Welcome! And THANK YOU SO MUCH for being here!

For the past 3 years I have had the unique experience of working as an Operating Room RN in the lower mainland of BC. (See photo proof above!). Working in surgery has been an incredibly rewarding experience as I am reminded every day of the strength people carry with them when faced with health challenges they never saw coming. Good health is something we have all taken for granted at some point in our lives but we are undeniably blessed to live in a place where help is available when you need it. While our system may not be perfect, millions of healthcare workers work every day to uphold it, improve it, and respect those who need it.

If you yourself or anyone you love has ever needed surgical care, you know how impactful the experience can be on a patient and their family. When anyone asks me what my favourite part of my job is, I almost always say that I love any opportunity to bring a smile or laugh to my patient’s face during what is, for many, a very emotional and vulnerable time. Giving over absolute full control to your surgical team is not an easy experience for most. Offering my patients some stellar humour, reassurance and education during this time in their life is something I care deeply about.

With that said, before I ask you to hand over your hard-earned money for a good cause, I’ll tell you more about this mission! ‘Team Broken Earth’ is the name of the Canadian, registered non-profit organization I am working with, specifically, I am a member of the Vancouver team. This team is responsible for annual surgical missions in Antigua, Guatemala in partnership with the Guatemalan organization, 'Partner for Surgery', where we work closely to provide safe surgical care to impoverished Guatemalans living in rural and remote areas of the country. During the week we are there, we will be running 6 operating rooms, conducting various surgeries in the following services: general surgery, urology, gynecology and orthopedics. Our team is made up of the most confident surgeons, calm, cool and collected anesthesiologists, and the best (looking) nurses BC has to offer! (Photo proof to come at a later date, promise!)

All jokes aside, when making a monetary donation towards this mission, you are directly supporting the patients receiving these surgeries in Antigua. Everything from the medical supplies we are purchasing, to the instrumentation and equipment we use to perform the procedures. All of your donation is directly supporting these patients who require our help. To further intrigue you, Team Broken Earth is an organization that values lasting partnerships over care with an expiry date. This means that even after we complete our surgical mission in November, a few months later the process continues to locate, assess and schedule surgeries and health education for more impoverished residents in Guatemala to be treated during the next scheduled mission. Not only are you contributing directly to patient care but you’d be supporting an organization that values commitment and works to build local capacity with education and training until ideally one day aid is no longer a necessity.

As a nurse and professional, I want to say thank you whole-heartedly for any contribution you make towards this mission that I am beyond appreciative to be experiencing for the first time in my professional career. I will do you proud.

As a friend or family member, I say “Add a zero!”

Thank you in advance for helping me raise funds towards this incredible, yet necessary, cause. It feels good to do good.

To make a donation, click ‘Sponsor Me’ and remember budgets don’t exist.

Thank you always, 

April