Follow-up with surgical patients and a funeral

We had clinic today in Lemoa. It started out as a very exciting day and then it ended with sadness and unanswered questions.

First, there is a patient that travels 5 hours with her son to the clinic every 3-4 months. I have heard how very sick she was when she first came to the clinic and saw Dr. Lisa. Her name is Maria and her photo is below with her son that brings her to the clinic. She has another son, Rafael and he lives in SC with his wife Angela and two sons. I had an opportunity to go to SC last year and meet them. They are a wonderful family and are very thankful that Maria is feeling so much better.
(I apologize for the blurred photso...maybe too much coffee?? :)

The photo below is of Byron, who had his cleft lip repaired at Clinica Ezell during the week of February 10th. His mother and father are so excited and thankful. They brought us a papaya that weighed close to 10 pounds! Gaspar had an opportunity to talk to them about the Bible and how this operation was a blessing from God.

Another child, Miguel, also returned today for a follow-up visit. He made his first blog appearance on Tuesday, Feb 12. while at Clinica Ezell......Mary Ann is holding him in the rocker while he slept. This is the child that was left on a doorstep.......and then cared for by this special lady.

Miguel is doing wonderful with no problems at all.......he is full of laughter!

Another lady brought her ultrasound report today and it confirmed a large uterine fibroid. We will see if we can get her worked-up for surgery in April.

We received word today that a young man that was seen toward the end of January died very early this morning in his home. He was only 16 years old and lived in Mactzul VI where we have clinic once a month. We found out that the funeral was from 2pm-4pm so Juan, Maury and I went. There were over 200 people at the funeral and it was very comforting to see many people from different clinics and areas that we visit.

We will not know exactly what happened and that is just because it is a different culture. The service and message were very moving and led mostly by members of the Mactzul VI and Choacaman IV communities. They talked about how hard death is but God helps us through it. Life on this earth is short and that death for a baptized Christian is a blessing.......it is the beginning of heaven, an eternity with God. It serves as a reminder for us all........