts of local supporters, and children of our local cohorts had grown beyond belief, but despite everything, our focus remained the same.  

We spent the majority of our first day with the international FIMRC organization sorting medication and dividing our supplies into teams so we could reach more clinics and patients each day.  After completing the assigned duties, we were ready to take on the challenges that awaited us, all eager to serve and carry on #GivingMore to this community.  Stay tuned for updates from our first clinic day with #GivingMoreTeam5!  ​

Our last clinic day was spent in Gigante and Las Pilas. We worked closely with the local physicians at both sites to deliver medical services to the people in these two communities. Besides providing blood pressure and diabetes screening, PAP smears and dental cleanings, we offered patients free medication refills, eyeglasses, and deworming treatment. As Chikungunya and Dengue continue to plague the area, we were mindful about screening all patients presenting with fever, rash, diarrhea, vomiting, and headache. As the week drew to a close, we were thankful for the new friends we made in Nicaragua, for the assistance provided by members of FIMRC (the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children), and for the many messages of love/support and donations we received for the trip. We look forward to our return visit next year! 

​After a treacherous ride through dirt roads, dried up river banks, and lush forest, eight of our providers made it safely to El Lajal, where we spent the day ensuring that villagers had refills on their medications, glasses for those with visual impairment, PAP smears, dental cleanings, and deworming treatment. During our visit, we were able to stabilize a sixty-year-old woman in diabetic ketoacidosis. The second half of the group consulted in San Ignacio. Over one hundred patients were treated, including an eight-year-old patient who had a severe head injury and required multiple sutures. Tomorrow we head to Gigante and Las Pilas for our last clinic day!

Today we visited the villages of Las Canas and Astillero, and treated over 250 patients. Besides seeing a multitude of patients with Dengue and Chikungunya (which continue to plague the area), we treated patients for both acute and chronic illnesses. As part of our women's health initiative, we performed PAP smears and breast exams. Because Ascariasis and other parasitic infections are so prevalent in the country, we provided deworming medications to children and adults. Two of our emergency physicians traveled to the Roberto Clemente Clinic to give CPR and first aid courses to local ambulance drivers. Although we only served these two communities today, villagers travelled from all over the coastline in search of medical care. In fact, our last patient of the day was a nine-year-old boy who rode on horseback with his mother for over an hour to reach our clinic! Looking forward to tomorrow's clinic. 

GivingMore's first clinic day went very well. Half of our team treated a total of 104 patients at the clinic in Las Salinas, the other part of our team treated 93 patients at the health post in Ascension. Some of the conditions treated today included dengue, chikungunya, diabetes, high blood pressure, bronchitis, ear infections, asthma, parasites, urinary infections, and many others.  Two of our doctors gave classes in CPR and First Aid to local teachers, surf guides, and workers at Rancho Santana.  Our two dental hygienists helped many patients who have never had a deep cleaning. Our patient pictured above is 93 years old.  He was extremely positive and appreciative of the care he received. Overall, it was a great day.  Tomorrow we will head to two remote villages north of Las Salinas. Thanks to all our supporters who make this trip possible. 

Sixteen volunteers from all over the United States arrived in Managua, Nicaragua yesterday for GivingMore's fourth Medical Brigade to Las Salinas. This year's team is made up of six emergency physicians, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, two dental hygienists, a pediatric ICU nurse, two ER nurses, an interpreter/technician, a pharmacist, and a psychologist. The team loaded up three vans with twenty-five boxes of medications and supplies, and drove four hours to southwest Nicaragua last night. This morning, the supplies were unloaded and organized at FIMRC's medical station in Las Salinas. Tomorrow we will be working at two separate clinics, we will be teaching CPR courses, and delivering medications to the local hospital in Rivas.