Our purpose for visiting this clinic was to go around and talk to families, children, volunteers, nurses and doctors about their experiences and contributions to St. Andrews and why the clinic was so beneficial not just to the patients, but to them personally.
According to their website, most clinic days there are two orthopedic surgeons and several orthopedic residents and students, five pediatricians, two neurologists, one pediatric cardiologist, about six to eight medical students, one ophthalmology therapist, one equipment technician to fit wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other aids and finally about one-hundred volunteers to keep everything running neatly.
Every clinic, St. Andrews performs miracles on and for children. According to the website, each year about thirty-six children receive free orthopedic surgeries, fifteen participate in cleft palate surgeries and three take part in other surgeries at Shriners, U of A Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital of Carondelet Health Network, and certain hospitals located in Mexico.
I met some incredible people and learned some incredible stories while at St. Andrews. One person that especially made an impact on me was a little boy by the name of Luis. He came to St. Andrews with his mom and I met him in the “waiting room” where the children were sculpting play-dough, coloring in books and drawing art on paper.
Volunteer Linda Pantoja, 68, told me and my partner that Luis had cleft palate surgery about two years and he was at the clinic for a check-up. After watching him and the other children around him who had cleft palate surgery, I realized how beneficial St. Andrews can be for the children and families.
Click below to watch Luis interacting with a volunteer.
It was amazing to see how great these children looked and I realized that the doctors and volunteers at St. Andrews have completely changed the lives of those around them. St. Andrews truly conducts miracles for these families.
It was definitely hard to remain unbiased while at the clinic, especially watching little Luis. One of the volunteers was helping him play with the play-dough and I could see his face immediately illuminate.
St. Andrews clinic is only held once a month, but the volunteers conduct a large amount of work in just a few short hours. Every person at the clinic helps out…you will never see one person standing around. If they are not working with the children, they are cooking food or translating, making appointments, or handing out clothing.
It is truly a sight to see…and take part in if you get the chance
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