Faculty and students from Bellarmine University’s Athletic Training and Family Nurse Practitioner programs recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to help youth there with basic healthcare needs.
In a surprise twist of fate, their services were needed even more so on the plane
ride home when they were called to save a woman in a medical emergency.
The trip was planned in collaboration with a Louisville-based nonprofit Go Ministries
and its program, Go Sports, which offers academies in baseball, basketball, soccer
and volleyball.
Three Bellarmine faculty members and five students spent a week in Santiago de los
Caballeros, the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, offering free sports
physicals to some 100 young athletes, many of whom are hopeful to play collegiate
sports
in the U.S., but haven’t had consistent access to comprehensive healthcare.
“We found a lot of pathology that they wouldn’t have otherwise known about, even from
simple things like dental issues to more concerning things like a heart condition
that could be potentially fatal,” said Leslie W. Leffler, Faculty
Instructor in the Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Sciences. “Our students learned
so much from this experience and we were all humbled and honored to be able to use
our skills and knowledge to provide these services.”
Leffler said it was a truly immersive experience, as they were embedded in the community,
working alongside locals. They also volunteered in some other ways, making home repairs
and improvements in a nearby neighborhood.
Another opportunity to serve surprised them all on the plane ride home. An elderly
woman on the flight fell unconscious, in clear need of medical attention. Leffler
and Dr. Carol Smith, Associate Professor of Nursing, were the most experienced healthcare
professionals on the flight and immediately came to her aid. Dr. Chelsey Franz, Assistant
Professor of Athletic Training, assisted as well.
The trio moved the woman to first class where they could lay her down and assess her
condition.
“At one point her blood pressure was dropping, along with her heart rate, which was
not good,” Leffler said. “It was a stressful moment.”
They hooked her up to an I.V. and administered other treatments while the pilot diverted
the flight to an emergency layover.
Leffler said they aren’t certain what caused the woman’s condition, but with the help
of a Spanish interpreter on the plane, they learned she had a history of cardiac problems,
along with other health issues. Eventually, the plane landed,
and the woman was transported to a hospital.
“We were very grateful to be able to use our expertise to save that woman’s life,”
Leffler said. “And what an experience for our students to see how important these
skills are in real-life situations.”
Leffler said the group is already planning a return trip next spring with another class of students.
Check out a video detailing the group's trip experience here: