Accomplishments -
The Friends of Rudy have been busy...
 

We are exceedingly happy and proud that our clinic, Alabama-Granada Clinica, celebrated its first anniversary on March 16, 2005. At the clinic we have a permanent doctor and a group of volunteers who are headed by our tireless clinic administrator/director, Fatima Lacayo de Saenz.

At our clinic we are seeing up to 50 patients daily from Monday through Friday. All patients receive their medicines free of charge. They make a contribution if able. We now have 350 registered patients with diabetes who receive their oral agents or insulin. We are also seeing the gamut of general medicine, chronic diseases and many pediatric cases. Records on patients are carefully kept.

We have equipped the clinic with modern instruments: a new EKG machine, monitor and defibrillator and a YAG laser machine for treatment of eye problems. We are looking for an ophthalmology chair with a slit lamp so our ophthalmologists can see patients at our clinic.

ANESTHESIOLOGY
Hubert Rodriguez, MD, Birmingham, AL
CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS
Celeste Neeley, CRNA, Birmingham, AL
Brooke Reeves, CRNA, Birmingham, AL
Joe Stowell, CRNA, Newton, NC

ENDOCRINOLOGY
Nick Loon, MD, Hilton Head, SC (Nephrology)
Rodolfo Vargas, MD, Birmingham, AL

INTERNAL MEDICINE
Weily Soong, MD, New Haven, CT, Director
Stephen Oehlers, MD, Springfield, OH
Jon Vacik, MD, New Haven, CT

TRIAGE-INTERNAL MEDICINE
Judy Loon, RN, Hilton Head, SC, Director
Myrna Horn, Hilton Head, SC, Translator
Tiffany Loon, Hilton Head, SC
Laurie Soong, Hamden, CT
Justin Quigley, Hamden, CT
PHARMACY/INTERNAL MED. CLINIC
Peggy Otto, Birmingham, AL, Director
Christine Todd, Hilton Head, SC

GYNECOLOGY/OBSTETRICS
David Hackney, MD, Columbus, OH
Judy Ganster, RN, Joliet, Illinois

OPHTHALMOLOGY
Michael Callahan, MD, Birmingham, AL
Wade Joiner, MD, Birmingham, AL
Ben Roberts, MD, Birmingham, AL
David Skier, MD, Birmingham, AL
ASSISTING IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
Scott Chramer, Measured eyes for Cataract Surgery, Birmingham, AL
Will Cambardella, Birmingham, AL
Larry Otto, Measured eyes for Cataract Surgery, Birmingham, AL
Nan Skier, Birmingham, AL
Billie Armstrong, RN, Birmingham, AL
Beth Sandefur, RN, Birmingham. AL

PEDIATRICS
Lisa Lustberg, MD, Columbus, OH
Bonnie Matthews, MD, New Haven, CT
Hernan Moreno, MD, Birmingham, AL
TRIAGE-PEDIATRICS
Ashley Hunt, Birmingham, AL
LaVerne Ramsey, Birmingham, AL

TRANSLATORS
Christine Edgerton, Durham, NC
Edward Kissell, Birmingham, AL
Myrna Horn, Hilton Head, SC
Sarah Vroom, Laguna Neguel, CA

VIDEOGRAPHY
Scott Chramer, Birmingham, AL
Terri Jones, Birmingham, AL

OPTOMETRY & LOW VISION SERVICE
Patti Fuhr, OD, PhD, Birmingham, AL
Dunia Mendoza, OD, Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Max Bruss, Mission Coordinator, VOSH Florida
Kim Zebehazy, MS, Orientation & Mobility Specialist, Pittsburg, PA
Lester Orellano, Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Sergio Romero, Managua, Nicaragua
Lowell Smith, RN, NC
Abbott Williams, FOR Representative, Birmingham, AL
Cheryl Williams, FOR Representative, Birmingham, AL
Claudia Cajina Mora, MD. Alabama-Granada- Clinica,
Fatima Lacayo de Saenz, Alabama-Granada Clinica, Director
Numerous & Wonderful
Alabama-Granada Clinica Volunteers

HOSPITAL REPORTS
NATIONAL CENTER OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, MANAGUA
Ben Roberts, Retinologist, saw a total of 50 patients during the week and did 3 retina surgeries a day for a total of 12 during the week. More indigent people needed surgery. The local retina doctor was to perform the remaining surgeries free of charge using the supplies Dr. Roberts left at the hospital.

HOSPITAL AMISTAD JAPON-NICARAGUA
GRANADA, NICARAGUA

HOSPITAL RECORDS REPORT ON PATIENTS SEEN IN CLINICS:
Internal Medicine Clinic 600 patients
Pediatric Clinic 530 children
Gynecology Clinic 339 women
Ophthalmology 290 patients
HOSPITAL RECORDS REPORT ON SURGERIES PERFORMED:
OPHTHALMOLOGY GYNECOLOGY
38 Cataracts 4 Hysterectomies
2 Suture removal 2 Marshall-Marchetti
12 Strabismus
3 Cornea transplants
3 Glaucoma Filters

ALABAMA GRANADA CLINIC RECORDS REPORT ON PATIENTS SEEN BY OPTOMETRY AND LOW VISIONS TEAM

678 Eye examinations
980 Glasses Dispensed
10 Low vision evaluations with dispensing of magnifers and Special reading glasses
10 Special high power eyeglasses prescribed, frames chosen for patients and lenses cut to specification, paid for by VOSH
18 Pediatric eye examinations
3 Blind persons trained with white cane for safer travel, significant other also trained in sighted-guide
Referrals to Ophthalmology for glaucoma surgery, diabetic laser surgery, cataract surgery, strabismus surgery
See www.voshalabama.org and www.vosh-florida.org for full report.

ACCOMPANYING PARENT FOR MISSION EXPERIENCE
Michael A. Callahan, Jr.
Alexandra Ganster
Andres Vargas
 

HOSPITAL AMISTAD JAPON-NICARAGUA, GRANADA

GENERAL MEDICAL CLINIC was attended by Drs. Gus Dubois, Nick Loon, Weily Soong and Stephen Oehlers. They were assisted by Peggy Otto, LPN and Adrienne Oehlers.
573 PATIENTS WERE SEEN.
        TRIAGE UNIT FOR GENERAL MED CLINIC was directed by Judy Loon, RN and ably assisted by Tiffany Loon, Deirdre Loon, Lauri Soong, Justin Quigley, Lindsey Comas and Scott Comas.
        PEDIATRIC CLINIC was conducted by Drs. Hernan Moreno, Kenneth Zouhary, and Marshall Pitts. Blanca Moreno assisted.
321 PATIENTS WERE SEEN.

OPHTHALMOLOGY CLINIC was conducted by Drs. Michael Callahan, Wade Joiner, Wade Brock and Mark Drabkin. Ultra sound equipment for measuring eyes was operated by Larry Otto and Scott Chramer.
210 PATIENTS WERE SEEN
SURGERIES PERFORMED WERE:
27 CATARACTS
5 CORNEA TRANSPLANTS
7 ESTRABISMS
1 RECONSTRUCTION OF AN EYELID
1 GLAUCOMA FILTER

GENERAL SURGERY WAS PERFORMED BY Drs. Lee Chapman and William Viar. They were assisted in clinic by their wives, Karen Chapman and Barbara Viar.
GENERAL SURGERY CONSULTS WERE 125
8 CHOLECYSTECTOMIES
4 HERNIA REPAIRS (ADULT)
1THYROIDECTOMY
1 BREAST BIOPSY
3 HERNIA REPAIRS (PEDIATRIC) DONE BY DR. MARSHALL PITTS.

MANAGUA HOSPITALS
40 VITRECTOMIES DONE BY DRS. RICHARD FEIST AND JOHN MASON
75 patients seen in Ophthalmology clinic

CARDIOLOGY:15 PACEMAKERS inserted by Dr. Ilana Kutinski assisted by Kiersten Taber
Two additional pacemakers were presented to La Primera Dama, Doña Lila de Bolaños at our Grand Opening of Alabama-Granada Clinica .
One was later inserted in an 83 year old indigent man, another in an older woman. Surgery was done by Dr. Daniel Menses (Local Cardiologist)

We have hired local Physicians for Alabama-Granada Clinica, our year round health service for indigent adults and children
Director:
Señora Fatima Lacayo de Saenz, with help from volunteers in Granada.
Attending Physicians:
Dr. Silvio Cuadra
Dr. Claudia Cajina
A year round clinic will enable us to send doctors, frequently rather than one time a year. Problems with eyes are extremely prevalent in Nicaragua.

NEEDS
For Alabama-Granada Clinica:  12 Lead EKG Machine, Portable Ultra Sound machine, Portable Doppler, a Pulse Oxymeter, Ophthalmology exam chair with slit lamp

        ALL TRIPS ARE BY INVITATION AND SANCTIONED BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH OF NICARAGUA. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOSPITALS ARE CAREFULLY DOCUMENTED. PHYSICIANS HAVE CURRENT LICENSES. VOLUNTEERS PHYSICIANS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, PAY THEIR OWN EXPENSES.

A RETROSPECTIVE
We have had the excitement of discovering a building in the old section of Granada for our clinic. We have experienced raising the money to buy it, to renovate it, to staff it. Although most of the volunteers are not from Latin America, we have adopted the poor in Nicaragua as our medical mission. We share the ownership of the clinic with the volunteers in Nicaragua. We accomplished much in a short time. Our prayers are that this will be a mission that grows and excites many who wish to be volunteer servants. We pray that there are those who cannot be volunteers who will make monetary contributions to keep this mission growing in importance in Granada. We wish to be a beacon to the poor and those who wish to help. All contributions are 100% tax deductible under not for profit 501 (c) (3).
 

(2003) February, We took 34 physicians and support personnel to Hospital Amistad Japon-Nicaragua in Granada and Cardiology and Ophthalmology hospitals in Managua.

Ophthalmologists: Drs. David Skier, Michael Callahan, and Richard Feist
41 cataract surgeries in Granada–17 Vitrectomies in Managua
Pediatric Surgeon: Dr. Marshall Pitts–13 Surgical procedures

Maxillofacial:
Drs. James Koehler, Craig Fairburne, and Dr. Kenneth Zouhary
20 surgical procedures
General Surgeon:
Dr. Lee Chapman --11 Surgical procedures
Nephrologist:
Dr. Nick Loon
Internists:
Drs. Weily Soong, Stephen Oehlers, Jorge Pino
Anesthesiologists:
Drs. Deloy Oberlin and Jerald Clanton
CRNA:
Joe Stowell
Gastroenterologist:
Dr. John Meier --Endoscope 11 colonoscope
RNS:
Valorie Wilson, assisted Dr. Skier. Judy Loon (conducted diabetes classes) , Janet Radford, assisted Dr. Meier
LPN Peggy Otto with Dr. Soong over saw general med clinic
Scott Chramer, Larry Otto (measured for lenses) Lauri Soong, Laurie Feist worked triage, screening and registering patients for clinic
Pediatrician:
Dr. Hernan Moreno (assistant, LaVerne Ramsey).
 

(2002) We also visited Asociacion Pro-Ninos Quemados De Nicaragua (a hospital for burned children) in Managua. We delivered equipment necessary to their work with the children: a dermatome, two cauteries, bayonet forceps, Padget dermatome blades, Patient Electrodes and Esu pens, Dermacarriers3.1 and 9.1, for graft mesher and Visera retainers (All Sterile) to be used in surgery.
 

(2001) In February we took 22 medical personnel to Hospital Amistad, Japon-Nicaragua. We were accompanied by four Operating room assistants, a videographer and three people to handle supplies. We solicited over $1,000,000 in equipment and medicines which were donated to the ill-equipped hospitals in Granada and Managua. Complete operating equipment for Cataracts, retinas, laparoscopic, and arthroscopic surgeries were included with medication and neonatal supplies.
 

(2000) February. Our Medical personnel arrived in Granada for our first mission. We worked in the Hospital Amistad Japon-Nicaragua. Clinics were held for Ob-Gyn, Ophthalmology, and General Medicine. We took medical supplies and medical equipment. Equipment was donated to the hospital and medications were given to the poor who came to the clinics. The estimated cost of the medical equipment, medical supplies and medicines was about $500,000.
2 Ophthalmologists–Drs. David Skier and Richard Feist 50 Cataracts and 6 cornea transplants
1 General and Neck Surgeon–Dr. Jaime Bitran Surgeries 8
1 Urologist–Dr. Salvador Marin Urology 8 surgeries
1 Endocrinologist–Dr. J. Rodolfo Vargas
1 Anesthesiologist–Dr. Jerald Clanton
2 General Medicine-- Drs. Chivers Woodruff and Weily Soong
1 Neurologist–Dr. Lacayo
1 Maxilofacial–Dr. Fernandez Maxillofacial 12 surgeries
3 Obstetricians/Gynecologists-- Drs. O. Thomas Bolding, Gilder Wideman and Dr. Lugo6 surgical procedures
1 ENT Dr. Bolaños

We also took school supplies to be distributed to schools where the poor attended in the afternoons when paying students had gone home. With a work team from Highland UMC, we renovated three rooms and paid for building of a new bathroom in the same area in Asylum La Providencia. The rooms are currently being used for isolation cases of indigent.
 

(1998) After Hurricane Mitch flooded much of Nicaragua, we took medical supplies to treat displaced poor in the countryside. $35,000 was collected from members of Highlands United Methodist Church and outside contributors. The money was presented to the Nicaraguan Red Cross for buying food to donate to the victims. We went into the fields where displaced Nicaraguans were existing in hot, black plastic huts. They had open sewage and one water hydrant for hundreds of people. Dr. Vargas treated and dispensed medicines to the poor in the fields.
 

(1995) We brought an 11 year old boy to Birmingham, AL for surgery. At 18 months a garbage truck backed over him and severed his leg at the hip. He was fitted in Birmingham with a special prosthesis not available in Nicaragua. In 2002, he graduated from high school. He plays baseball now.
 

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