UUMC Panamá Mission 2007

Memorable Events

For the seventh year we have a team at the clinic in Bongo.  The clinic serves five small agricultural communities, totaling around 2,500 inhabibants.  Most of our patients are women, children and very senior seniors.  The men are working, usually at manual labor.

Every year we hear from some of our patients: ¨No doctor has ever spent this much time with me.¨  A few years ago, one of our patients was clearly startled when the doctor began a simple physical exam.  She explained that none of her other doctors had ever touched her before. She just didn´t know that doctors did that. The Panama doctors we have met are talented and dedicated. They also have crushing patient loads.

Every year there are several events that stand out among our many touching experiences.  Friday a young woman stayed around the clinic long after she could have gone home.  We began to talk, and suddenly I remembered her -- me. Three years ago she came to the clinic as we were closing.  She seemed in distress and we re-opened so Wes could exam her.  She was pregnant and had developed serious problems.  We had her lie down on the exam table and waited for transportation to take her to the hospital. I remember Chaka Coleman holding her hand as Wes reassured her and answered her questions (¨No, this is not happening because your husband is older than you.¨). Yesterday she was there with her beautiful two-and-a-half year old son.  She wants us to give her Chaka´s address.

Thursday, Wes asked the local Pastor - Marcos Morales, who works with us every year -- if there were any people in the communtiy who needed  help but could not get to the clinic.  Marcos told Wes there was an older couple who were house-bound and had health problems. Wes and Jen (both doctors) and Will (a nurse) packed their equipment and walked down the dirt road to the house. The couple was surprised to see three American health care workers on their doorstep, but not as suprised as you might think. They explained that they had been praying for help.  They had complete faith that it would arrive.

For the past six or seven years one of our more senior patients has brought us fruit from her yard. The first year it was the largest papaya I have ever seen. This year it was a huge bag of bananas, clearly a challenge for a frail-looking 83 year old woman to carry as she walked from her home to the clinic.  She informed us that she will bring us oranges next week.

All of this in our first week...

Raine Lee

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Jairo Ledezma
Posts: 3

Nice experience
Reply #3 on : Tue July 31, 2007, 17:36:06

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this was my first time working in a clinic and as a translator, but the experience was worth. i liked so much to translate to you and ,y partner Yan Yan. finally, i would like to thank you and all the team´s members all the support i received. hoping to see all of you the next year.

p.s.: i just found out your website today so my apologizes about posting so late.

Nancy Sanks
Posts: 3

Wish I was there
Reply #2 on : Sat July 21, 2007, 21:15:19

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Raine,
I read your stories which were all touching. I am so glad you and Wes have been faithful to this project along with many others. As I look at the pictures of the landscape I can feel the coolness of the air. I know you all are having a fabulous experience again this year. The group changes, and yet many of the experiences stay the same.
Love,
Nancy

Irene Gattis
Posts: 3

Loved your article!
Reply #1 on : Wed July 18, 2007, 21:34:09

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What a great tribute to the ongoing work of the Panama team from UMETH. I loved the story of the woman who recognized you and told you about her young son--and that she wanted Chaka's address.
Thanks for YOUR work there!