Sunday, May 6, 2018

University Hospital of the West Indies

LDS Charities Handing Over Ceremony

The main event of last week was the visit of Dr./Elder Jesse Hunsaker, ophthalmology specialist, and his wife, Sister Diane, from Utah. They had visited Jamaica about a year ago, so we were excited to have them back. They are LDS Charities representatives with the Major Vision Initiative and have been involved with this initiative for over 11 years traveling to the islands of the Caribbean and to many places in Africa and Europe. This was their 47th and last trip. Dr. Hunsaker has been called as the new Area Medical Advisor, and of course, Diane will accompany him. Area Medical Advisors oversee and serve as a resource for medical advice for Mission Presidents, their wives, and any mission medical personnel in all the missions in an Area for a period of 18 months. They will reside in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic as of July. We were so glad to share this time with them before their new assignment. The Handing Over Ceremony and training on the use of an amazing piece of vision equipment was held at the University Hospital of the West Indies Ophthalmology Department. We appreciated the chance  to renew our friendships with many of the hospital and university staff we met last year. 

 With Jamaica Kingston Stake President Lue 
and Elder and Sister Hunsaker

L to R: Elder Hunsaker; 

President Andrew Lue, Jamaica Kington Stake President; 

Dr. Joseph Plummer, UHWI, Head - Department of Surgery; 

Dr. Lizette Mowatt, UHWI Head, Ophthalmology Division

Dr. Carl Bruce, UHWI Medical Chief of Staff; 

Sister Helena Thomson, Deputy Senior Director Nursing Administration; 

Elder Stewart; and Mr. Kevin Allen, UHWI, CEO 

Elder Hunsaker gave a brief presentation on the use of the new equipment known as a YAG laser (yitrium aluminum garnet). Easy for me to type, right? The laser is used for opacified posterior capsule and laser iridotomy. In layman's terms, it is used for two ophthalmologic procedures. One procedure is a capsulotomy to eliminate the clouding of the lens covering (or “capsule) called posterior capsule opacification which often occurs after cataract surgery. The YAG laser is also frequently used to perform peripheral iriodotomies to treat the blockage of the pupil in patients with acute and narrow angle-closure glaucoma. 

YAG Laser - donated by LDS Charities

Not only did we enjoy the ceremony and learning about the use of the equipment, but Buddy was the recipient of immediate relief from the clouding he had in his right eye as a result of the cataract surgery he had before we came on the mission.  Dr. Hunsaker was thrilled to have a real patient to demonstrate and teach the residents the procedure. What a blessing! 

 Ahhh - the dreaded but so necessary dilating eyedrops 

 Notice the joystick. 

Whoever said playing video games 

can't prepare people for important careers?

Dr. Lizette Mowatt

UHWI, Head, Ophthalmology Division

We had a very nice dinner in the evening at the Devon House Grogg Shoppe with the Hunsakers, Dr. Mowatt, two of the administrative assistants, and four of the residents. We missed several other residents who chose to spend their evening studying for exams rather than join us for dinner. That's dedication.  

The rest of the week was spent on project and mission work. The five large projects we've been working on for months are nearing conclusion with the purchases and deliveries of most of the donated items to Victoria Jubilee Hospital Materno-Fetal Medicine Unit, May Pen Hospital, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Mustard Seed Jerusalem Center for the disabled, and Hanover Parish Infirmary.

We made a quick visit to Victoria Jubilee Maternity Hospital to check in with our dear friends, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Kelly, and were so happy to see the newly created unit almost in full operation. It won't be long until we'll be holding handing over ceremonies for all of these projects. We plan to schedule most of these ceremonies for dates after our replacements, the Arringtons, arrive June 1st. Helping with and attending these special events will be a great way for them to meet all the wonderful people connected with these projects and to feel the blessings resulting from months of hard work.

We will have a full month with Elder and Sister Arrington before we leave. It will make the transition much easier since we'll be able to take them all around the island and help them acclimate gradually to their new responsibilities and surroundings.

Sunday, we attended church at the Linstead Ward. We're trying to visit all the branches and wards one more time before we leave. It's hard to adequately express how much we love these saints. In Relief Society, we were invited to participate on a panel for their first Sunday council. The Relief Society President, Sister Fletcher, facilitated an excellent discussion about the blessings of temple marriage and eternal families. We were able to teach doctrine and share our testimonies while answering great questions from the sisters. Not unexpectedly the question came up about what will happen if a woman or man never marries in this life. Brother Lewis who sat on the panel with us was inspired to use the words of Apostles and Prophets to address this concern. 

Elder Richard G. Scott, of the Council of the Twelve Apostles stated:

"Some of you may feel lonely and unappreciated and cannot see how it will be possible for you to have the blessings of marriage and children or your own family. All things are possible to the Lord, and He keeps the promises He inspires His prophets to declare. Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy."

President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:

“You good sisters, who are single and alone, do not fear, do not feel that blessings are going to be withheld from you. You are not under any obligation or necessity of accepting some proposal that comes to you which is distasteful for fear you will come under condemnation. If in your hearts you feel that the gospel is true, and would under proper conditions receive these ordinances and sealing blessings in the temple of the Lord; and that is your faith and your hope and your desire, and that does not come to you now; the Lord will make it up, and you shall be blessed—for no blessing shall be withheld.” 

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for our temple sealing in 1977 in the Arizona Mesa Temple which created our eternal family. We strive every day to live worthy so we may enjoy the blessings  during this earthly life and return hand-in-hand with all our precious family members to live in the presence of Our Heavenly Father forever.

Unit next week..all our love.