Update on Sr. Jose

I have written before about Sr. Jose, an elderly patient at the clinic that we have had for some time now. I have spent quite a few days (countless hours in lines!) at Hospital Regional-one of the public hospitals in Trujillo. (Think Earl K Long, just with less equipment, endless lines, Spanish, and sandy floors. yikes!) He had had an enormous hernia for months but his public insurance had expired. He had given up and was in so much pain from his assortment of problems. He had just settled into the fact that he was gonna die. He just wanted to see what palliative therapy we could provide...antibiotics, pain meds, anything. But Karina started on his case and got his papers updated at the Posta and since Dr. Pinas (Jefe de la Posta en Wichanzo-the local health clinic) is filling in in the Consultorio he just filled out the papers there. And so after obtaining a referencia we were ready to face the hospital. The ironic thing is, to get anything done you have to meet several conditions that are rare in sick desperate folks-patience, money, strength and knowing when where and how to work the system (that was a bit of a learning curve, but I got it now! For once being a 130 lb 22 y/o white girl worked in my favor!). But really....it wiped me out all that standing and waiting, and during the week of tests and papers that we had to work through. Even when there was a chair Sr. Jose couldn't sit because of his hernia and prostate issues.

The most ironic thing about this experience is that we assume that the poor have all the time in the world for waiting in lines. I mean they don't have anything else to do right? They are getting a "free" service aren't they? NO. Of all people the poor are those who can not afford to wait. Those 5 hours waiting to get a stamp were precious moments for cooking menus, selling newspapers, and collecting plastic or whatever else was the business of the day. There goes the days work for the family...now what are we going to eat tonight? And if you need an operation and have to miss a week of work... what then?

For folks like Sr. Jose these are real concerns. I know because 2 days after his operation I went to go give him a shot at his house only to find out that he had left early that morning to work! He is an 81 y/o man who has had an operation, has a Foley catheter and is traveling across town in crowded public transportation to Ermelinda-one of the most dangerous open air markets in town- to sell his 10 centimo caramellos (3 cent candies). After I chastise him, he gestures with his fingers to his mouth "Pero mamacita! Si no trabajo yo, de dooonndee viene esto? mi pancito?" (But little mama! If I don't work, where is my little bread gonna come from??) That's a great question isn't it.

Sr. Jose is going to get another operation for his prostate this week I hope. I am getting up early tomorrow to take him again and if there are beds we will do the papers, get him in a bed and the next morning they will operate. (Once you are 'in' they are quick! ha) The public system paid for most of the last one, we just had to buy a few things but basically when all is said and done...both surgeries, all of the pain meds, the Foley catheter, the malla (a mesh covering that prevents the hernia from reoccurring) everything will cost $200 USD. That's it. For 2 operations, care and food. You may be thinking why would you waste money on a little old man like that? He's gonna die in a few years anyway... Well yeah, but we are all going to die, and none of us know when. And there are tons of reasons. First of all this man has no other medical problems and apart from what is going on right now he could out work and walk just about anyone! (In fact on the way to his house this afternoon I found him in the bottom of the garbage dump next to his house emptying his catheter bladder. I had to carefully climb down there to get to him, its quite the slope! and not something you want to fall in :p) Also this has been a time to get to know him and his comadre (He sleeps in the front room of the house of a Senora who has two young girls...they have been friends for years and she helps him out, he gives her platita/a little money when he can) He has had an interesting life. He is from Cajamarca, where he remembers milking cows and making cheese. His mother passed away when he was 7, and has had 3 years of school. His only recuerdo (memory) of his father was when he slapped a sole into his hand early one morning in front of a bakery where he was drinking. He is thankful for the schooling he received because he said all they did was read books-and he says now because of that he can learn anything. In fact he is still learning. Patty has caught him reading his encyclopedia, one of the only things he owns. He has even surprised me with some English! (Sky is the latest word) It has also been quite the witness to him as well as the family he lives with and the whole block really (In Peruvian fashion they were all quite curious and nosy as to why we would want to do such a thing). We have had hours of conversations about the church, Jesus, what is the Iglesia Presbiteriana (haha #1 question...Yeah, Presbyterians..you guys are Catholics right??) and why we are here. What an opportunity for the Gospel, good theology, and good to our fellow man. Thank you all for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to be here. It has truly been a pleasure to serve this man, and humbling to be thanked by him, and to remind him that I am merely a fleeting instrument of God's grace here and He has a plan that is being worked out.
And as Sr. Jose says "En mi pobreza siempre me gusta la amistad. Deseo lo mejor para ti en tus estudios. Si pudiera abrir mi corazon, yo le daria a usted. Pero no puedo jaja. Cuando vas a clase en su primer dia de estudio en Alabama, acuerdate de mi..Millones de gracias."

It is worth the 200 bucks. That's 3 Friday nights of babysitting...nothing! I hope to find him selling cheap candy in the market a few years from now. If you remember, pray for us this week and the next because this operation is gonna be tough. Several days in the hospital...they do it old school here. No laparoscopy or lasers...cut it up, drag it out. Although I am sure they have a cute little abbreviation for that :)

**And btw another bit of great news!! I have been thinking for a while about how we can fund things like this for those patients that we have that are truly in need and dont have other resources. We had a Clinic/Church fund in Wichanzao of 100 soles every month (33 USD!). This is a fund especially for patients, nothing else. It comes from Clinic consults and med sales in the pharmacy as well as offerings in church. Its a start, but not nearly meeting the needs we see every day. Dale Ellison (my boss, jefe de la Clinica, fellow missionary extraordinaire) created a special account through the Christian Missionary Society that is tax deductible (Rebbecca will send you the receipt!). This money will pay for medicines, ultrasounds, blood and parasite tests, operations, you name it. I keep reciepts for everything we do so if you ever want to see where the money goes, it an open book!
So if its burning a hole in your pocket send it. ;)