Mission trip is great help to those in need of health care, great experience for PA and her son

Volunteer trip helps others, creates memories for physician assistant and her son

Imagine visiting a foreign country where you can experience a new culture in a tropical setting while making an important difference in the lives of others.

Magdalena Chavez, PA-C, who practices at WellMed at Mid-Cities in Bedford, Texas, and her son recently returned from such a trip, volunteering for a week in June with One World Surgery, a non-profit that recruits medical personnel and their families to volunteer at clinics in Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

Magdalena and her son, who’s 14, spent a week in Honduras, where Madalena provided greatly needed primary health care at the clinic and her son helped with a variety of tasks in the kitchen and on the organization’s farm.

“He enjoyed the farm most of all,” Magdalena said. “He got to help a sick cow, guide a baby calf back to her pen and look after the pigs, which were his absolute favorite. He’s considering a career in medicine or the sciences, so this was a good opportunity for him to get some experience.”

As Magdalena and the rest of the primary care team treated a multitude of patients, they quickly came to appreciate the small gifts and hugs that were offered in appreciation of their care.

“My first patient was so happy to be seen, she left me with a big hug and a flower from her own hair that she put into mine on her way out,” Magdalena said. “I think we all received more hugs and smiles in one week than I’m used to getting over a month’s time. This trip was a great reminder of why we do what we do and that everyone deserves to be seen and cared for.”

The trip wasn’t all work, though. To Magdalena’s surprise, there was also abundant downtime every evening, giving her and the other volunteers time to socialize, hike, play pickleball and read.

“The host team did a phenomenal job of keeping us entertained and comfortable,” Magdalena said. “At home after clinic, I feel like I’m always running errands or doing chores.

In Honduras, we truly got some time to relax and recharge at the end of the day. It was a pleasant surprise.”

Would she do it again?

“Absolutely! My son wants to go back too,” Magdalena said.