First clinic completed March 2014

We had our first clinic at the school for handicapped children in Viet Tri in North Vietnam. The school has children with all types of disabilities, mostly deafness and blindness. We saw 100 patients and hopefully learned something on how to improve for our next 2 clinics in Sapa which will be 300 children at each clinic. Things went pretty smoothly. (First 3 pictures.)

We took an overnight train ride to Lao Cai. The 4th picture is one from the window of our train. It was breathtaking beautiful after the sun came up. After getting off the train we took a short ride to wave to China across the river. Then we rode in a bus up the mountain to get to Sapa. It has apparently been raining here for weeks, but the sun came out for us! The last picture shows us having no fun at all. We were drinking tea at a store that sold dried mushrooms and all kinds of medicinal teas. I did not include the pictures of the dried lizard on a stick that apparently helps with kidney problems. I will save that for your private viewing if you desire.

We will be very busy the next 2 days at our clinics to the indigenous children of this area. We are looking forward to serving!

donna and brick thompson - team march 2014

donna thompson

  Hello!  I am so excited for our trip.  I graduated from nursing school (University of Kentucky:  March Madness anyone?) in 1976 and became a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1985.  My nursing career has been primarily in ICU and ER.  I worked in Critical Care until I obtained my FNP.  In 1985, I began teaching Critical Care and working part-time as an FNP.   Nursing is the best profession in the world and I love it!  I began traveling with COPI in 2002.  I’ve been very fortunate to go on a mission trip once or twice a year until 2011.  I developed a Study Abroad program for nursing students in 2005 and brought students to Viet Nam with me until 2011.  There were not enough students in 2012 and 2013 for my employer to offer the Study Abroad.  I retired from the college in December and now co binh is in trouble!  There’s nothing to stop me (except finances) from tagging along whenever i get the chance!

I was born in Kentucky and moved to Utah after college.  I am incredibly fortunate to have married the most wonderful man in the world!  Brick is the love of my life and my best friend.  We were not able to have children of our own, but God blessed us with COPI’s children to love.  I love animals almost as much as children!  Right now we have two cats named Tucker and Romeow.  In addition to traveling and camping; I love to quilt, knit and crochet.  

This is going to be a great adventure and I can’t wait!    

brick thompson

Hi everybody.  My name is “Brickell”, but I go by BRICK.  I was born in Oregon, but grew up in Montana.  My family moved to Utah when my Dad became the Director of the Utah State Health Department.  He was a pediatrician and my Mom was a nurse. Medical things were second nature in our house.  I have always loved airplanes and had more credits for aeronautics in college than the business degree I received from Westminister College.  I love anything mechanical; cars, trains, planes, etc.  My brother is a builder and we are both retired now.  It’s given us a chance to work on building and mechanical projects over the past year and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  I also love the outdoors.  Camping and traveling are two of my favorite past-times. I also love to read.

I became involved with COPI when Donna decided to go on her first mission trip.  I went with her the next year and we have been making it an annual event since.  I wasn’t sure there was much I could do without a medical background, but quickly learned there is plenty of work for everybody.  I especially love watching the kids and grandmas at the clinics.  I have learned you don’t really need any special training to speak “love”.  Can’t wait to meet everybody next week.  Safe travels! 

          

frani jenkins - team march 2014

Frani Jenkins – Physicial Assistant, Certified Athletic Trainer

I have been a physician assistant since 1997 after a 21 year career as a high school teacher in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  I currently stamp out disease in a Community Health Center in Craig, Colorado.  I have lived in Steamboat for 40 years and used to take advantage of winter sports opportunities more than I do now.  I now have bionic knees so plan to get back on skis again, may be when I retire.

I really like putting on my athletic trainer hat sometimes.  I actually did rodeo sports medicine for 20 years but have retired from that when I decided I couldn’t climb the fence fast enough to get out of the way of the bulls.

My significant other is Bart and two schnauzers dictate our schedules in a very bossy way.

This will be my 7^th COPI trip.  I always learn something new on each trip.  I am especially looking forward to returning to Hue as I have only been there once.