END OF CARAVANA MEDICA, OCT. 2018

Well, this caravan is now history.  One by one we chalk up weeks, years, memories.  Each caravan is unique, but there is a wonderful sameness in them all.  The same joy at coming to this place.  The same joy at embracing and working with our brothers and sisters here, who look forward every few months to our coming.  The same God who keeps calling us and giving us energy.  The same privilege of attending these sweet, grateful Indians.  The same weariness at the end of a grueling 2 weeks.  We attended 1000 patients!  But it is not about the numbers.  It truly is about touching each and every one who came.  So many sad stories.  So many sick patients.  So many patients with general ailments due to the extreme difficulty of daily life. And so many funny moments, that help to connect with patients, and lighten the mood. Here are a few:   

>Many who believe if you leave your shoes off, you will get a sore throat the next day...

>Some take vitamins for their brains..  some say they ate meat and that is why their arm is numb..

>Men who are quite surprised at how a prostate exam is done...

>A lady showed us proudly an xray of her uterus that included images of her 2 hands on either side of the uterus...

The 82 year old lady who was in the week before, but got robbed of her medicine and glasses on the way home.  She was so happy we would see her again and replace the meds and glasses.  She gave us a ball of cheese. We also heard she might be a con artist!

The schizophrenic patient who paints and draws who returned to the clinic with the gift of a beautiful drawing, and more to sell.  

Carlos with the Batman hat...and also scabies And parasites

80 year old man who came for another problem ,but was bit by a dog walking here.  Had to treat the nasty bite.

Lady with a huge liver with multiple cysts, probably a fatal type of worms.

Man with a huge liver and an umbilical hernia that bulged out like a baseball

A young girl with a rare form of ovarian tumors

Patients with gastritis, colitis, chronic burping, hemorrhoids, asthma, missing periods, high blood pressure and out of control diabetes

Patients who tell us and each other that they like our care..we listen, and take time to figure out what is wrong.   They lament the fact that they are not even attended at the other facilities.  They love our laughter .

Dr. Bill injects knees, shoulders, thumbs and fingers!