From Strangers to Family through Medical Service

In August, 16 Medline employees from across the country teamed up in El Crucero, Nicaragua, for the company’s first-ever medical service trip. As part of Medline’s continuing partnership with Project C.U.R.E., the group of volunteers delivered health education on topics like hand hygiene, first aid, nutrition and dental hygiene. Hugo Caba is a warehouse cle rk and branch trainer at Medline, and shared his journey leaving his family to work with fifteen people from the same company, but who were unknown to him until this experience.

Hugo Caba shares his experience on Medline’s first-ever medical service trip.

We started as strangers…

Sixteen different people with 16 different realities and sixteen different backgrounds all with a common goal to serve the community of El Crucero, Nicaragua. Today, we have become a big Medline family.

Four days later, words could not describe what this experience meant to me. The immense feeling of gratification after seeing the joyful faces of the children while serving the community speaks for itself. As I interacted with the children and saw their participation and how much they were engaged, I came to the understanding that my work here was justified and much needed.

There were many times we had last minute changes, or had to adapt to different environments, but it didn’t matter how hard it was. We were able to pull through due to everyone’s positive energy and teamwork. We worked in collaboration to successfully complete the health education workshops.

I came to give, but that’s not how it ended…

Four days ago, my perception was that I came on this trip to GIVE and to make a difference in many lives by educating and distributing the needed tools, but in the end it was the other way around. I actually received more than what I humbly gave. What I received is not measurable and I will take it with me for the rest of my life.

This was a family lesson…

I could not wait to tell my two daughters about my experience, and how the children El Crucero are despite having just necessities. This is a great life lesson for both of them as it was for me. I am sure that will make them better human beings in the future so they grow in vocation of service to others.

If you ask me to do it again, I won’t think twice; it’s a big YES!  I got on the plane having left a piece of my heart in El Crucero and with 15 new family members. I learned something from everyone and this is going to stay with me forever.

As part of Medline’s social responsibility, employees are engaged in helping patients in communities close to home and around the world. You can partner with our teams to help improve the lives of patients.