Other Missions Trips

November 2006 Medical Mission

Our team was made up of 22 people from Massachusetts (3 doctors, 4 nurses, a dentist, a hygienist, 2 ultrasound technicians, a pharmacist and a host of interpreters, helpers, children’s workers and spiritual counselors). In addition, we were joined by 15 local Ecuadorians (doctors, interpreters and pastors).

We brought over 22 suitcases full of equipment, medications and supplies and saw about 1700 patients. There was a wide variety of medical conditions, most of which were due to poor sanitation and malnutrition. Generalized abdominal and joint pain, intestinal parasites, and anemia were common. All of our patients received vitamins and parasite medication in addition to other treatments. An OR was even available to us in Balzar. We used basic blood and urine tests and ultrasound that we brought with us to help make diagnoses.

We set up clinic in our partner church, La Luz, in the capital city of Quito on the first day. After that first clinic day we had the opportunity to travel several hours by bus to the town of Pelileo where an active volcano occasionally spews ash over the region. We set up clinic in the local police station and treated a large number of children with cerebral palsy and Down’s Syndrome. These were very precious children who captured the hearts of everyone on our team.

From here we flew to the city of Guayaquil where we took a 3 hour cramped van ride to the very poor city of Balzar. We set up our clinic in a small hospital for the next 3 days. We had access to a very simple OR and the surgeon who joined us was able to perform some very exciting and life changing/saving surgeries. Despite some illness in our own team members, some very hot days, cold morning showers and lots of beans and rice, we were able to make a significant impact in the lives of many of our Ecuadorian patients. Not only this, but many of us have had an experience that can only be described as life changing.