Bayside Medical Missions and Educational Outreach Inc

An Insightful Slice of Bayside Medical Missions

Josalyn's Surgery: As an orthopaedic surgeon working in Ecuador for over ten years correcting children's deformities, I have almost selfishly enjoyed the gratification of seeing these deformities corrected and experiencing the appreciation and love of the patients and their families.  For example, Josalyn (See photo on sidewalk) was an eight-year-old born with clubfeet, a condition requiring her to walk on the top of her feet.  She had surgeries at another local facility unfortunately causing further deformity and pain (See close-up) She told me, "All I want is to wear sandals like my friends".  We discussed surgery and both she and her parents were excited over the possibiiity of help.  ......All did go well as shown by her smile on the last 2 pictures. Again, this was very gratifying as have been many other patients' surgeries. 

Jon's family and Care: Yet, one day a friend who was involved in building La Vida, our surgical center, told me of a guy who made wheelchairs for the severely disabled. These are specialized wheelchairs which could be adapted as the child grows. He went on to ask me to participate in a wheelchair distribution of about 200 chairs in Quito.  My first thought was frankly a bit prideful: "This was good, but spending time to distribute wheelchairs seems a bit mundane compared to providing surgical corrections".  Well, I soon learned differently.  

My New Insight: I did attend the wheelchair distribution where I encountered a sweet, rather pettite mother carrying her 11 year-old son, Jon, in her muscular arms. Jon had suffered brain damage at birth. You could easily see she loved her child very much as tears filled her eyes as she watched us adjust the wheelchair to his body. Because he had no musculature to control his trunk or hold his head up-right, special supporting pads and belts were properly applied which held him comfortably erect. Also, he can be reclined to change positions for comfort and for naps. 

Seeing this mother and the joy and gratitude in her eyes and his little sister hugging on him (Photo), I suddenly realized what had been accomplished here:

For years Jon's mother had had to literally carry him in her arms as she ran all of her errands.  Now she had a significantly lighter burden, knowing her child was supported comfortably and she was more mobile.  She had been tired every evening when she came home and while the family gathered at the table in their modest home, Jon would normally be placed in bed in the back room.  Now he is able to come to the dining table and eat with everyone.  On his specialized chair he has a nice tray for his own dinner plate.

Conclusion: This illustrates how much more to do to help these handicapped children surrounding corrective surgery. Watching the love and concern of families alleviated in so many areas of daily survival is as equally satisfying and as needed as providing the surgical correction.

Please enable Bayside Medical Missions to extend and even broaden such help to these people in need of God's love.

Thank You! 

Present Needs for LA VIDA SURGICAL CENTER: 

1) VOLUNTEERS!   Orthopedists, Anesthesiologists, Surgeons to build other specialties, Nurses and all paramedical people, those who can help with Bible sharing, Gospel sharing, and interacting with families

2) FUNDS for additional personnel, more surgeries, operating budget, instrument needs

3) BUILDING FUND for hearby Family and Guest's Lodging on-going and during surgeries

4) FULL TIME CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY MEDICAL DOCTOR This can be a man or a woman or a couple.

See Web Site and contact information below

Thank you much for help!

Paul Fellers, MD

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