Back in 2007 my dutch friend Elizabeth was working as a volunteer in a vet clinic in Jaco. In October of that year she needed to return to Holland and asked me if I would cover for her while she was gone. This meant going to the clinic 3 days a week. Of course I said yes.
I thought I would just be walking the dogs and cleaning the cages. On the first morning of training, Elizabeth taught me just that - walk the dogs and clean. However, by noon, I knew where all the medication was and had assisted the doctor, a young tico named Victor, do an x-ray on a male dog who was having urinary problems. When I came in the next morning, that same dog needed an operation to remove stones from his gallbladder. Elizabeth was assisting but before I knew it, I also had gloves on and was told how to withdraw fluid from the IV, give an injection, was cutting stitches and sopping up blood. Within 6 hours of "training" I was now assisting with a full on operation. That night I was ecstatic!!
A week later, Elizabeth left for her trip and 3 days a week I was at the clinic from 9 am until 4:30 pm. Most days I rode the bus in....and the 4:15 pm bus home. The days were long but amazing. As a young girl going to high school in a very small town in Montana, I dreamed of being a veterinarian but did not have the family support or self motivation to pull it off. Working in the clinic with Victor was a dream come true. This would never have happened in the states. From my 2nd day in the clinic, anything that walked in the door I assisted the doctor with - new puppies and kittens, annual check-ups, the tragedies.........This clinic also supported the street animals, which meant a lot of abandoned, sick - mostly dogs that often had to be put down. Some days were heartbreaking.
When Elizabeth returned I continued to come several days a week. This went on for about 5 months and then I needed to make a trip back to CA. When I returned I was told the clinic had been sold to 2 private doctors and my help was no longer needed.
At first I felt lost. I missed the clinic, but then my life here in EO rolled on and once again I was back to whatever it is I do - which is usually so spontaneous, it is hard to say exactly what it is I do......
Every year since 2007, there has been a spay/neuter clinic here in Esterillos at our local elementary school. Every year I have been able to help. The first year I was one of the 2 doctor's full time assistant, the next year it was organizing the event, this year.....a number of us were involved, but on the day of this event, I was the work coordinator - gave everyone an assignment and just made everything flow......
This year, instead of local tico doctors, two doctors from the states had volunteered to do the clinic. A woman doctor and her husband own a house here in Costa Rica. Their friends - a male doctor and his wife were visiting. Somehow or another the director of the foundation that supports this clinic, recently met either one or both couples. Anyway.......both of these doctors have owned their own clinics in the states - somewhere on the east coast, but neither had ever done any work outside the states. At first, like always, there was a bit of confusion as to how to set up the tables, get all the medicine and equipment in place. Plus we were in a classroom that is used weekly by our local children. I could see on the doctor's and their spouses who were also their assistant.....a sense of being overwhelmed.
Once we got started and had everyone in place, the action began to flow - but again - I would look at these doctors and could see.......anyone could just walk up to the operating table and check out what was happening, animals were being shaved on the floor, if an owner wanted to help with their own dog - they were welcome to do so, for awhile "Buddy" a local rescued dog was just wandering around checking out what was going on - sterile conditions not quite the same as the states......
For lunch, meals had been provided for the doctors and the assistants. I sat all of them down at the very small desks in the very small child size chairs. By then - they were into it and proud to be there. By the end of the day - after 40 cats and dogs had been either spayed or neutered, these 4 professionals had a whole different outlook on what they had accomplished. The community was grateful for their time, they promised to come back again. I look forward to the day this happens.
Pura Vida
