PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla — This week’s ‘Hometown Hero’ has dedicated her life to helping those in need in our community, but her impact is also being felt way beyond the borders of Palm Beach County.
For the last two years Bri Freeman has traveled to Africa to help improve access to proper medical care there.
The orthopedic nurse at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center was recently honored by her colleagues for her incredible efforts abroad.
Bri says the ceremony came as quite a surprise, but after talking with her for just a few minutes, it’s easy to see just how deserving she is of the recognition.
“I love when the day is crazy and I don’t get to sit down and I love the adrenaline rush,” Bri says. “I’m assistant nursing manager, so all the patients on this floor are mine. I love assisting my nurses. I love the fact that they feel comfortable coming to me whenever they need help. I love everything.”
She can’t help but smile talking about her patients and coworkers and the work she does every day at the hospital.
It’s a passion that started as far back as she can remember.
“I was in hospitals a lot throughout high school. My sister died of an overdose. I had grandparents who had cancer, and it was really the nurses who were there with my family, in and out, who really knew everything about my family, so that made me go forward with nursing.”
Now, Bri is living out her dream here at home and thousands of miles away in Tanzania where she volunteers on a medical mission every year, helping promote women’s health and safe births.
“I started teaching postpartum hemorrhage there because I don’t know the exact statistics, but close to 49% of women die there from postpartum hemorrhage, so we teach hands on fundal massage and everything else relating to that,” Bri explains.
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The group also collects supplies throughout the year to bring with them on the trip.
“We have people crocheting blankets, hats, getting onesies, diapers, chucks, because they don’t have the medical supplies that we have over here,” Bri says. “We’re also bringing gloves and gauze and anything else they might need because they’re actually having babies on metal tables, and so it’s not as comfortable, and they’re all in one room.”
Bri also started a CPR program there last year where she teaches healthcare workers how to perform the lifesaving skill.
“They didn’t realize it can be a real skill to save a life so last year, after we taught it, we had a doctor come up to us who was so excited, and said, ‘we saved a life, we saved a life, we did CPR and saved a life,’ and that was really rewarding to hear.”
Bri says seeing the differences between the healthcare system in Africa and here in America was eye opening the first time she went over. It’s what drives her to keep going back and help educate the workers there, it’s also what brings her a deep sense of gratitude every time she comes home.
“I tell everybody that going to Tanzania is like washing my palate. It reminds me of what we have here and how grateful we should be. So that’s how it feels. It’s like a cleansing almost.”
Bri says they also do a school visit when they’re over there where they focus on hygiene and nutrition and provide kids with backpacks full of school supplies.
She leaves for her third mission on Friday and says they are always in need of monetary contributions.
If you’re interested in learning more about the nonprofit Bri travels with, visit their website here.
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