Monday, April 9, 2012

Emergency Room and Eye Surgeries make day go fast!



Friends and Family,

Our first day with the Eye doctors from the North West has indeed gone very fast. Patients came in vehicles, bus, and on foot. The gift of sight is something we all take for granted until our vision fades. This opportunity for most of our patients is truly a GIFT. A minimal charge of 100 dollars is what we request for cataract surgery. Most can pay but many from the mountain villages cannot pay the entire amount and it is waived. In some instances a patient would pay nothing. Last night one of our first patients to arrive, came hungry, and without any money for care or services. We provided food, a bed, consult, and eye meds; surgery was not required at this time but perhaps in October. The doctors and Nurses worked until 7pm in the operating room; Thank you Tim, Aaron and Patrick, Connie and Shelley! Dr Joe, and Fred worked consult on the second floor of our clinic, with nurses Rosie and Sr. Mary, choosing the patients for surgery and providing eye medicines to others. The eye surgery patients stay 24 hours, with a family member. They will be discharged in the morning following a checkup and return in ten days for followup.

We are blessed to have the colaboration of the Guatemalan Ministry of Health Eye program to accompany our visiting doctors. They provide an Opthamologic Resident, Dr Jorge; Social Worker, Zoila; and Auxiliar nurse, Luis, to accompany our team. THANKS!

Our own Doctor Ever held regular consult with a full load of patients and three emergencies!
One of our young insulin dependent diabetics, who was scheduled for removal of a second cataract, came in crisis! a glucose of 596, severe diarrhea for three days, anemia, and malnutrition. He is recovering as an in patient and we hope will be able to have his cataract removed later in the week. A Motor cycle accident brought a man with a broken arm who was sent to the National hospital and a severe wound from the sharp instrument of a field worker came with sever loss of blood and shock. He was sutured and given intravenous fluids and rest in emergency room for several hours. Our charges are minimal and we do depend on the generosity of friends and family to serve these beautiful people.

HEALTH CARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLE AND WE MUST ALL STRUGGLE THAT THIS IS A REALITY FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS! THANK YOU FOR HELPING US PROVIDE THIS CARE IN OUR MISSION OF THE DIOCESE OF HELENA MONTANA!!

Attached a photo of our Doctor attending field worker with deep wound and our visiting doctors in the operating room on first day of Eye Sugeries in the Clinica Maxeña¡
Donate on line for the CLINICA MAXEÑA at:
http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Missiona-c10