Expedition Medicine – My journey to Raleigh

It was pouring down with rain but we were trekking on regardless, in the middle of the Borneo’s spectacular jungle. I had at least a few leeches sucking the blood out of me and we were soaking wet, hungry but still laughing. I heard the girls at the front shouting my name looked up the line to the front of the group. One of our venturers was sitting on the ground, crying in pain. I shuffled past my group on the narrow path up to where the venturer was sitting and began my assessment. I couldn’t believe it was me, there, in the middle of the jungle, using my skills and limited resources to carry out medical care in such a remote environment. It was such a contrast to where I had started out in my career.

It was while I was working in an ICU department in Saudi Arabia I knew I really needed a change, something new that would be exciting but also meaningful. I thought there must be a way to combine my job with something more inspirational and challenging. I chatted to a friend who had done some previous volunteering working and she mentioned that I should look into being a medic on a Raleigh expedition. I had heard of the Expedition Medicine course and thought this would help me find out more about being an expedition medic and give me the skills I would need to complete my own expedition. It was then my friend and I decided to travel back to the UK during our holidays and complete the Expedition Course together.

The Expedition Medicine course was exactly what I was looking for. Something inspiring, practical, motivational and totally different from the work that I was used to. I remember the talks from the guest speaker who had climbed Everest as part of the first expeditions and also from Sean Hudson. Sean talked about his time on a Raleigh expedition and a part of me really wanted to have similar stories and another part had a bit of fear of being well out of my comfort zone. All the talk of being out in the middle of a jungle, with minimal kit and part of a group of young individuals had me captivated and I knew I would easily overcome my fears and my sense of adventure took over.

Then before I knew it, there I was in the jungle organising a medivac for my venturer and my career in expedition medicine had started. I have had many challenges during my expeditions including talking a very apprehensive member of staff how to relocate a shoulder over a HF radio to getting a young venturer admitted to ICU for Dengue fever. However, my most memorable moment on expedition was assisting with deliver of a baby in Northern Nicaragua which was named Carolina after me, a proud moment for all!

Not only have I gained new medical skills but I was able to do so much more. I lead a group of young people through the jungle, I shared the skills I had and learned a whole lot more, I assisted with the logistics, I helped to organise a changeover where we got everyone in and out of projects in a chaotic but successful style and most important of all, I made friends for life.

From the moment when I was standing in my normal job and decided to do something amazingly different, my life has changed dramatically. I have travelled through many countries, moved to a brand new place, found new inspiration and now the new job of Medical Coordinator at Raleigh. Whether it is ensuring the safety of venturers on their expeditions or assisting medics starting their expedition careers I have the privilege of being able to assist others in reaching their goals.