We're moving!

Our Peru Mission website now has to capability to host our blog, so we are moving there! please follow this link to stay up to date
http://www.perumission.org/medical-ministry-blog/
thanks!

Señora Victoria

After taking a couple of weeks off, last Friday we resumed our weekly home visits to patients whose cases and circumstances we have been following. Dr. Julton was out of town, but Noemí and Lydia visited Señora Victoria, an 83-year-old lady who lives nearby in Wichanzao. The clinic has been caring for Victoria about 4 months now, and Friday Noemí gave her a shot and some medications to ease muscular and pelvic pain that has been plaguing her for some time now.

In addition to the physical pain, Sra. Victoria is also suffering from some depression and anxiety for her son, whom she sees infrequently. He does not maintain dependable contact with her, so she is cared for by her young adult granddaughters who share this responsibility as they maintain their respective jobs and families. Sra. Victoria is a very sweet lady, and we plan to continue caring for her physically and supporting her emotionally. She is pictured below at her home with Noemí and Lydia.

*Stand by for the picture* :)
Her granddaughter is planning to bring her into the clinic for a checkup within the next week. For patients like Victoria, who cannot pay for services or medications, the clinic absorbs the cost to ensure that they receive care free of charge.

CMP Welcome two new fellows

Last week the clinic welcomed our two new fellows for the coming year. Daniel Johnston is a dental student from Jackson, MS, and he will be working with our own Dr. Angel Rosario. Lydia Rice is from Tupelo, MS and is learning our triage system and will rotate in other areas to provide support to our nursing staff. We are glad to have them volunteering with us and know that God will bless their ministry here.

Pollada for Milagritos

Today was special day at the clinic. First Ruth Ann and Christine, our summer interns, said goodbye, as they head back to the states to return to college. Thanks so much for their hard work and friendship. Next week we will welcome two more. Also today was the grilled chicken fundraiser for Milagritos. They sold at least 200 tickets for the pollada, and pictured are our staff eating our chicken plates, as well as Milagritos with her sister, and one of our nurses Cinthia. Milagritos has finished her chemotherapy, and now must be evaluated with lab tests and CT scans. Keep praying for a complete recovery for this sweet 14 year old girl.

Trinity PCA Medical team

Last week we hosted and worked along side again the saints from Trinity Pres, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We had a great time attending patients from the Parque Industrial and Arevelo communities. We averaged 70 patients a day and used the time also to invite all the non-members to visit our churches. The team was comprised of three doctors, 5 nurses, and several more support personel whom worked with the children and helped with patient flow. Thanks so much to the Alabama team, and we can't wait until next year!

Update on Milagritos

Some of you may remember this post from April, discussing the Patient Assistance Fund. One example of a patient who has been helped by this fund is Milagritos, a 14 year old girl with cancer.

A few months later, Milagritos' condition is better, but not yet stabilized. She recently had some tests that indicated that the cancer was present, but decreased. She is losing her hair, but is eating better. Yesterday she started her fourth round of chemotherapy. She will continue with the chemotherapy until Saturday. After this round of chemo concludes, she will need a CT scan to determine whether or not more chemo is needed. This is an expensive procedure in Peru, costing about 2,200 soles. Our Patient Assistance Fund exists exactly for expenses of this nature. If you would like to donate to this fund, checks can be sent to the address below. Please keep Milagritos and her family in your prayers as they go through this trying time.

Christian Missionary Society
P.O. Box 53363 Knoxville, TN 37950-3363
Phone: (865) 684-4580
(Wichanzao Clinic Patient Assistance Fund written on the memo line)

FPC Jackson in Cajamarca

First Presbyterian Church Jackson made their annual trip to Cajamarca this past week. The team had 36 members, consisting of dentists, doctors, dental hygentists, translators, and a VBS crew. The week was very busy in the temporary clinic--the doctors and dentists saw over 1,000 patients. The VBS team had sessions in both the morning and evening and enjoyed sharing crafts, songs, and the story of Jesus with the children of Cajamarca.

Here we see Dr. Johnson pulling a tooth:


The medical team from FPC Jackson: physical therapist, psychiatrist, dermatologist, adolescent medicine specialist, ER nurse, pharmacist, surgeon... and more!


Thanks, First Pres Jackson for your hard work in Cajamarca! The Mission & the Medical Ministry both cherish our partnership with you all.

Paint & Tile!

Two recent short term teams have greatly helped with renovations to the clinic. Bethel Pres from Lake Charles, LA kicked things off by beginning the tiling process. The clinic has previously had concrete floors, but they are currently being upgraded to tile. Here's a shot of the main hallway of the clinic, after the tile was completed.


The downstairs area of the clinic has been tiled completely & we hope the upstairs is soon to follow. Thanks, Bethel, for your hard work!

Our next short term team hailed from First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport, MS. They pushed through baseboard difficulties & confusing Spanish paint names and repainted the first floor of the clinic. The bright blue walls have been replaced with a more wearable taupe color (which coincidentally looks great with the new tile). Here's a smiling Gulfport team member, ready to paint:


The first floor of the clinic looks better than ever, and the second floor will hopefully be renovated soon, as well. We're so thankful for the opportunity to continue improving the environment of the clinic, as a service to the community of Wichanzao. Thanks, Bethel and Gulfport!

Summer Interns

In addition to a plethora of short term teams, the Mission is pleased to have three Fellows working in the clinic this summer.


Beth Nagle is a 4D medical student from Tennessee. She came to Trujillo (with her husband, Mark) on a rotation for the month of June. She participated in a medical campaign and saw patients daily in the clinic. Also, she conducted home visits, giving care to patients who were unable to come to the clinic to receive it. She and her husband recently returned to Memphis and they are greatly missed.


Christine Balistreri (left) and Ruth Ann Broom (right) are the other two summer interns in the clinic. Unlike the photo might lead you to believe, they have not been spending all their time in the Sacred Valley. Christine is a rising senior at Washington & Lee University, double majoring in Economics & Environmental Studies. She is interested in working in the Public Health sector one day and is greatly enjoying this opportunity to observe the health systems of a developing country. Ruth Ann is a rising junior at Mississippi College, pursuing a double major in English Literature and Spanish. She loves being able to sharpen her Spanish skills as she communicates with patients at the clinic. Both Ruth Ann and Christine assist around the clinic wherever needed... sometimes triaging patients and sometimes removing paint from the baseboards with paint thinner. You never know what you're going to get into around here. Both girls will be with us until the end of July.

June Dental Campaign

This summer the medical clinic is thrilled to be hosting serveral short term teams! We are expecting groups from Tuscaloosa, AL; Gulfport, MS; Kosciusko, MS; Lake Charles, LA; and Jackson, MS. Some will be serving alongside us medically, others will be helping with some construction improvements to the clinic.

The first team we had the pleasure of welcoming this summer was a group from UMC Dental School in Jackson, MS. The team consisted of two first year dental students, four fourth year dental students, and two professors. They provided dental treatment in Wichanzao and surrounding areas, including Parque Industrial, Palmeras III, and Santa Rosa.





The group did a plethora of fillings and extractions and also provided children with fluoride treatments. Additionally, the team brought & distributed dental health information for kids and parents. Parents recieved a book teaching them how to care for their children's teeth and kids were given health kits that included a toothbrush, a brushing chart, and plaque disclosing tablets.



The team was a blessing to work with... fun, flexible, and great with the kids. We're grateful for their gifts of time and talent and excited about the work that was done in the area. We eagerly await the arrival of the rest of the short term teams. Stay tuned for an update on the team that recently arrived from Lake Charles, LA.

Changing of the guard

The end of May marks a sad time for the clinic. Both Agnes McKowen and Patty Kinsey leave us, returning to the states to continue their studies. Agnes will be in Physicians Assistant school in Alabama and Patty hope to enroll in nursing school. Their impact in the Wichanzao community has been tremendous, showing the love of Christ to the patients not only in the clinic, but to those outside in the neighborhoods around. The Fellowship program of the mission is a great tool for helping these young ladies mature as Christians, and here at the clinic they have matured as future health care professionals. May the Lord bless them as they go back to continue their training, and hopefully bring them back one day to work with us again. In the photo are from left to right, Terri Attardo, Agnes McKowen, and Patty Kinsey. Next week look for photos our our new fellows!

Continuing Education

The Clinic is is always striving improve and augment the medical services we provide to the community in Wichanzao. One of the ways we do this is through continuing medical education for our staff. Recently we have been blessed to have Kelly Chang, a current intern and pharmacology student, give lectures on topics such as diabetes and hypertension. These lectures and discussions are an opportunity for us all to learn about new drugs in the pharmacy, upcoming changes in guidelines, and potential drug interactions to watch for.

New Patient Assistance Fund

Last week a new fund was created for clinic patients with special medical needs. In the past we have collected money for special cases through donations from our staff and friends here in Peru, but most of the time this is not sufficient to meet the needs that we have.

A recent example of a patient who needs assistance from a fund such as this is Milagritos, a sweet quiet 14 year old girl from a small pueblo outside of Contumaza in the sierra of Northern Peru. She came to Trujillo seeking a diagnosis for a rapidly growing mass in her lower abdomen. After a series of tests the doctors in Hospital Belen gave her a diagnosis-an ovarian tumor. Milagritos has relatives that live close to the clinic and they brought her into the obstetrician to explain the implications of her diagnosis.


Monday of last week she had an operation to remove a 30 cm ovarian tumor that weighed 3.5 kilos. We are still awaiting the pending pathology of the tumor and a biopsy of her colon (a twenty one day turnover!). She is being treated at the only cancer center in Northern Peru, which happens to be in Trujillo. This hospital does not accept government health insurance, which means the family will need to cover all treatment costs. Because there is no such thing as St. Jude's here in Peru the family is doing everything they can to pay for the costs of the treatment. Her father is a farmer and has sold everything he can to come up with money for her operation. With the help of family and friends back home in the sierra, they have paid in full for the operation and other hospital expenses. However this is not the end of her story; she will likely need 6-8 rounds of chemotherapy, which cost about 500 soles per round, as well as other tests and hospital time (40 soles a day for hospitalization). It is quite incredible how little health care costs here, but they are still costs!

Another patient who recently had 2 operations in Hospital Regional in Trujillo is Sr. Jose Plascencia Cruz. Sr. Jose is 82 years old and travels across Trujillo every day to sell his 10 centimo (cent) candies in Hermelinda-the largest and most dangerous market in the city. Without any family to help him, he tells us he has to stay healthy to keep up his little business, always reminding us that 'he has his clients!'. He has been having prostate issues for the past 3 years, as well as a growing inguinal hernia for the past 4 months. Recently the discomfort became so debilitating that he was unable to work or walk to the clinic. He resolved to give up and live with the pain, and he just wanted us to help him by giving injections for his pain. But with the help of many donations from our Peruvian friends and interns, we were able to raise the money to pay for both of his surgeries. We also took him to get his public health insurance (SIS) renewed at the local posta (government-run clinic). Although going through the public hospital system was a long and tedious process, it helped us make the operations a reality. Sr. Jose got out of the hospital this past Monday. The total cost of his prostate surgery, hospital stay and medications: S/224.50 ($79.19 USD). And everything else was covered under the public insurance. Now this doesn't include the time that the clinic interns spent waiting in lines, going to doctors visits, and meeting with social workers for several weeks. However it is a wonderful, eye opening experience for interns to learn the Peruvian public health care system, as well as minister to and serve these individual patients.
Consider a tax deductible gift to this charitable fund, it is a life changing ministry for the folks that receive help. Thank you!

Christian Missionary Society
P.O. Box 53363 Knoxville, TN 37950-3363
Phone: (865) 684-4580
(Wichanzao Clinic Patient Assistance Fund written on the memo line)

New Fellow comes to CMP

We are so excited to welcome Kelly Chang to Trujillo! Kelly is a Doctor of Pharmacy student at the University of Southern California and will be graduating in May. She has come down for a month to give a few lectures, help train clinic staff on new medicines, drug interactions, and also help give us a few ideas on how we can continue to improve and expand this area of the Wichanzao Clinic. Thank you Kelly for your work here among us!

Morning devotionals continue at CMP

The staff at the Clinic continues to rotate in our daily morning devotionals with all the patients and clinic workers. In January our Pastor, Percy Padilla, officially began his work with a church plant in his neighborhood as well as the Presbyterian Church in Arevalo. We miss him very much! As the search begins for a new Pastor for the clinic we will continue with our daily bread at 8am each day. After opening our doors the patients come in and we begin our day by reading and meditating upon scripture followed by a short time of prayer.

During Semana Santa, patients listen to Sonia Guerra Gonzales, our obstetrician, read a passage about the Resurrection of Christ.

We would like to congratulate and welcome the newest member of our team in Wichanzao, Dr. Julton Tomanguillo! Dr. Tomanguillo is a recent medical graduate of the Escuela de Medicina at the Universidad César Vallejo in Trujillo. He will work as a full time physician in the clinic in the area of general medicine. This is a position we have been looking to fill for some time, and are grateful the the Lord has provided a strong and committed Christian leader to work with us. Dr. Tomanguillo grew up in Moyobamba, Peru and is a talented musician who plays guitar, churrango, quena, the zampoña as well as others. He is currently using his gifts in music to play at services in the new church plant in downtown Trujillo. He will also be getting married later this month to Miss Julie Rogers, a former Peru Mission intern. Congratulations Julton and Julie! We would like to give a warm welcome to Julton and are very excited about the services, ministry and witness he will provide to patients in the community of Wichanzao.

Pucallpa February 2010

CMP recently had the opportunity to contribute to a mobile dental campaign of the LSU Dental school in a Shipibo village outside of Pucallpa, Peru. The village "Alfonso Ugarte" has a population of over 1,000 Shipibo Indians and is located 8 hours upriver from Pucallpa, a major city in the jungle of Peru and the only one that links the Amazon River and the Pacific Ocean. Shipibo is the native tongue and lanuage of daily life in the area although many of the men speak Spanish, and the children are learning Spanish in school. During the week the Peruvian missionaries who accompanied the team held a vacation bible school and played games with the children. Also they were able to obtain a movie about the life of Jesus...in Shipibo! All of the villagers were very excited because it is the only movie that they had ever seen in their own language. The Clinic was able to provide a translator for the dental team as well as supply toothbrushes, vitamins, anti-parasitics and other medicines that are difficult to obtain in this isolated area. This was the first dental campaign in the village and many people traveled from areas deeper in the jungle to receive the free dental services performed, which included extractions, fillings, cleanings as well as oral hygiene education.

Terri Attardo returns to E.E.U.U.

One of our fellows, Terri Attardo, RN recently returned home to Connecticut after serving for 5 months in the clinic. Terri not only brought down suitcases full of supplies but also taught us how to use them! Sometimes Peruvian physicians and nurses are not familiar with medications, wound care dressings, et cetera that are new in the United States and not common here. Terri was able to help our staff members to use them correctly. She also faithfully nursed one of our elderly diabetic patients, Senor Leon, and we know he will miss her. Starting Monday, Terri will begin her new position in the OR at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut. Congratulations Terri, we hope you return to us soon!

IPC Memphis Medical and Dental Team (January 30th-February 5th)

Thank you IPC Memphis Team!
We had a great week of medical and dental work with a team from Independent Presbyterian Church from Memphis, Tennessee. This team had several physicians, dentists, nurses, a nutritionist and a nurse practitioner student and others who were able to provide a variety of services to patients in need in and around the city. Monday we held the campaign in the neighborhood of Manuel Arevalo, Tuesday we worked in a small sugarcane farming community north of Trujillo called Mocollope. On Wednesday the campaign was held in Parque Industrial. Thursday we went out to Clementina, a small community on the outskirts of Wichanzao. Friday’s campaign was out in Hogar de Esperanza an orphanage that the mission has been working with.

The team was able to provide medical and dental services to hundreds of folks in one week! These communities are in serious need of the physical healing and medicine that short term teams bring, and these campaigns always open doors for long term relationships with both Peruvian and American pastors and missionaries. We always enjoy working with this team and look forward to seeing them again next year!




If you would like to read more about what the team did each day you can find their blog here.