Walking Free – Mary Grace’s story

Dr. Josephine Bundoc, in-country Director at the Philippines Walking Free clinic has this report:

“Our amputee beneficiaries, especially the children with congenital limb deficiencies, always need follow-up care because they grow taller— but their prostheses do not! One such patient is Mary Grace Vinluan, who has Apert’s syndrome. She has a below-the-knee amputation with incomplete separation of her fingers. We first saw her during our mission in Mindoro in 2005 when she was a 4 year old cranky child, and we were pleasantly surprised to see a very bubbly 7 year old Mary Grace at the Philippines General Hospital!

Her mother was able to raise the 700 pesos roundtrip fare ( from generous neighbors ) to take her daughter from Mindoro to PGH and back. The fare would normally have been 1,400 pesos — but what she did was sit Mary Grace on her lap throughout the 8 hour trip so that they occupied only 1 seat ! We admitted her at the amputee ward so they could save on board & lodging after measuring Mary Grace for a new socket, and then discussed with her mother the possibility of an operation to remove the bony overgrowth that can cause pain when she walks with the prosthesis.


Mary Grace walks with a limp on her prosthetic leg, as it is now shorter than her other, but she has truly transformed from being the cry-baby in 2005 who refused to be touched or even utter a word! Despite her limping gait, she confidently moves around with her prosthesis, starts a conversation with anyone, and the smile on her face never wears off —- all because, according to her mother, she was able to gain independence with her prosthesis to play and mingle with her friends! I wonder what she will be like 10 years from now. She says she wants to be a teacher —- well, I bet she will make a very good one!”

You can help children like Mary Grace get the care they need and replacement prosthetics to fit their growing bodies. To find out more about how to support the Physicians for Peace Walking Free Program, Click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News from Guatemala – Part 4

post: Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) CEO, Physicians for Peace
photos: Dr. Bob Haining

“Building peace and international friendships through medicine” is the vision statement of Physicians for Peace.  That “building” process can be arduous, and takes an endless network of supporters and volunteers who help raise awareness or cultivate donors so that Physicians for Peace can rally its volunteers to do what they do so well…train the health care providers of the world’s most vulnerable populations.  Sometimes, building that network is well planned.  Other times it is serendipitous. Such was the case that recently brought journalist Kate Bohner into the Physicians for Peace world.  From a chance meeting in Florida several months back, Kate became inspired by the efforts of Physicians for Peace and joined the mission team in Guatemala to produce her inaugural broadcast in her new series “Profiles in Courage”, designed to showcase “people of courage” and tell those important “untold stories”.   Her broadcast will premier in June on nine internet stations, including Google, YouTube, KBTV and others.  You’ll also be able to check it out at www.physiciansforpeace.org..  Kate is already planning her next Physicians for Peace profile in Nigeria, where doctors there work tirelessly to heal women suffering from painful and debilitating complications from ill-prepared childbirths.  It’s a gripping (and frightening)   story that Kate will report.  Here in Guatemala, Kate has really dug into not only our hands-on training mission, but also, she’s uncovering  “what makes a volunteer volunteer.”  It will be a fascinating story. 

 

We are so very grateful to Kate for helping us share the story of Physicians for Peace.  It will make a difference! Read more at Kate’s blog: www.kateinla.blogspot.com

 

News from Guatemala – Part 3

post: Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) CEO Physicians for Peace
photos: Dr. Bob Haining

Just an hour outside its capital, through a seemingly never ending series of switchback roads up and down the lush tropical mountains of Guatemala, dozens of indigenous Indian tribes cultivate the land, weave colorful fabrics or sell wares on the street to earn enough to keep their family fed.  It’s a hardy culture, surviving centuries.  I travelled to San Juan, a primarily Mayan city, to explore ways that Physicians for Peace might rally volunteers to bring much needed basic health care and medical training to this region of more than 200,000 people…served by only one modest “center” and a number of Spartan clinics—best described as one or two room buildings that dispense minimalist drugs and birth control and offer some general medical care.  I found there some amazing people, like three midwives (of a cadre of nearly a 100 in the region)  who travel the countryside helping with the birth process…the majority of which are done at home.  At the health center, which delivers upwards of 300 babies a year in a very well designed (although austerely equipped) facility, three to four times that (complicated or problem deliveries) number are referred to the public hospital in Guatemala City, a two plus hour ride away…not by ambulance, usually, but by whatever means of transportation might be available, often by bus.  The center has only one means of doing blood work, an ancient microscope.  It does have an ultrasound, of sorts.  And an inoperable x-ray machine.  Ingenuity is the order of the day, here.  There is no warming table, but only a wicker basket with an incandescent light.  To compensate, they fashioned a  series of bottles filled with liquid and wrapped with cloth that could be heated in the microwave to keep the newborn warm for up to about 45 minutes. 

 

However, with all this inadequacy, there was never a complaint, only hope and thanks to Physicians for Peace’s visit and pledge of help. 

 

News From Guatemala – Part 2

post: Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) CEO, Physicians for Peace
photos: Dr. Bob Haining

I came to Guatemala City this week to see first hand the amazing work being done by Physicians for Peace-trained professionals as they change the lives of innocent children whose whole existence has been shattered by a devastating burn…most because they fell into boiling cauldrons of water on an open fire just inches off the ground, a hazard sadly inescapable by far too many of Guatemala’s kids.  But there is an incredible team of caring and compassionate people, led by Dr. Lourdes Santiso, who is really making a difference in a city where resources are scarce but the need is so great.  These selfless ladies at La Clínica de Quemaduras Infantiles,  located within the Hospital Roosevelt compound, are using the training they have received by Physicians for Peace volunteers to treat these beautiful children with burn compression garments, UVEX masks and other state-of-the-art techniques to restore not only their disfigured bodies, but also to restore their dignity and their pride in themselves.  I am so proud of these women, who toil endlessly, with little pay, but with the ultimate reward that they know they are making crying children laugh again!  It is this servant’s spirit that makes Physicians for Peace what it is today…and it is all due to the volunteers and those they train to heal those in need.  I am grateful! 

 

News from Guatemala – Part 1

Post: Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) CEO, Physicians for Peace
Photos: Dr. Bob Haining

 

Imagine what’s it like to be 14, passionate about basketball, but then discover you have bone cancer, and the only way to save your life is to have your leg amputated above the knee.  Imagine still that you live in a country like Guatemala, where the likelihood of you receiving a prosthetic limb so that you could just walk on two legs, let alone play basketball, was remote.  Then imagine a group of people who were from places as disparate as Oakland, California; Bickleman, Nebraska; Richmond, Virginia; and Tampa Bay, Florida.  Who pretty much never knew each other, but were united in one common cause: to give the gift of a new arm or leg to a child who could only dream of such a miracle.    What you have imagined is a team of Physicians for Peace volunteers who have come to Guatemala City to give of their time and their talent to serve others.  What you have imagined is half a dozen volunteers from the FOOT Foundation in Tampa Bay, most of whom have never been out of the borders of the United States, who have been yearning for an opportunity to take their artistry in making prosthetic limbs to a developing country.  What you have are physical therapists who have banded together and reached out to others to build a team of volunteers who are finding new meaning in their lives because they are giving new meaning to others. What you have is a group of engaged, energized and enthusiastic Physicians for Peace volunteers who I have only met this week for the first time, who have yet again demonstrated that you can, indeed, build peace and friendship through medicine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PFP At The White House

On April 29th the White House held a special event to honor the spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism in America. Six volunteers from Physicians for Peace were invited to attend, receiving national recognition for their work in developing countries around the world. 

One of those volunteers, Dr. Ogu Emejuru, writes about his experiences that day.

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“Getting an invitation to the White House for any reason is probably one event that adds a feather to the cap of one’s career. To be honored as one of PFP’s worldwde legion of volunteers, makes it even more special and adds a brilliant feather I’ll wear proudly for a long time.

For starters, Dr. Juan Montero, who also attended the event, had a friend provided us with private jet that flew us to Washington, DC.  Ron Sconyers treated us all to a power lunch at The Capital Grille where we sighted some Washington notables. We were soon strolling down Pennsylvania Ave. headed to the White House. Ron bade us good bye, and wished us well. Carolyn Ramwell, another of our group of volunteers, ’piloted’  us safely to the southeast gate where we were cleared and herded in through security. I felt proud to be part of PFP’s team amidst a host of other volunteers from across the country including members of the Peace Corps.

After roaming around the East Wing taking pictures, we were ushered in to the event room. I am still awed being at the midst of all those stately furnishings and paintings of past occupants of the White House.

The six members of the PFP group were seated at the second row to the left just in front of the Peace Corp volunteers. I felt a lot of pride as the President strode in, took to the podium and waved us to take our seats. As he addressed us, I flashed back to all the great life-saving education missions since 2002  that PFP has undertaken to Port Harcourt, Gusau and just last month Kaduna in Nigeria.

It was a great day for PFP and even a greater day for all volunteers worldwide who dedicate their time to lifting up the less fortunate among us. March on PFP!”

Ogu