Finding Meaning Through Mission Work
A surgeon’s mission trip to provide care for those in need.
Kevin Bailey, D.O., Orthopedic Surgeon
When you picture yourself on a 40-hour plane ride, you might think of the excitement of traveling overseas to visit another country. However, for Kevin Bailey, D.O., Firelands Physician Group Sandusky Orthopedics, his recent trip was no leisurely visit. On a mission trip to Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, Africa, he was traveling to provide surgical support and orthopedic care.
If you know Dr. Bailey, you understand his genuine nature. He is personable, kind and epitomizes ‘would give anyone the shirt off his back’ type of person. On top of all that, he spent his personal time serving overseas for mission work. “I worked through Samaritan’s Purse to get connected at Tenwek. Samaritan’s Purse networks several missionary hospitals around the world to help provide medical missionary personnel.”
Dr. Bailey's Mission Work
Tenwek Hospital, where Dr. Bailey served for two weeks in February, is about four hours northwest of Nairobi, Kenya. Tenwek was established in 1937 and is a 400-bed, faith-based teaching and referral hospital. They serve East Central and West Africa, providing trauma and orthopedic services, dental, eye, diagnostic, pediatric, neurosurgical and intensive care services.
“I have always had service on my heart,” explained Dr. Bailey. “I went on a few service trips in high school and medical school. I've always wanted to do overseas work.” Upon starting at Firelands, one of his first requests was to use his personal paid time off to serve on mission trips at least once a year. During his two weeks at Tenwek Hospital, Dr. Bailey estimated completing 40 surgeries, including repairs to several hips and knees. Most of them were trauma cases from farmers and people who ride around on the equivalent of a moped. He also lectured to the Kenyan orthopedic surgery residents since it is a teaching hospital. “It was a great experience. I hope to do it annually.” he said.
The sun sets over Tenwek Hospital.
Tenwek serves over a million people within the region. Many of the patients live in poverty and have limited access to healthcare. Dr. Bailey described the experience as humbling since the available technology lacks what we have in the United States. The patients rely on their family members to cover the cost of the care they receive. “Tenwek will tell people they owe $500 in American currency, and they’ll fix a femur,” he explained. Families have to pool resources to cover the care due to financial instability and lack of insurance.
Finding Meaning Through Serving Another
Dr. Bailey explained two major takeaways from his mission trip experience that have impacted his life. One was to be resourceful. Operating rooms in the United States are held to a high standard, and there are many support staff in any given procedure. This includes nurses, joint implant technicians, diagnostic or imaging tools, electronic medical records and more. At Tenwek, however, he had to rely on fewer team members and dated technology. Dr. Bailey had to lean on his abilities and experiences in the United States to help him deliver great care in an environment where there are fewer resources.
“I was working on an arthroscopy and had some challenges. They didn't have actual weights, so I had to fill containers with some type of cleaning solution. I would fill it, try to get around 12 pounds, while converting to kilos.”
Dr. Bailey stands with Tenwek Hospital clinical staff.
His second takeaway was more spiritual in nature. “This experience changed my interpretation of giving.” Going into this experience, he read the book, “When Helping Hurts,” by Brian Fikkert. “We could collect all the money in the world to give to these people, but truly what they need are people who care and who will be there for them.” He shared how this mission trip helped strengthen his faith and taught him not to take the privileges we have for granted. “We think a lot of worldly things matter to us, yet when much of the luxuries are taken away, we’re reminded of what truly matters. Being there for our neighbor and helping them in their time of need is what matters,” he said.
About Dr. Bailey of Sandusky Orthopedics
Dr. Bailey earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, South Pointe Hospital. Dr. Bailey completed an orthopedic surgery sports medicine fellowship at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is passionate about sports medicine and shoulder reconstruction surgery.
To learn more about Firelands Physician Group Sandusky Orthopedics visit firelands.com/ortho or call 419-625-4900.
