Learning Lessons — Lesson Number One
“In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” Tom Bodett
Can you believe that it has been 5 months, almost half a year, since Doctor Soledad’s APOH clinic opened its doors in the rural Mixtec village of Yanhuitlan, Oaxaca, Mexico?
During this time, there are many valuable lessons that Dr. Soledad and APOH have learned and we suspect there are many more yet to be learned.
Most importantly, we have learned that all of our efforts to build Yanhuitlan’s only medical clinic, though monumental, was just the beginning.
Yes, with your help and that of all of our donors, we were able to accomplish what many believed nearly impossible – the construction of a modern facility in the heart of one of Oaxaca’s poorest regions.
But now we have the more daunting challenge – TO DELIVER WHAT WE PROMISED THE PEOPLE – SAFE, EFFECTIVE MEDICAL CARE!
None of us knew, when Dr. Soledad first opened the clinic doors, exactly how the villagers would respond and how big was our job. Now we know. For decades, Yanhuitlan and its small surrounding pueblos had lived without any doctor or medical care. Now it is in their backyard, only minutes away.
The word has spread! Today in Yanhuitlan, for all of those in need of medical care, Dr. Soledad’s APOH clinic is where they seek help.
Since May 16 (the clinic’s opening day) through October 19, Dr. Soledad has seen and treated almost 500 patients! We anticipate that the number served each week will continue to grow.
This means APOH must have the resources it needs to provide Dr. Soledad with funds for the medicine and medical supplies needed and to give her financial assistance as needed.
Every patient coming to the clinic is asked to make a small donation for their consultation with the doctor and the medicine they receive. Those that can afford it do it willingly, saying that the donation is much smaller than they would pay if they had to go to another town for medical help. For those who cannot afford even a small donation, they are asked for nothing.
But, all of the villagers’ small donations, don’t add up to very much money.
Recognizing Dr. Soledad’s great contribution to the community’s health, APOH has an agreement to provide Dr. Soledad with a monthly donation for her professional service bringing homeopathic healthcare for her patients.
Our donation to Dr. Soledad plus her small collections from the villagers is her total source of income upon which she must support herself and her 3 children. In total, it is only a small amount of money. In her first month in Yanhuitlan, it added up to $1,300USD, which means we must do better.
If she depends upon her patient’s donations, it means that she must work longer hours including sometimes seeing patients on the weekend. It is our hope that the lesson learned is that APOH must do more, with help from our donors, to support her bringing healthcare to the Mixtec.
Learning Lessons — Lesson Number Two
As reported in August, Covid returned to Yanhuitlan and stubbornly continues to infect people, especially those from outlying villages who during the disease’s first days barricaded themselves in their homes and small pueblos. Now, with more and more interaction between villagers, especially at harvest time, Covid persists.
Many patients Dr. Soledad treats, because of their isolation, have not been vaccinated, have no immunity and often are elderly. They are campesinos who farm small patches of land and raise a few animals. This is the time of year for them to sell and barter surpluses from crops and animals. As a consequence, as they mix with others, the virus spreads.
In a recent case reported in late September by Dr. Soledad, an older woman came to the clinic with her even older 81year-old mother. Sadly, both had Covid infections but the mother’s case was complicated with respiratory problems. Her temperature was 103 degrees and her breathing very labored.
Recognizing the extreme emergency that the mother needed a respirator, she immediately drove her to the small regional hospital in the town of Nochitzlan. Her actions saved her life!
Now, both mother and daughter are back in their village, recuperating.
Lesson number two, however, is teaching us there is much more than Covid for our rural doctor to confront.
Dr. Soledad writes, “Now that fall weather has descended upon our mountain communities, flu-like and respiratory infections are on the rise. Each day at the clinic, several villagers present themselves, coughing with nasal congestion.”
“The weather now is TERRIBLE! During most days it is very cloudy but the weather is variable. It seems like there is 5 minutes of rain and then 5 minutes with a lot of wind. It can turn foggy and shortly after the sun breaks out for a time. More than anything, it is almost always windy and very, very cold, especially at night.”
“Now we are besieged with patients needing relief from other viral and flu-like symptoms complicated by the cold weather. My waiting room is filled with people coughing, with runny noses and watering eyes.”
Continuing, Dr. Soledad writes, “Each week I also have patients who come with a variety of physical and mental ills.”
Two of her most dramatic victories over other diseases were two female patients, Virginia, age 34 and Domitila, age 61.
VIRGINIA
Virginia came to the clinic August 30. She had suffered for several years from psoriasis. She had painful lesions all over her body, including her torso, arms, legs and the back of her neck.
She told Dr. Soledad that her pain from the lesions was so bad that she could not sleep at night. After prescribing a homeopathic remedy, the doctor asked Virginia to return in 2 weeks.
On her second visit, Virginia showed great improvement. The psoriasis on her head, eyelids, forearms and knees had nearly disappeared. Virginia said the itching that interrupted her sleep was now much less and she was sleeping better. But, she told Dr. Soledad that she was still very, very nervous. She said she did not know how to express her anger and she had realized that it affected her psoriasis very much.
Dr. Soledad prescribed additional homeopathic remedies and asked her to return in 2 weeks. Today, after this month-long treatment of homeopathic medicine, Virginia’s skin is now clear and fully healed. Her anxiety is gone.
DOMITILA
It was the first week of September when 71year-old Domitila, a diabetic, came to the clinic, she was accompanied by her daughter. Domitila was very pale and weak. She had partial paralysis to her face and she seemed confused.
Her daughter told Dr. Soledad that Domitila was recovering from a diabetic coma resulting from her use of insulin. An endocrinologist in Oaxaca Juarez had prescribed it, but after taking it every night she felt very bad. She began night sweats, became delirious and suffered great exhaustion. Taking the insulin, eventually lowered her blood glucose level to 40 mg/dL. This was the cause of the diabetic coma.
Following her first consultation Dr. Soledad asked the daughter to not give her mother additional insulin and she replaced this with a homeopathic remedy, asking them to return the following week for another consultation.
By the second week, Domitila’s depression and sadness had also disappeared. Her facial paralysis had nearly disappeared. By the end of September and numerous consultations, Domitila has fully recovered from the coma. Her blood glucose level is in normal range and no more medication, especially insulin, is needed!
Each week in Dr. Soledad’s weekly diaries to APOH she reports about patients of all ages from newly born babies to the elderly. Those who can, come alone for a doctor’s visit. Sometimes it is entire families that arrive. At the clinic, Dr. Soledad reports, she must be prepared to treat both physical and mental illness.
Her dedication to her work is truly remarkable!
Living in Yanhuitlan– a picture of Soledad’s family
Celebrating Mexico’s Independence Day !
What is it like to live in the village of Yanhuitlan? For this update to our donors, we asked Dr. Soledad how her children liked living there. Her response was an enthusiastic YES!
As it turned out, we asked on September 16, Mexico’s Independence Day, when all of Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain. As APOH discovered, YES, even Yanhuitlan celebrates!
We could not have asked at a better time. As it turned out both of Dr. Soledad’s sons were an important part of the celebration and her daughter joined with her school chums to also celebrate the holiday.
In Yanhuitlan, like in towns and villages all across Mexico, Independence Day is more than just a day. It is a four-day event and every community is filled with national pride!
Dr. Soledad writes: “In our village we start our celebration on September 13 at 5:45 in the morning. The secondary school marching band plays the national anthem as the flag is raised in the town square. That night we coronate our Independence Day Queen and her Princess. They must be either a Mixtec girl or young woman from Yanhuitlan.
Dr. Soledad writes: “In our village we start our celebration on September 13 at 5:45 in the morning. The secondary school marching band plays the national anthem as the flag is raised in the town square. That night we coronate our Independence Day Queen and her Princess. They must be either a Mixtec girl or young woman from Yanhuitlan.
Also, the community chooses 2 boys of the same age. Both couples dance a waltz and then offer dinner to all the people in town who accompany them.
The next day there is another flag raising ceremony with the band playing our national anthem. At 6 pm the flag is lowered. During this day there are food stalls in the town square with music.
On the morning of September 15, after the flag raising ceremony, there is a parade with the young women singing our national anthem. My daughter Karime participated in this.
At the close of the parade, the Municipal President gives the cry of Independence at the same time it is given in every town and village across Mexico, including Mexico City where our President also gives the cry of Independence.
In Yanhuitlan we have a large car that villagers have decorated. The Queen, Princess and their companions ride in it, in a short parade around our village. Again, in the evening we have a fiesta in the town square with food and music.
On the morning of September 16, following the flag raising ceremony, there is again a parade with all the students from all the schools in the town, with the Queen, Princess and their companions. The students march under the direction of what we call the “War Band.” We call it that because it plays only patriotic military music.
The parade ends in the town square where we have civic and cultural events celebrated by the students.
Arturito, my oldest son, danced folkloric dances with a dance group from his secondary school. Both of my sons played in concerts playing traditional music. In one performance they both played the marimba, that they have learned here in Yanhuitlan. Arturito, who also plays a keyboard, played a solo number.
We all enjoyed the holiday and I was so proud of my children in these events!”
Thank you, Dr. Soledad. We too are so proud of you and your children as you make Santo Domingo Yanhuitlan in Oaxaca, Mexico your home!
Thank you for your continuing support!
In this issue we have explored some lessons learned in the first months of operation of Dr. Soledad’s APOH clinic. Perhaps the greatest lesson learned is that it is now not time to stop and pat ourselves on the back for a “mission accomplished,” but rather, that it has just begun.
A Promise of Health, which in reality, is you the donors, must continue our support of Dr. Soledad in this important work. It is clear and only makes sense, that in this poorest of communities, there are not enough resources to solely support the clinic.
Each patient that can, gladly, makes a small donation to repay the doctor for his or her service and the medicine they receive. But at best, that represents less than half of the cost to operate the clinic.
Your donations now go to supplement what Dr. Soledad earns to support her and her children, to buy medicine, medical supplies, and for the upkeep of the clinic.
For all your gifts and for all of the years of your support, we are eternally grateful!
Your generosity has made thousands of sick people well and above all given them hope for a better life. Now, in the place where Mexico’s poorest indigenous people live, you are again giving them hope. Please, please help us spread the word and help us encourage others to join A Promise of Health in making the real promise of health a reality to these Mixtec families.
As Dr. Soledad always closes in her correspondence with A Promise of Health, “MUCHAS GRACIAS POR TODO Y QUE DIOS TE SIGA BENDICIENDO SIEMPRE Y MULTIPLICA TU GESTO DE GENEROSIDAD AL AYUDAR LOS OTROS.” – THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALWAYS AND MULTIPLY YOUR GESTURE OF GENEROSITY AS YOU HELP OTHERS.
Barbara and I would like to add, “May God bless you for all you have done, are doing and continue to do on their behalf.”
Barbara and Bill Grannell
