It's all Good News

I am very glad to report some news that one of the clinic patients, Milagritos, received recently.....she is cancer free!!! Considering the odds that this girl has faced it is quite exciting to receive this news. One year ago she had a rapidly growing ovarian germ cell tumor (which weighed several kilos) and has been through surgery, scary nights in hospitals, countless needles and many rounds of chemo. Thank you to all who prayed for her and sent something in to the patient fund. A Dios sea la Gloria!!!

Also, I will be returning to Peru in December for a visit after a few hard months of school in Birmingham (Surgical Physician Assistant program). I have only been here for 2 or 3 weeks and have already learned un monton (a ton)! I am so thankful to be here, even more so after my time in Peru...I can't wait to get back!


In the meantime, you can follow more clinic news here, on the Medical Missions new blog on the Peru Mission website.


And I am collecting supplies to bring back with me at Christmas time!! Small gloves, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, any OTC meds..., parasite meds if you have those available to you! Anything is helpful!!

Peru Mission Print Bulletin for June....courtesy of my fellow intern Heidi!

http://riseandcome.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/june-printbulletin.pdf

Back in the EEUU

Well most of you know that I returned home safely from Peru about 2 weeks ago. I have been sick (bronchitis or something….but don’t worry, my TB test came back negative!) but am doing well otherwise. I am back living on Ivanhoe and started summer school at LSU. Also I have been getting ready to go to Birmingham for school this fall and filling out loan applications, medical clearance forms and all of the other necessities. It has been an interesting and busy 2 weeks….things have changed here a bit and on top of that even the things that are the same I just have a different outlook on them now.

I think one of the most important lessons I learned this year, or rather something that I have a renewed appreciation for are the innumerable blessings that I have been given. Everything from friends and family to water that I can drink out of the faucet and the hair on my head. Life here is so much easier and we are so lucky despite the things that life weighs us down with!

Un poco mas de Cusco y el Valle Sagrado de los Incas

llamas and lambs on the bus...market ladies en Pisac

Sacsayhuamán
La Plaza en Cusco
Machu Picchu...it means Old Mountain in Quechua



Ollantaytambo...where the Inca Trail starts








Maras/las Salinas...the natural salt spring mine in Moray

Adventures at Ausangate

Keller and I left Cuzco a few day ago (mainly because I was tired of western tourists...but also becuase I have wanted to see this mountain for over a year..) So we packed up our backpacks and headed out without plans for a bit of adventure. We arrived in Tinki in the afternoon. Tinki is the last outpost of civilization aka last flushing toilets and market. Freddy our bus driver recommended a family who leads the 4 and 8 day treks around the range. He dropped us at the door. We were told by Aurturo that his Dad (the guia) was in Cuzco picking up a group of Slovakians so we put out stuff up in a room and took a walk around town (aka 3 blocks up and down a single street) where we ran into the Presidente of the parks horsemen association. They have certain rules about entering the park with the intention of improving services and conserving the parks resources. There are hundreds of men in this group and they have basically self organised into a group that pays a multa of $86 or so (you could look at it as a tax..) which pays for maintaining the trails for the horses. which is vital to their clients saftey and comfort. and of course....the clients are the ones who end up paying it anyway right? and there really is no way around it since everyone is on board with the association. also they have agreed to not do trips for less than 4 days (you arent even supposed to enter the park). of course once I started to explain that we didnt have time for the trek he offered me a ¨special deal¨ of 2 days for 150 USD since he was the president. In the end though we went with Aurturo-the 15 y/o son of the guide whose house we were staying in. We couldnt have had a happier guide...he was trying to talk his Mom into letting him take us but she said he had school. Of course I chimed in that it was Friday..so we had two full days. After settling on 20 soles a day plus food we crawled into our dark cold room to sleep till 4 when we would head out...

We ended up walking for two days with Aurturo and his 11 year old friend, Clever, who lives up in the mountains. His whole family lives there and they have sheep, vicunas, llamas and horses...as well as trout which are grown in huge nets in a 'llaguna' nearby. Clever grew up exploring these lands and we had a lot of fun climbing around with them, fishing, and just taking in the landscape which is just breathtaking. We even found some gold and copper when we were walking the moraine up to the glacier! There were also hot springs to swim in. I have been in a few of these over the past year but this one had the best view by far!!! It was right at the foot of Mt Ausangate. After finishing the trek we got up early one morning and walked down about 10k to Tinki to try to catch a bus to Cuzco...while waiting we decided to go watch some local soccer games we saw going on and got there just in time to see the girls play! I have never seen girls play in sandals...and huge skirts like this! It was very entertaining!

Cuzco

Well Keller and I are in Cuzco! We went to see Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley...it is beautiful here but all I want to do is go back to Trujillo!! I miss everyone and the thought of all of the despedidas and goodbyes that are gong on right now makes me a little sad! But we are here for 4 more days so got to make the best of where you are right!? I am going out to find some nice big mountains...that always makes me feel better :) More photos of MP and Cuzco are forthcoming...

Don Jose turns 81

My morning started at 5 am when I got up to go with Kelly to the airport to see her off back to the states...I am really sad to see her leave but so thankful for her time here. I have so much respect for her and think she is an amazing girl! We are going to miss her smile and cheerful spirit!

After the airport, Dale dropped me off on the Pan Americana and I flagged down a taxi to go pick up Don Jose at his house out at the edge of Wichanzao. Unfortunately they recently put new (loose) sand on top of the old (sand!) road so we couldn't get to the house. I had to get out and walk to his house, get him and walk back to the taxi. Thankfully the taxista waited for us (although I am sure it was only because I promised him 4 extra soles). We got to the Hospital and met Patty who had been waiting since 6am or so in line for a ticket. We were still number 11! But as usual we went in first. Lets just say the urologist has mentioned...several times..that he wants to marry me. I don't have any idea where that came from!...Anyway after a few more lines to reserve and pay for appointments and pick up some path reports we were back on our way out to the Clinic where the staff was preparing a small surprise party for Don Jose. This is the 3rd time in his life that he can remember celebrating his birthday!

Paso a paso

We are always learning something (even if it is from a chicken leg)! Today Julton gave a lecture on suturing. Most everything I had heard before (thanks to Mom and surg in the vet clinic!) but I did learn a new stitch!

Feliz Cumple Elías!

Ana's big brother Elías turned 4 yesterday, so we went to his birthday party! When everyone was lined up to kiss the birthday boy (as is the custom) one little girl gave him the only present he received and the rest of the time he was trying to escape and run to his room to open it, hehe. So cute! Ana is now able to sit unassisted in a chair so she just sat back to watch the fun!

Don Jose is getting out of the Hospital tomorrow at 11am. Kelly, Patty and I have been visiting and making sure he has everything he needs (countless pharmacy runs!). He is eating and feeling okay. He says he is ready to get out of there and eat a duck!