Sunday Sept 22
As has been the tradition with Mitch Brock teams we visited an orphanage...this time it was a small one in Lamay the next village going up the sacred valley. It is the home to 24 children...giving them attention and hugs is the first order of buissness then...tooth brushes, floss, toys, gloves, oh yes and three futbols for the house..the take home experience for me was watching the staff interact with a girl about 12 with autism..I doubt they have much training yet one staff member attends to this little girl assuring her safety and care. I sat in her room and just was quiet and made no demands of her eventually she found her way to my lap for about 1 minute ...but enough to feel a deep connection with this little girl...sadly I did not get a photo nor can I remember her name.
Goodbyes..the team headed off for the airport and home...we had a great week..we accomplished 30 surgeries and quickly transformed from strangers to a high functioning team willing to do what ever it took to get the job done...there ere no tense moments...no drama. Especially impressive were the non-medical members of our team. Two teenage boys Andrew son of Jason..was quick to learn from sterilizing instruments to opening sterile supplies...he also used his Spanish. Daniel son of Jim was fun inquisitive..always had a question...also willing to do what ever we asked and was good sport...we could easily tease him and he gave it back. John husband of Lee ran the sterilization process like an old pro...it was hard to get him to believe that with out his help we can't function.
Hellos...many of you know I have a friend Edy Gonzales in Portland...we first met here...Edy as a patient...then he moved to Portland...and Edy and his son Noah lived with me last year for about 6 months...well I had the honor of meeting his family and staying with them for two days..Mercedes his sister and Serge his Brother in law and Mia his niece picked me up at the Coya guest house and we headed to the Pisac market..they were able to get good prices.
We then headed to there home where I met Señora and Señor Gonzales and Joaquin Edy's nephew/brother. Mary Luz a nurse from the clinic also joined us. An incredible BBQ beef with potatoes (of course) was served.. I gave modest gifts from Portland and gave the gifts Edy had sent.
Then I went to Edy's parents house where I would stay...despite my lack of Spanish ...I throw mounds and verbs together...NO GRAMMAR...we some how were able to communicate..I fell in love with Señora Gonzales and Joaquin ...Joaquin and I went for a long walk around Calca...I met a surrogate nanni Pauletta, cousins and Joaquin's best buddy Julio....we went to the plaza de armas,to the church and to the bakery...and to the market...followed by the boys showing me where they off road bike.
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