We started preparing for this day 6 months ago while we were on our last surgical mission trip to Mexico, taking inventory of our supplies, talking with different areas of the hospital to see what their needs were and paying close attention to the patients and families to see what they needed while their loved ones were in the hospital. In addition to our Joint replacement program the Doctors were having meetings to discuss larger more expensive pieces of equipment such as a new sterilizer for the central processing and we were trying to figure out how to supply the pediatric ward with diapers and toys for the sick babies & children. Not long after our plane landed back in Nashville sorting and packing began at our Project CURE warehouse, Donna heads up our inventory and packing and she along with several other volunteers have spent countless hours at the warehouse over the last 6 months sorting, packing, organizing, and labeling our supplies and equipment for this spring trip. Over the last few months we have been hosting a “baby shower” for the pediatric ward in Veracruz. Office & hospital staff along with friends, family, and some complete strangers have participated in donating. We have received over 3,500 diapers, thousands of baby wipes, formula, receiving blankets, baby clothing, & lots of stuffed animals, toys, and books for the sick children. We have been working on collecting and getting grants for the remaining supplies and medications we needed for the joint program along with things we needed for the hospital in general. The last two weeks have been “crunch time” at the warehouse early mornings and late nights as the Walk Strong Volunteers worked to make sure everything was packed and labeled appropriately, Donna was in close correspondence with our customs representative to make sure everything would be in code to make it across the border safely. The last box, box #450 contained our knee implants and was sealed and labeled at 8:30pm the night before the truck was packed.
At 6:00am Friday march 22 at the project cure warehouse in Nashville we began to strategically organize boxes and equipment for loading. Around 7:00am as more volunteers arrived we began to load our 18 wheeler and by 8:45am we were done, now that’s team work! The truck containing close to a million dollars worth of medical equipment and supplies including, 450 boxes, 14 hospital beds, a new birthing bed, 8 stretchers, a new sterilizer, tons of baby supplies, and lots of other medical equipment is now headed for Veracruz. A lot of blood, sweat, tears, and love were poured into this truck! The Walk Strong crew knows how to work hard and we always have a good time while we do it! Father John from Saint Thomas hospital came by to give the truck and our trip a blessing. The Walk Strong Cargo team will meet the truck in Veracruz on March the 30th, to unload, unpack, and organize everything before our medical and surgical team arrives on April 4th.
A special thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who have participated over the last six months from sorting and packing supplies, to driving the forklift and baking cookies, whatever piece you have to our puzzle you are greatly appreciated and we would not be complete without you.
To our friends, families, and vendors, thank you for your generous donations, your contributions continue to make a huge impact in the lives of our patients and their families in Veracruz, we are not only operating on patients, educating the staff, and restoring a hospital we are giving hope to their community.
Veracruz- here we come!
