The Ultimate Penultimate

Strike days are always the best because we spend time with people in the community, and thats the most important work. For example today in the market we met up with Yanett, she invited us to her house. We ate cake and drank papaya juice in her kitchen and spoke with her parents about healthcare in Peru. She brought various herbal remedies from her extensive medicinal garden, and they promised to teach me each and every yerba when I come back.

But tonight was the best night. For me, the best night in Peru. Nothing in particular happened, but it was the culmination of all our efforts here in a feeling of family and good will and excitement over improving the future.

First we had our regular Tuesday night meeting, with presentations of patients (from epilepsy to GERD), with some extra reflection. The reflection ran along the lines of, what did we give these people, what did we accomplish, etc. And we came to a very important insight. Yanett's family was saying to us what we so often hear in the US: The last generation of doctors just dispensed pills, we need someone to listen to our problems, to care, and to tell us we'll be OK. Raphael Bendezu, the Peruvian doctor here, also offered a similar insight, saying that listening to these people and reassuring them or directing them within the medical system is the most important part of the medicine we do here, and indeed medicine in general. The very fact that people like us -- who seem impossibly wealthy, educated, and glamorous -- spend time holding hands, kissing cheeks, bandaging wounds, teaching and explaining, and treating the poor country people with the respect they deserve, is a new experience for them. And can do as much for their state of mind as temporary fixes like albendazole or tylenol. As Raphael said, much of what we see here is a product of poverty, which is a bigger problem than just us (worth tackling, mind you, but slow to change), but a caring and knowledgeable ear can do wonders. Especially when coupled with meds, supplies, and community action to improve the system. A special moment was when we reflected, maybe we did more to help than we thought.

During this meeting, Senor Guido (the mayor) showed up to seek us out, and refused to interrupt the meeting, waiting instead for us to finish. It was amazing, but he was like a changed man tonight. In the past, very reserved, austere, tonight he was all smiles and kisses. Kisses! He knew our names and our plans and was thrilled about the ideas of a mobile clinic and a womens shelter. More than thrilled. He was like a giddy schoolboy making faces and jokes. Jokes! I kept looking around like, is this really happening? He met with everyone and then stayed for dinner where the table talked regular social talk, trying (unsuccessfully) to explain American Football. It was an exciting energy, that we did great work, the mayor and community were our friends, more than that, like family, and we were planning for a future together -- a future dedicated to improving people's lives slowly but surely.

Dinner was the next phenomenon. We bought a huge cake to surprise the staff, and when dinner was over, everyone gathered and ting-ed our glasses and Anna stood up and said thank you so much, we feel like family here. Then Alida hustled the staff to sit down and we all served THEM cake and they laughed and ate and asked for our emails, and there was such a special warmth all around. Even Edwin had a piece of cake (one wont hurt). It was the perfect end. Guido and Edwin, the staff, some random stranger who became our friends after we fed them cake. Everyone was working together, using their power and lucky positions in life to help people less fortunate. Of one mind, and one heart. Sound cheesy, but thats how it felt in the room full of friends.

If nothing else, we built wonderful relationships with incredible people. Relationships to last a lifetime. This really was something to be proud of.