A Week in Ecuador...Part I

     I have returned from a trip in April, that I have hoped to do for years now.  Since as a widow, I very much felt that I should be less risky in my activities until at least the last child was in college (though risk is living life and not location),  I

would pray for my friends, David and Ann, as they went on Medical Missions each year, looking forward to the day I too could go.  After waiting to see if the dates would interrupt our upcoming wedding, a date was set that would allow my going with the obstetrics and gynecology team to care for some of the people in Ecuador.  So, I signed on with Christian Medical and Dental Associates, made plane reservations, and got the needed shots for the area. I am so glad I did.

     Words can't readily describe all that I saw, the people I cared for... but I hope to reflect in part what happened in my short week there.  The airline story is one of a kind that I've never experienced before…and hope to not do so again.  We could not get out of our home airport to reach Houston due to weather in Houston.  When released, we missed the single flight out to Quito by 30 minutes.  We stood in long lines to get on the next evening... and spent some wonderful time with dear friends that took us in!  Jon and Dusty... THANK YOU!    But, that only begins the saga!  Assured our bags (one each) and 3 huge plastic medical carriers (one each) were on the correct flight, we arrived in Quito, meeting up with the other group that had been delayed, without any bags!  We stayed overnight as planned, hoping they would be found... knowing that the next flight was in 24 hours and we would be long gone... deep into the country. 

    Another flight, and 7 hours on a bus through the jungle and we were at our destination ...  Gualaquiza, Ecuador... and without our bags.

   Gualaquiza is a town in the Amazon Basin, in southeast Ecuador.  It’s altitude lies at the transition edge of what would be called the Amazon Jungle, though we were in jungle indeed.  As we arrived late, we missed the set up of pharmacy and clinic…but the team that arrived before did an awesome job without us and we arrived in time to help with the first clinic day in the afternoon.  People were separated according to OB/GYN, pediatric (we had the blessing of a pediatrician), and general care, registered and then triaged according to symptoms.  Those who were potential surgery cases were seen as early in the day as possible so that the appropriate blood work and tests could be run and surgery scheduled for the following day.  After the Doctor had seen the patient, they were sent to native speakers who would talk to them about why we were here… to share God’s love and the gifts He has given us with them.  They could pray, or not, believing that Christ died for their sins and asking His forgiveness, choosing to get to know this new God better.  Many prayed...and many did not.  

    They then went to the pharmacy to get the meds prescribed them…including a month’s worth of vitamins, and a parasite treatment when appropriate. (Ann and I started counting a box of 20,000 multivitamins when we arrived… and then started the pediatric vitamins and calcium pills…into packages of 30.   Who knows how many pills we counted as a group!  See picture to right... note what is left of the 20,000 in the bag!)  

  

    Over 4 ½ days we treated 670 patients.  In no way could we treat them with the same level of technology we have in the States, but how grateful they were.  The people could not thank us enough, bringing fruit to show their gratitude…or paying as much as they could…maybe $ 20 for a surgery or treatment.  They are a people with integrity, working hard and not expecting handouts.  And, whatever you can do, no matter how small… they are so appreciative.  One lady, in her 50’s had been bleeding for several years and the doctors recommended a hysterectomy.  Her first question was, “Can I go back to work the next day?”  Her work was swinging a machete to cut grasses down in roadways and pastures.  I do not know if she decided to have the surgery, because of the great cost to her in pay in not being able to work.  The complaints or symptoms in triage showed great suffering… and aging before their time.  Women my age seemed to be 15- 20 years older.  Men suffered greatly too… and thus they showed up to be seen by an American doctor, even though they knew it was of a clinic specialty for women.  

As with any culture it seems today, the alcohol flowed in celebration or coping skills, and while we were there, a national election and campaign added greatly to the consumption.  I know families are very important to the culture, but could not get a read on what the different dynamics are in relating than we are used to in America.  It seemed as though there were fewer men, and I silently wondered if there were many widows due to the hardship of living.