‘I put them in scrubs and put them to work.’
St. Petersburg, (August 28, 2009) — The average teenage girl from Florida thinks of spending her high school summers on the beach, texting her boyfriend, reading the gossip rags with her friends and simply relaxing – dreaming of her senior year soon approaching…
Not 17-year-old, Meredith Mackay. Meredith was planning on doing those things but was approached with an unusual proposition. Father, Dr. Edward Mackay, vein specialist in St. Petersburg thought his daughter’s summer should be spent doing something a little different. For years a colleague of Dr. Mackay, Dr. Nick Morrison, Director of this physician-traveling humanitarian program with Morrison Vein Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, had invited him to join-in on humanitarian trip to Quito, Ecuador in South America to treat underprivileged people with significant circulatory problems and vein diseases. Physicians and their families from around the world attend together to perform various, highly-needed medical procedures. He agreed to attend and was looking forward to making a difference in the lives of others around the world. His next thought…”why spend the summer alone?”
Meredith had been taking Spanish classes but never got a lot of practice. When her father asked her to join him, along with wife, Diane Mackay, his thoughts extended beyond taking a trip alone – he thought his daughter could use all the Spanish practice, “put use to all those classes she takes,” he said, and check out what dad does but most importantly, have a new appreciation for all that they have here at home, “It’d be good for her,” said Dr. Mackay. Plus, with nearly 25 procedures scheduled per day, Dr. Mackay needed the extra hands saying, “I put them in scrubs and put them to work.”
Meredith, a soon-to-be senior at Palm Harbor University High School, didn’t want to go at first according to Mom, but she came around quickly. July 23 to August 30 is a long time, and a typical teenager can miss a lot of social events over nearly two weeks in the summer time. Even though she couldn’t “bring lots of friends,” Meredith knew this was going to be an “experience of a lifetime.” The future aspiring physician herself has goals to be a dermatologist and before going to Ecuador, she thought vein procedures were, well, “boring.” Having never worked with her dad in his practice in St. Petersburg or Palm Harbor in the past, the 12-hour days in Ecuador were quite tiring but mostly quite, “moving.”
“It was actually really fun. The people were so thankful. I love watching what my dad does,” said Meredith. Meredith and her mother were trained to measure stockings (special stockings fitted to a patient after a vein procedure), complete paperwork and medical documentation, read charts, organize and guide patients to their procedures, and assist the physicians where needed in delivering equipment or tools. Diane never thought she would be much help on a trip like this, “I was not sure what I could offer but there was actually a lot one can do. The director told me they could use all the help they could get and that you didn’t have to be a doctor. It was nice to be able to help and see the patients, see how appreciative they are, talk to them – see their smiling faces and know you are doing the right thing,” said Diane. Diane is a Title I Teacher for Ponce de Leon Elementary.
Meredith jumped right in. Helping Dad-Dr. Mackay with endovenous laser treatments and UGS (Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy) – both safe and highly effective procedures that eliminate diseased veins that have traditionally required surgical removal; Meredith even sat-in on other medical procedures including foot surgeries, hernia removals, and cesarean-sections. “She got experience there that she would never have been permitted in the States – they don’t typically let people in the operating room here,” said Diane. Meredith said she was use to the medical sights – “This is my passion. I am use to it – seeing my dad’s graphic pictures that he takes for his surgeries,” she said. Although, while watching other operations and procedures during the trip, there were times Meredith felt she may faint – she didn’t but some other kids did. “The only thing that really bothered me during the other surgeries was the flesh-burning smell, which is just awful. Other than that, it wasn’t that bad,” she added. Another doctor was performing a procedure called a phlebectomy (an outpatient procedure that removes superficial veins through small, slit-like incisions in the skin), and the patient fainted for unknown, unrelated causes, possibly a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack, also known as a warning stroke or mini-stroke) – having nothing to do with the surgery as she was elderly, overweight and had other health issues. This scared Meredith a bit as she wasn’t sure if the patient would wake-up again. Soon thereafter, the patient was up, responding and even requesting the doctor to perform the phlebectomy on the other leg.
Despite not knowing a great deal of Spanish, Diane and her husband had much help along the way. Dr. Mackay was required to bring three-cases worth of equipment including laser and ultrasound technology. If it weren’t for an Ecuadorian-American passenger – new friend – on the plane, Dr. Mackay would have had to spend thousands of dollars in taxes to send the equipment through customs and into the country. This stranger, now companion, managed to intervene and persuade the officials to allow his passage into the country without hassle. “I don’t know what she said, but it helped me,” said Dr. Mackay. Once at the hospital, the Mackay’s had to get by on Meredith’s third-level Spanish - until another “helper” appeared; this time, in the form of a grateful son to a patient, his mother, who Dr. Mackay had treated. He returned daily to assist with translations.
“The people were just willing to give,” said Diane. All three Mackay’s gave details of every patient who just couldn’t thank them enough. They sent prayers, blessings, and all they could give. A native, elderly woman returned to Diane with a bag of beans, “giving from her heart what she could give,” said Diane. Another female patient gave Diane the ring off her finger – insisting she take it in gratitude for what Diane and Dr. Mackay had done for her that day. “I felt I wasn’t really doing much but everything mattered to them,” she said. “May god so pay you,” was the blessing Dr. Mackay received after every procedure. Meredith received hugs, prayers, an authentic Ecuadorian cake, “which was really good,” she added, bananas, papayas, and plantains. She even saw another physician receive a Guinea Pig for super as a thank you.
“It’s so important, no matter whom you are – everyone needs to feel like they are cared for. It makes you appreciate what you have here, even brushing your teeth from a faucet. You feel kind of guiltily. It’s well worth going and caring for other people. There is always something you can do to help someone else – even the smallest things. When you open-up your heart to people, it’s a big deal to them. It’s very touching,” said Diane.
It wasn’t all roses the entire trip. Dr. Mackay performed 100 vein procedures. His back was hurting, the bed he slept-in was terrible, he was exhausted but the thanks and praise lifted him up. Having his daughter and wife accompany him and assist him was really the cherry on top. “I really appreciate what he does,” said Meredith, “he really helps people and the people in Ecuador really needed it.” Many patients had neglected cases that put the patient in serious risk. Hundreds of people lined outside the door for treatment. “They would not get treatment if you weren’t there,” said Diane.
Before ever arriving into Ecuador, the Mackay’s, like many parents, did have some concerns in bringing their teenage daughter. The safety in Ecuador was a major concern. “I was nervous about it. You hear stories about it being unsafe but upon entering the country, I never felt threatened at all,” said Diane, “Everyone was so kind everywhere we went.” Meredith didn’t exactly blend in – with blonde hair, blue eyes and teenage youth, she certainly got a lot of attention – particularly from the 20-somethings military soldiers in charge of the hospital. They brought her bananas and locals asked to take pictures with her. She said she felt a little bit like a celebrity. “They were very taken with her but all so very kind. She was never alone and there was no cause for concern,” said Diane.
Both Mackay women feel confident to work, and want to assist their dad/husband in his home offices in St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor. Dr. Mackay said working with other physicians from around the world helps him and his practice as well, learning new techniques and sharing methodologies. Unaccompanied by his wife and daughter, Dr. Mackay also attended the Dominican Republic this summer, giving lectures and teaching physicians from around the world about vein procedures and treatments while, again, performing free vein procedures to underprivileged people in need of the medical attention. When talking about the many trips her dad makes, Meredith said, “Veins are cool. I want to be a specialized surgeon like my dad – maybe even join his practice one day.” Dr. Mackay was also invited to Guatemala to teach physicians about his vein procedures and techniques. He hopes his wife and daughter will accompany him to the many other countries around the world he will visit in the future.
So what are the plans for this future dermatologist? When just a few weeks ago, ten days seemed too long to be in a foreign country, Meredith now wishes she had stayed longer. She is encouraged to learn more Spanish and she definitely wants to return to work side-by-side with her father again. Although Meredith may have to think twice if it was during prom season… her general answer is: “I would definitely do it again – helping people and saving lives; it was an enlightening experience. I would recommend this to other teens [interested in the medical field]. You have the opportunity to learn about the field you want to be in and help people who desperately need it, and they make you feel so good about it. This experience made me realize a lot.”
Looks like Dad was right.
For more information on Dr. Mackay, vein specialist, please call 813.260.4479
For more information on Dr. Nick Morrison, Director of this physician-traveling humanitarian program, please feel free to contact Dr. Nick Morrison, Morrison Vein Institute in Phoenix, Arizona – 1.866.GRT.LEGS