Today I recount my journey with the Flying Samaritans, a remarkable group dedicated to delivering essential healthcare services to underserved communities. Join me as I share my experience with the volunteer organization, from the initial flight to San Quintin, Baja Mexico, to the challenges faced during surgeries and the unwavering resilience of both our medical team and the patients we served. Together, we navigated obstacles, overcame setbacks, and left a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.
My journey began with an early morning flight from Denver, where I had spent the past week attending the Psychedelic Science conference, to San Diego. Tom, a volunteer with the Flying Samaritans and also an anesthesiologist and pilot, picked me up at a nearby small airport, and we were soon on our way to Mexico. After two stops, we finally arrived in San Quintin, Baja Mexico.
Since my last visit, our team had grown. We now had three general surgeons, two anesthesiologists, a physical therapist, a nurse, and a surgical technician.
Our first stop was the small medical clinic, where we were greeted by nearly a hundred people eagerly waiting outside. Some of these patients had been waiting for over a year to be seen by a physician. Many had traveled for over six hours, using whatever means possible, in the hope of receiving medical and surgical care.
Each patient had a unique story, and if we were fortunate, they also brought along a medical report. Pattie, our local patient coordinator, helped us organize the surgery schedule and ensured that patients understood how to prepare for their procedures the following morning.
We spent the afternoon seeing as many patients as time allowed, knowing that we needed to start operating in the evening. The surgeries continued late into the night, and afterwards, we tried to make our way back to the hotel using a car donated to the organization.
Unfortunately, our journey back was interrupted when a pedestrian signaled to us that we had a flat tire. We stopped at a nearby gas station and discovered that the tire was completely deflated. After asking several strangers for a car jack, we were finally able to lift the car and attempt to remove the wheel. However, the rusted wheel refused to budge. It was completely stuck on the car's axle. Eventually, we flagged down a firetruck, and with the help of a fireman and a sledgehammer, we were able to smash the wheel off, change the flat tire, and finally get back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep before the busy day ahead.
After a quick team breakfast, we returned to the hospital. Cliff and Blake, the two other general surgeons, worked in one operating room, while I operated alone in the second room.
While the patients received general anesthesia during the surgeries, their post-operative pain management consisted of Tylenol due to the limited supply of stronger medications. All our instruments and supplies had been donated and required us to resterilize them between surgeries. Despite these challenges, we managed to be resourceful and creative, making the most of the limited supplies we had.
Remarkably, we were able to move the next patient into surgery just 15 minutes after completing the previous surgery. One after another, we performed a total of twenty surgeries. After checking on our patients and ensuring they were properly admitted and cared for overnight, we returned to the hotel, exhausted but fulfilled, knowing that we had provided healthcare to people who would otherwise have no access to it.
The next morning, we woke up and made our way back to the hospital to check on our patients. Unfortunately, our second vehicle also had mechanical issues. The car overheated, forcing us to abandon it and find another ride to the hospital.
When we finally arrived, we were surprised to learn that all our patients had been discharged. The nurses reported that everyone had recovered remarkably well, and there were no complaints despite the lack of pain control or the comforts usually found in American hospitals. We felt pleased and grateful for the opportunity to help this underserved community. After saying our goodbyes to each other, we headed to the airstrip and flew back home, with plans to return in a few months to continue our mission.
Reflecting on my experience with the Flying Samaritans, I am filled with a sense of joy and an even stronger desire to make more of a difference. If only we had more resources, personnel, and time, we could extend our reach and help an even greater number of people in this community. For those who are interested and willing to lend a hand, any form of donation would have a profound impact. The Flying Sams are in constant need of nurses, pilots, physicians, and other compassionate individuals who are eager to contribute. To find out more about how you can help or get involved, please feel free to email me directly at ray@innerbloomketamine or visit the Flying Samaritans website for further information.
About the Author
Dr. Ray Rivas, a former general and trauma surgeon with over a decade of experience utilizing ketamine, became a ketamine therapy specialist to treat mental health and pain after witnessing its profound impact on his hospital trauma patients and his own mental health. As the founder and medical director of Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy in San Luis Obispo, California, Dr. Rivas applies his extensive medical expertise to provide safe, evidence-based ketamine treatments for mood disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. His passion lies in helping patients find relief and rediscover hope through personalized, compassionate care.
Disclaimer: All content on this website, including (but not limited to) this statement, news, blog post, article, testimonial, or FAQ is not medical advice and should not be considered as such. This website cannot diagnose or treat any medical condition. Only a licensed medical professional who is familiar with you and your medical history can do that. Therefore, we cannot be responsible or liable for any actions taken by those who access our website or rely on its content. Please refer to the Terms & Conditions for more information.