62 Days until Takeoff

Hello to friends, family, and newcomers. I'm Megan Vernon, a Registered Nurse specializing in Colorectal Surgery. Throughout the next two and a half months, I'll be detailing the ins and outs of my journey to Kenya. Today, I want to share how this trip became possible and why it holds such significance.

In 62 days, I will be at JFK airport, ready to embark on what could be the most incredible journey of my life. Last April, after hearing Dr. Hull and Dr. Spivak share their experiences in Kenya with Campaign 52, I expressed my interest in joining the team if they were to go again. In November, I met the campaign's founder, who welcomed me to the mission, and in December, I was introduced to the rest of the team via Zoom. Right from the start, I knew this trip would be transformative. Hearing the testimonials from those who went in 2024 brought tears to my eyes, and I felt exeptionally grateful for the opportunity to be part of something so remarkable.

Campaign 52 is an multinational initiative involving doctors, surgeons, and nurses from across the world. Our goal is to restore dignity, hope, and a brighter future to one woman for each week of the year, which is why it's called Campaign 52. We will be traveling to Gynocare Women's and Fistula Hospital to assist women suffering from obstetric fistulas, HPV, cervical cancer, and other conditions. In 2024, they not only achieved their target of 52 surgeries but exceeded it by completing 90. In just 7 days, they were able to restore hope, dignity, and a better future to 90 women. Anyone familiar with surgery and the complexities involved in performing 90 surgeries in 7 days will recognize how remarkable this achievement is. The mission and work underway in Kenya are extremely significant. In addition to performing life-changing surgeries, 1,000 women have received HPV vaccinations, and 500 women have been screened for cervical cancer in preparation for the campaign. This year, the services will also include a colposcopy clinic.

The goal for 2025 remains unchanged.

In Kenya, women are largely underserved, with very limited resources available to them. Due to the scarcity of resources and the distances many must travel, they often spend over three months in the hospital during recovery. There is significant societal stigma surrounding colorectal or gynecological diseases, leading to many women being rejected by their families and even their husbands. These women must then find a way to reintegrate into society and esatablish a source of income after all they have endured. Gynocare has established the Beyond Fistula Programme, a rehabilitation facility. This program offers vocational training, educational opportunities, and talent development, helping these women rebuild their lives and achieve financial stability. Although I have not yet met the strong, resilient, and kind women of Kenya, my colleagues speak highly of them. Despite the challenges and hardships they have faced, they always have a smile on their face and express gratitude. Many people tell me that I will change their lives, and while I hope to make a positive impact and offer support, I am certain that these women will change my life in more ways than I could ever change theirs.

While I am utilizing this blog to document my journey, it is not lost on me how sensitive of a topic this is for many. How sensitive of a situation it is for all the women in Kenya. I want to also use this blog to shine light on them, their stories, and what we can do to help. I want to shine light on what these medical conditions are and how some of them can be prevented. I am thankful to each and every one of you that are on this journey with me. I will talk to you soon.

All Love,

Meg

Below is a link to the hospital if you are interested in reading more about their history and the amazing work that they are doing.

https://gynocarefistulacentre.org