And yet another month has flown by. Only one month left before I am back in the States. But I’m guessing you’re wondering what I’ve been up to these past weeks. Well, basically the same old things I have been doing over the past five months. A lot of phone calls to patients, going to consults, and a lot of driving people around.
But more specifically… Another patient will stay with me for a long time. Don Juan came to the clinic in bad medical condition, very thin and jaundice. The same steps were taken with him as with any other patient: one specialist, some labs and meds, another specialist, more procedures and more meds. But at least Don Juan wasn’t alone. Everywhere he went, his supportive and cooperative family followed to make sure things were done the right way and in a timely manner, a real rarity here. The thing that stuck with me the most is how grateful his family was, even after exhausting days of running around town from hospital to hospital. The expression on their faces as they told me how much they appreciated our help just made their words that much more impacting. Unfortunately, it was determined he had liver cancer. A week later we received a phone call from the family with the devastating news that Don Juan had passed away. It’s families like his, even though there are few (and too many that frustrate), that keep you wanting to help everyone. Every once in a while there’s a family like that that makes the frustrating and hard job worthwhile.
But good news! Hopefully you remember Valeri, the little girl with very bad scoliosis. Well after this long wait, we finally found a solution! (well… almost) She was seen by a French orthopedic surgeon, a friend of the Bolivian specialist who saw her before in Santa Cruz. It’s a good possibility that we will be sending her to France to get her surgery! Very few surgeons dare do the surgery she needs. And the equipment is very specialized; they even need a machine that controls her nerves as they move her spine into place. And on top of that it will be through a foundation that covers all the costs of surgery, even better for both her family and us. I am very excited for her!
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