Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would be delivering a baby in the middle of the Amazon River in Peru!! But I did and I had the most amazing, magical experience of my life while volunteering with the Amazon Hope Medical programme in November 2023.

Initially when my friend asked me to join them on this trip I was very apprehensive as I had never travelled very far and I was scared of most things, planes, piranhas, snakes and spiders!! I knew this trip was going to put me way out my comfort zone, I am so glad I pushed myself to go.

The support the Vine Trust team provides is exceptional, from providing the initial trip information, advising about fundraising, booking flights and hotels and providing a local guide to look after you in Iquitos. The team has it covered, this gave me a real sense of safety, they really want to look after their volunteers and give them a great experience.

The journey was lengthy with a few days travel but when we arrived in Iquitos we were given a very warm welcome by the locals and our wonderful guide, Frank. We had only one full day to acclimatise to the jungle city. We had a fun filled day exploring Iquitos, visiting Belen market, an animal rescue centre and a butterfly farm. The highlight for me was getting to drive the river boat down the Amazon.

The next day we travelled to the ship where Doctor Ronald gave us a warm welcome and spent a few hours orienting us to the medical programme and the new electronic records system. The ship itself is very comfortable with two berth cabins which are very cosy with their own lockers, shower and toilets. The food was provided by an excellent chef who provided us with delicious meals three times a day. Nobody went hungry!

Following our orientation, filled with a mixture of fear and excitement, we had our first clinic that afternoon. This was a shock to the system with many patients waiting to be seen, but we adapted to our new working environment very quickly with the help of the Peruvian team and translators. I spent each day working in the midwife's room with a UK G.P and a translator. Often the whole family comes in for the consultation, we saw many common ailments and provided vitamins and anti-parasite medications for all the family. I provided care for many pregnant women, carrying out routine antenatal checks or presentation scanning with the onboard ultrasound scanner. Postnatal care was also provided for many women. I saw one woman with a postnatal infection and was able to provide treatment with antibiotic and sanitary products. I also met a woman who has recently lost her newborn baby and was able to offer emotional support along with a postnatal check.

Early one morning, before breakfast a woman in advanced labour came on board the ship. I was privileged to help her deliver a big bouncy baby girl, who entered the world with a cry. However, the mother went on to develop complications. We were able to provide immediate lifesaving care with limited resources, to stabilise her prior to her being transferred to a hospital in Iquitos via a sea plane. Towards the end of the trip we received the news that both Mummy and Baby were doing well following several days care in hospital, both then returned to the jungle.

This experience has had a huge impact on me personally and professionally, I feel that I have gained confidence in both areas of my life. I have developed new skills and ideas to take back into my own work place, a large maternity unit in central Scotland. I have gained great insight into how other care systems work and have seen first-hand some of the health inequalities that remote communities face and what can or could be done to improve outcomes for these families.

It was not all work time, each morning we had the opportunity to visit the local community or take a jungle walk. The local people are extremely welcoming and happy to show you their cultures and traditions. We danced with local children and were even invited into a home for some refreshments, with our guide keeping us safe. Each evening we enjoyed some free time. Many of the team enjoyed football with the local villagers, this could become very competitive. Or for those who wanted to be less active, we played board games and made friends with the Peruvian team. There was also an opportunity to learn some traditional dances or a bit of salsa with Doctor Ronald, who turned out to be a great dancer!

This trip was the experience of a lifetime and has changed my life for the better. It has given me a taste for travel and volunteering in these remote communities and I'm desperate to do more. The Vine Trust certainly does change lives by connecting people.