As it turns out, Peruvian babies are born in pretty much the same way that American babies are. Shown here is baby "Hector", named after my boss. We helped deliver him by c-section yesterday. So far there have been 3 c-sections during our time here. (Well, there have actually been more than that but only 3 during the day time). When there is a c-section, we hold off on one of our surgeries so that the baby can be delivered. Then we go back to our hysterectomies. Hector has been coming to Chulu for something like 15 years. Apparently there are a lot of little "Hectors" running around. The moms name the babies after him when he is here to help with their c-section.
I am having an incredible experience here in Peru. I can't begin to explain the things I am seeing and feeling. Before coming here, I had heard several presentations and seen tons of pictures of this place. None of it compares to actually living this experience. The poverty here is overwhelming. So many people have so little. You look at these little mud huts and it breaks your heart . . . until you realize that at least those people have houses. So many don't. We did surgery yesterday on someone that walked for two hours to catch a bus that then took 8 hours to get here in order to have her surgery. She is so grateful for the chance to have her prolapse fixed.
The people here are beautiful. Everyone is friendly, gracious. If you have never had a chance to do mission work or try something like this, I would strongly encourage you to try. This is not nearly as intense as the Peace Corps or those types of committments, yet it is still an eye-opening taste of how the rest of the world lives.
There will eventually be more pictures and stories to tell, but that's all for tonight. And just to add to the irony of life . . . here I am with internet access in the middle of all of this abject poverty. Sometimes the world just doesn't make sense.
Love,
Turtlewoman
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