In a country of seven million people, where quality medical care is scarce and often unaffordable, one Clarkston resident has dedicated herself to doing what she can to make a difference.
Every February for the past nine years, Maureen Tippen has travelled to the Dominican Republic for a week, as part of the Midwest Medical Mission.
The nearly 30-year-old nonprofit organization, based out of Toledo, Ohio, has been providing medical care to the Dominican Republic since 1985, and prior, to Haiti.
Tippen, a clinical professor of nursing at The University of Michigan-Flint, where she has taught for nine years, and pediatric nurse since 1978, travels with a group of 25 to 30 volunteers which include medical professionals and translators.
It was her children’s pediatrician, Dr. James Shaya of Premiere Pediatrics in Clarkston, who suggested she go with Midwest, and gave her a number and name to contact.
That was nearly 10 years ago, shortly after she and husband Andy Kerr moved back to Michigan after 10 years in New York.
“Every year it’s a culture shock,” Tippen, 47 and a mother of two, said. “The poverty is shocking. The needs are overwhelming. It never gets easy.”
Upon arrival, the team of volunteers set up a medical clinic and surgical suite usually within a rundown, vacant public hospital.
“We bring everything. Everything,” she reiterated. “Even water.”
A massive crowd of people will gather outside.
“There will be hundreds of people standing in line waiting for us. They put their best clothes on when they come to see us. Girls will have on these frilly dresses. And they try to be clean.”
The masses will be so thick, it’s hard for the volunteers to make their way into the building. To get through, they must put their arms straight up in the air and walk single file through the sea of patients. As they walk, the Dominican people tug at the professionals to help them.
“But we’re only there a week and there’s only so much you can do.”
In a week, the team performs approximately 60 to 100 surgeries.
“Most of the illnesses we see are untreated, chronic problems. For the children, instead of an ear infection, you will see discharge running out of the ear. Senior citizens will have ulcers on their legs.”
Parasitic and fungal infections on the people’s feet are most common, since they do not wear shoes.
This spurred Tippen on to collecting shoes, among other items, for the people.
Often a Dominican child will not have a pair of shoes until age four or five. Many times children are seen wearing their parents’ shoes, sizes too big. Other times, a family will share one pair of shoes, Tippen said.
All year long Tippen collects shoes, as well as medical supplies, vitamins, toys and more, filling up her barn and garage with the items.
She’ll often stock up when a store is have clearance sales or make garage sale purchases.
“After Christmas you can’t park in the garage because of all the stuff.”
She must collect only new or gently worn shoes. “They have to be in good condition because I know these people will be wearing them forever,” Tippen, who grew up in Waterford, said. “A lot of times the shoes don’t fit, but they take them anyway. They say, ‘They fit.’ A lot of times it’s the first pair of shoes they’ve owned. They’re thrilled.”
Preparing for her annual trips has really been a community effort, she said.
“St. Dan’s (Tippen’s church) is very supportive. They have been wonderful collecting medications and with financial support. The parishoners have been very gracious.”
An avid runner and member of the Wolf Pack Running Club in Clarkston, Tippen is friends with Paul Coughlin, owner of The Running Gear store in Waterford, who has donated t-shirts and shoes each year.
This year students at Springfield Plains Elementary, where Tippen’s children attended, are collecting shoes as well.
“One thing I find every year is the generosity of the people in the community. And from people who don’t even know me.”
One year a counselor at Independence Elementary saw in an announcement in the church newsletter Tippen was seeking donations . This resulted in a school-wide drive, where students collected an abundance of items including 1,000 Beanie Babies.
“They had all this stuff. I started crying. I couldn’t believe how much they collected and they don’t even know me. That kind of generosity, it overwhelms me.”
Two weeks before the volunteers leave in Febuary, Tippen holds a “packing party” at her home. Everybody travelling gets a military-style duffle bag and packs them full of supplies, shoes and goodies collected from the year.
Even the clothes the volunteers bring with them for the week, they leave behind, returning with only the outfit on their backs.
On one trip, during the last day Midwest would in the Dominican Republic, Tippen met a 12-year-old boy.
“This little guy and his dad were waiting in line a long time. They were second in line,” Tippen remembers. “He had a whopping ear infection.”
Tippen treated the boy. She noticed he was wearing shoes too big for him.
“I looked and he had about my size feet. I always give my shoes away on the last day.” So, Tippen gave the boy her shoes.
“He looked at me and grabbed my arm. His look was with such great appreciation. I said, ‘That’s it.’” She had to leave and began to cry.
“It happens every year. It’s that one kid, one family that makes the difference and that’s all it takes, just one. You can’t be sobby, you have to be strong. To be that way, sometimes it’s difficult. You see someone begin to falter, and you just say, go take a break.”
Eventually everyone is affected.
“It’s very humbling. I find myself being much more of a recycler. I’ll be yelling, ‘Don’t throw away that Ziplock bag, we can reuse that,’” Tippen laughs. “I also have a greater appreciation for the wealth here.”
This year, Tippen, who usually takes students with her each year, is taking someone extra special. Her 16-year-old daughter, Anna Kerr, who will help with the Spanish translation. “I told her in eighth grade if she stuck with Spanish, I’d take her when she was 16.”
Tippen says she plans to continue with Midwest “’til the day I die. I know I’m doing the right thing.”