The new year started off with a clinic trip cancellation in January due to weather conditions. However, February and March saw successful and well attended clinics in Lopez Mateos. In February we provided 128 services to the patients from Lopez, Constitución and surrounding communities. In March 132 services were provided including general medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, dental, dental hygiene, reading glasses and chiropractic.
We were fortunate to have Lynn Smith providing general medicine services, Gail Brown for obstetrics/gynecology, Claudia Hart for pediatrics and Gene and Neta Kimmel for chiropractics. Dentist Paul Perez provided dental services along with mentoring a new volunteer, Brielle Breland, a third year dental student. Our dental hygienist volunteers were Erika Sales and Heather Parker. Melinda Rawcliffe provided pharmacy services and Susan Canale and Marion Sachs staffed triage. Tim Parker came as a helper. Interpreters for this trip were Corey Lovett, Ana Torres, Lee LaFollette, Dave Lindgren and Bonnie Lassen.
Our pilots for March included Charlie Brown, Pat McClure, Larry Karpurk, Jim Gaskin and a new addition, Shane Redline. Our pilots not only provide transportation but help out at the clinic doing various jobs. Larry and Shane distributed reading glasses and Pat McClure worked steadily at sterilizing the dental instruments. Charlie is always mindful of the physical maintenance of the clinic building. Aeromédico Jim Gaskin brought our dentist, Paul Perez, and dental assistants Melissa Harrison and Nancy Callahan all from Santa Barbara.
Our gratitude is boundless for our local Samaritans. Judith Logan had the clinic cleaned and ready for business and Andrea Gomez, Guillermo Gomez Fregoso and Olivia prepare our tasty lunches. Of course on the home front, we always have Don Downey who manages to oversee the placement of passengers with pilots and coordinate the trip each month.
Our group was fortunate to be able to participate in and support the local Mulegé Paws Animal Rescue Group by attending their Gala on Saturday night. The silent auction, music and dancing and meal were enjoyed by all.
The kindness, generosity and dedication of our volunteers never fails to amaze me.
In closing, I would like to mention that recruiting new volunteers is always a challenge and whatever we all can do to find dentists, interpreters, chiropractors, pilots and nurses is so helpful to our cause. Also, don’t forget to pay your dues, even if you cannot work a trip into your schedule, the donation helps.
Until the next time,
Bonnie Lassen