Helping Hands Impact Stories
Mission Trip Impact
Caroline Locklin
In March 2025, Caroline Locklin, an occupational therapist at Andrews Institute Rehabilitation in Jay Hospital, visited Guyana on a Mission Trip. Helping Hands provided financial assistance to purchase the necessary medical supplies she needed to care for patients in the communities her team visited.
“During our trip, we visited two remote villages in what’s called “Region 9” of Guyana: Moco Moco Village and Kwatamang Village. Our clinic was comprised of medical doctors, registered nurses, EMTs and other professionals. We cared for a total of 292 patients during our trip.
We provided treatment for a variety of conditions including hypertension, diabetes management, pain management, arthritis, allergies, carpal tunnel, stroke, COVID, malaria and infections. We also had a benevolence table that provided hygiene kits, reading glasses, Bibles and handmade dresses for the girls.
My primary role was registering patients and pre-triaging, ensuring that more acute/serious cases were prioritized. I also provided occupational therapy services for patients needing care. I was designated as the elbow and hand OT, and through the Baptist Health Care Foundation’s Helping Hands Mission Trip program, I purchased various splints and slings for wrists, fingers and shoulders, weekly pill box sorters and plenty of crayons for the children.
During my time at registration, I was able to connect with the villagers and their children who were seeking care. We spent many hours coloring on Bible-based coloring books, talking about faith and getting to know each other as I learned the way of life in Guyana.
In the evenings, we held worship services at the church building under the ‘benab’ (chickee hut). By the final evening, we didn’t have enough seating for everyone who joined us to worship and listen to the sermon. What a blessing!
This was my second mission to Guyana, and it stuck with me that involvement of village leaders in the church is growing. It is so encouraging to see leaders of these small, remote villages seeking wisdom and guidance from God and being so involved in their community’s growth and health.
Dave Crawford
Dave Crawford, manager of pharmacy informatics, and his wife, Vicki, have been going on annual mission trips to Santa Rosita, Lima, Peru with nonprofit organization Reimagine Worldwide for more than 20 years. The Reimagine Peru team works with people in the town to help meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs. During his most recent trip, Dave and the team built five houses. They also helped with caring for medical needs, getting children school-ready, counseling and prayer sessions. Each day, the children get to experience a Vacation Bible School-type setting and recreation time where they play soccer with the American visitors and local community.
“Our goal is for the community to be as self-supporting as possible, but our organization does provide an additional safety net,” Dave said. “Many individuals, churches and other organizations provide support to Reimagine Peru. I know from seeing the organization and missions up close, that all contributions are money well spent. I can say the same for my time invested.”
Marilyn McDaniel and Laura Bass
Marilyn McDaniel, a sonographer at Baptist Hospital, and Laura Bass, a mammography technologist at Jay Hospital, joined Charity Baptist Church on a mission trip to Cuba in July 2023. During the trip, they helped run a Christian youth camp, brought medication to a church-sponsored clinic and invited the communities to participate in church services and activities. Through the Foundation’s Helping Hands program, the team was able to purchase supplies needed for the camp and over-the-counter medication that can be very difficult to find in Cuba.
“Cuba is not for the faint of heart, but the team pressed on through nine days, falling in love with the Cuban people and making lifetime friendships and memories,” Laura said. “Twelve people with a heart for missions are forever changed, and many Cuban people came to know Christ. The teens in the camp are so grateful for our team’s help, and the doctor was moved to tears when presented with four very large duffel bags full of medications and bandaging supplies. Thank you, Baptist, for your efforts in helping Cuba!”
Hannah Yager
Hannah Yager, marketing manager for Baptist, visited Peru in July 2022 with the Reimagine mission team. Over 10 days, Hannah and the mission team replaced five thatched and cardboard dwellings with wooden homes and gave away free clothing to hundreds of community members.
Hannah worked in a couple of small communities outside of the capital city of Lima. The region is mountainous, and many residents must climb hundreds of stairs daily to reach their homes at the top of the mountain. The same applies when the mission team constructs a new home. Trucks hauling building materials can only make it so far up the mountain on the steep dirt roads. After the truck has taken supplies as high as possible, the mission team and residents of the community, make a long assembly line up the stairs to the building site. They pass the pieces of the prefabricated home – walls, doors, bags of sand for the foundation – up the mountain for hours while a contracted construction team assembles the home at the build site.
“Building each home is a big job,” Hannah said. “We couldn’t do it with our small team of 20, so the whole community pitches in. It’s beautiful to see. Many people who are in need themselves pitch in to help build a house for another family.” Community members who help with the build receive a voucher for a free meal each day and a voucher to choose free clothing at the end of the week.
The region of San Juan de Lurigancho is one of Lima’s largest and poorest districts. Because the Reimagine team has been building homes in the same community for so many years, the people know and trust the teams. But, Reimagine does more than simply building houses. They have a weekly kids’ program where they worship, study the Bible and do crafts and activities. There is also a church that meets all year long, ministering to and disciplining new believers.
This was the first trip for Hannah with Reimagine, but it won’t be her last. She said that her experiences there truly blessed her compassionate heart and connection to God just as much as she touched the lives of the Peruvian community.
“Before I even left Peru, I had already decided to go back next year,” said Hannah. “I believe in my heart that more of God’s work can be done there, and I want to directly contribute physically and spiritually with these wonderful people. I am grateful to the Baptist Health Care Foundation who donated funds to help with purchasing supplies on this trip. Baptist truly cares about helping people throughout life’s journey in our community and far beyond.”
Laura Bass
Laura Bass, a Gulf Breeze Hospital Imaging team member, visited Honduras in 2019 as part of a medical missions team with Charity Baptist Church. The week-long trip consisted of six clinic days in six different villages: a medical side with three nurses and one physician, a vision side with thousands of pairs of eye glasses donated through the Lions Club and a soul winning team where one-on-one time was spent sharing the beliefs and fundamentals of Christianity with the Honduran people.
Laura worked in triage and in the pharmacy, helping to fill more than 3,000 prescriptions. “The days were long and hot and dehydrating, exhausting and sometimes discouraging, but even more rewarding and humbling – worth every second,” Laura said. “The trip was made possible because of giving and praying people, and it forever changed the hearts of so many.”
The Foundation provided funding through our Helping Hands program to provide an ample supply of children's vitamins and medication for the trip. We are grateful to Laura and her team for fulfilling our Mission of helping people throughout life’s journey.
Kathryn Howard
Kathryn Howard, healthcare recruiter at Baptist Hospital, traveled to Zambia, Africa in May 2019 to serve at New Day Orphanage, a mission organization designed to reach Zambia with the gospel of Christ and provide a Christian worldview and quality education to vulnerable orphans. New Day currently serves nearly 40 children. Through the Mission Trip program, Baptist provided school supplies for the teachers and over the counter medications and medical supplies for the nurse. The children were excited to receive Helping Hands T-shirts and drawstring bags to keep.
During her trip, Kathryn helped create a promotional video about New Day while others taught the orphanage staff and children practical skills including sewing dresses, table runners and pillowcases, as well as how to create art with wood burners. She also spent time with the children on the playground and running soccer practice.
She was able to go out into a village to assess a situation where a grandmother was asking New Day to take in her four grandchildren. Both children’s parents had died. The grandmother had only been caring for the children for a few months, but with the terrible drought and the grandmother's lack of resources, she didn't feel capable of caring for them. The children had been living some distance from their grandmother's village before she acquired them. Due to that distance and how remote the area was, the grandmother knew her grandchildren's approximate ages but had no birthday information.
The granddaughter, who was about 5 years old, had just been called 'girl' because they didn't know her given name. The missionary asked the family permission to give the girl an English name, and she is now called ‘Kathryn.’
“This was such a sweet blessing to me, and surprisingly, according to the grandmother, ‘Kathryn’ had been a family name somewhere in her lineage. I am happy to say that Kathryn and her three brothers were taken in and are now being loved on and cared for by the workers and staff of New Day. The kids were each assigned a birthday, so that they can have a special celebration each year. I've seen firsthand how the children at New Day Orphanage are growing and learning and I am confident that these four children will have a better future with the quality education and love they will receive at New Day Orphanage.”
Mini-Grants Impact
BMP 9 Mile Imaging – Bariatric IV Chair
“The imaging department at Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile received a bariatric IV chair through the 2024 Helping Hands Mini-Grants program to support improved patient flow and access. We were experiencing limitations due to weight restrictions when initiating IV access prior to positioning on the CT and MRI table, which takes up valuable scan time. Since the replacement of the IV chair, we have been able to serve all patient populations and successfully reduce the duration of our most common MRI contrast exam by 15 minutes, allowing for an increase in daily volume. Our technologists can support a process of continuous flow to rotate patients through the MRI scanner and minimize wasted scanning time.
“We are thrilled to have the support of the Foundation when service to our patients is impacted. The mini-grant has helped the imaging department improve efficiency and support access for all patient populations. We take pride in our facility and efficiency, and the equipment purchased supports our Values of Excellence and Service that we strive to provide for all our patients.”
-Gretchen Irwin, manager, imaging services, Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile
Baptist Hospital Mother-Baby Unit – Newborn Skill Trainer
Through the Helping Hands Mini-Grants program, the Mother-Baby Unit was awarded a 2024 grant to purchase a newborn skill trainer to continue developing and strengthening the skills of our nurses. By using this equipment, team members can work hands-on and hone skills including intubation, ventilation, compression, IV cannulation and umbilical catheterization.
“Having the ability to improve the training of our team members has a huge impact on patient care. Caring for the newborn patient requires a high level of knowledge. When a newborn patient has complications, the team member must have the skills, along with the knowledge, to perform successfully in this situation. By having the opportunity to train prior to an event, our nurses will be able to provide prompt, safe care for newborns in regular deliveries or in emergency situations.”
- Shannon Roesch, patient care manager, 5th floor LDRP
Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study Stretch Chair – Baptist and Gulf Breeze hospitals
The acute speech departments at Baptist and Gulf Breeze hospitals received a 2024 Helping Hands Mini-Grant to purchase a new Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study Stretch Chair to perform modified barium swallow studies on a variety of patients at all functional levels. A modified barium swallow study is a diagnostic exam that is completed in radiology to assess the patient’s ability to swallow safely and rule out or determine any aspiration risk that may be present. This exam is critical in the treatment planning process for many of our physicians and our team of speech-language pathologists to effectively treat patients with a diagnosis of dysphagia. The chair is needed to transport the patient from the room to the radiology department for the procedure.
Since the addition of the new Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study Stretch Chair, the acute speech-language pathologists have been able to provide transportation to low-level patients more consistently. The chair can raise, lower and lie flat. This has improved safety for the patient and clinician during transfers. The size of the chair has made the procedure more comfortable for the patient. The new chair is easier to steer and has made the ride much smoother for the patient. The ability to raise and lower the chair provides better alignment between the patient and tower in radiology. This has improved the accuracy and quality of images during the procedure.
“This mini-grant has helped the acute speech departments continue to serve our community and be the provider of choice. The care we provide with this needed equipment supports our Values of Ownership, Excellence and Service that we strive to demonstrate with every patient encounter.”
- Christa Newgent, director, rehabilitation services
Stand Assist Device – Jay Hospital
“We had a patient who was admitted into skilled care for 16 days. The patient required physical and occupational therapy. The patient was an 86-year-old male whose prior functioning level was partial assistance at home with a rolling walker for ambulation. The patient experienced a mechanical fall at home and required repair of his hip due to a fracture. On the patient’s initial physical therapy evaluation, he was only able to ambulate 6 feet with a rolling walker and required moderate assistance when going from sitting to standing. The patient also required multiple prompts from the physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing team for him to straighten his back and look forward rather than looking down. The patient was not able to stand for long periods of time and his knees would buckle. The physical therapy team decided to incorporate the stand assist device as part of his therapy to help build core strength, restore patient’s confidence in looking forward and improve endurance with standing. The patient was able to return home, and upon discharge, was walking 90 feet with partial assistance and a rolling walker.”
-Maggie Settles, Jay Hospital, medical unit clinical manager
Andrews Institute Rehabilitation, Baptist Medical Park - 9 Mile – GameReady Device
Andrews Institute Rehab provides therapy services to our community addressing their diverse therapeutic needs. At our BMP 9 Mile clinic, we serve a large patient population with post-surgical needs consisting of spine, shoulder, elbow, hand, knee and ankle/foot conditions. Due to the high volume of post operative patients attending this clinic, the staff requested a GameReady vasopneumatic compression device and Graston soft tissue mobility tools.
GameReady is a device that uses joint-based garments to apply full circumferential coverage to an associated joint, helping patients dealing with increased swelling, a common byproduct of surgical interventions, and pain. Using an ice water reservoir and intermittent compression pump, the device is able to aid in pushing fluid away from the area, as well as cryotherapy (ice) principles to reduce edema even further, ultimately speeding up the patient’s recovery. It has been shown to reduce joint temperatures better than any other device or traditional methods on the market.
The Graston soft tissue mobility tools help aid in reducing scar tissue which ultimately improves range of motion, pain and function. Our clinicians undergo a certification course in the techniques and principle of treatment for the Graston tools. However, we did not have a complete set of tools, which limited our clinicians from providing the best care possible. With the addition of these new tools, we can treat areas previously difficult to assess with other treatment techniques.
Since adding these items to the clinic, the Andrews Institute physical therapy team has been able to consistently provide these needed services and associated treatments without having to triage /adjust treatment plans. These items are utilized daily within the clinic affecting approximately 8 to 12 patients a day.
- Will Coggin, manager, therapy services, Andrews Institute Rehabilitation, Baptist Medical Park - 9 Mile
Baptist Medical Group Primary Care – RetinaVue® 700 Imager
“Eyesight is one of the most precious gifts we have. It allows us to see the beauty of the world, to communicate with others and to enjoy our daily activities. However, many people with diabetes may also suffer from vision problems that can affect their quality of life and well-being. Some of these problems can be prevented or treated, but others may lead to irreversible blindness. That is why saving eyesight is so important.
With the mini-grant we received from the Foundation, we were able to purchase the RetinaVue® 700 Imager. This new equipment allows us to obtain images of the patient’s retina at the time of service when they see a Primary Care provider and then receive the interpretation results from the RetinaVue® ophthalmology network within 24 hours. This service acts as a method of screening for retinal disease in patients who have otherwise healthy eyes and don’t normally visit an ophthalmologist. Using this new equipment, we can help our patients save their eyesight so they can take in a view of a sunset, or even watch their grandchildren play in little league.
Saving eyesight is a compassionate act that benefits ourselves and others. It is a way of showing gratitude for the gift of sight and respect for the dignity of every human being. It is a way of making the world a brighter and better place.”
-Emily Purvis, Baptist Medical Group population health program manager
Adoption Impact
Marcella Scapecchi-Matei and Grayson
Marcella Scapecchi-Matei, corporate sterile processing manager for Baptist and Gulf Breeze hospitals, and her husband recently adopted their grandson, Grayson. Marcella was able to use the Helping Hands adoption assistance program to support her family during this time.
“We’ve have had him since he came home from the hospital. Like many grandparents, due to circumstances beyond our control, we found ourselves raising a child in our late ‘50s. I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to raise him through all the turmoil; he has brought immense joy to our lives. While most people will tell us, ‘Children keep you young,’ and they do, but they also keep you focused on the joys of a child through their experiences. The best thing about this adoption is that Grayson feels secure in knowing that he has two real parents that love and cherish him.”
Anna Kisor and Janae
“On Sept. 3, 2020, we were matched with 5-year-old Janae. She moved in Oct. 1, 2020, and we finalized her adoption on Oct. 4, 2021. After struggling with years of infertility, we were open to other ways of growing our family. Every day at work I would walk by the pictures of children waiting to be adopted hanging on the wall in the corridor from the towers to the hospital. I shared the strong pull my heart felt with my husband, and we agreed to proceed down the path of adoption.
We worked with FamiliesFirst Network with hopes to help kids in our immediate community. Our journey to adoption took approximately one year, which allowed us to really see what our family would look like. Adoption is both rewarding and challenging, but in the end worth all the ups and downs. We have so much fun together as a family, enjoying traveling, sports, outdoor adventures and spending time on the water. Even though we missed the early years, we cherish every “first” we are able to experience together.
Jason and I were able to fulfill our desire to grow our family, and Janae was able to find her forever home. We appreciate the support of the Helping Hands program and the Baptist Health Care Foundation through this process.”
- Anna Kisor, Baptist specialty pharmacy manager