As part of their visit to Recife, Park University nursing students toured IMEC, a public cancer hospital. (Left) Sherry Portz demonstrates proper oral hygiene with Megan East. Kimberly Maish and Anthony Koertner examine cancer prosthetics. Nursing Professor Beverly South (center) listens while a doctor describes how she uses different pigmentation for prosthetics.

Park's students nurses not only taught class, they visited several Recife area hospitals. Reporter LaToya Williams files this report.Video

3/8/06

By Al'Lavee Miller

           The tapioca colored room is filled with Park University’s nursing students and people of the Pau Amarelo Community. Some nurses are demonstrating while others are listening.  A mixed crowd of the old and the young males and females sit in a semi-circle in white plastic chairs absorbing information.  The audience is wide-eyed while taking translated notes.  The wind lightly blows through the cinder block walls adding relief to the faces glowing with sweat.  At the front of the class stand two nurses.  The two review women’s health issues.  Just looking at the two, one can obviously tell the physical difference between them, but there’s a difference one cannot see.  Just under a white sweaty tank top lies that difference.  The difference is a lump on the right breast of one of the nurses.  The nurse is Sherry Portz.

            Portz found the lump one day after giving herself a breast examination.  Was it cancerous or not?  She was under the impression if the lump did not hurt it is not cancerous.  After research, Portz learned all cancerous lumps did not hurt.

            “I didn’t have any signs of cancer,” Portz says. “They think because of the hormone replacement therapy, it may have caused a cyst.”  Hormone replacement therapy was needed after Portz under went a hysterectomy.  Luckily, the lump was not cancerous.  But this lump helped women of the Pau Amerelo Community better understand what an actual breast with a lump felt like.  Portz allowed herself to become a live prop.  The women were originally touching and trying to find lumps on a type of breast mannequin.

Portz was able to aid this community by enrolling in the nursing program at Park University this past August.  Before enrolling she held many positions in the medical field. 

“It was kind of a calling I think,” Portz says.  She has been in the medical profession off and on since 1988.  She started as a nurse’s aid and medical assistant in a nursing home.  She has also worked in the physical therapy field and as a dental assistant.  Now in Brazil, this opportunity may lead to her doing more humanitarian work.

            “I saw this as an opportunity to start something that’s lifelong for us,” Portz says.  “Maybe do it once a year.”

            The days are hot and long, and the nursing group teaches two sessions a day.  Each rotates and teaches the classes.  Before arriving in Brazil, they had to research each topic and decide who will teach what subject.  What is being taught is a variety of classes from basic hygiene to more serious health issues.

            “They need to be an advocate for themselves,” Portz says.  “You’ve got to open your mouth and take control of your health.”  All the things that are being taught the nurses hope the people will retain and use the information in their daily lives.  “I’m hoping to teach them, and they teach others.”  Portz adds, “educate them so they can educate their young.”

            Portz and the rest of the nurses’ time working with the community ends March 10^th.  On the long flight home, Portz may wonder if she’s done any good.  Assistant Professor of Nursing, Beverly South describes Portz as being “…very concerned that they learn what she teaches.”