This was emailed by a volunteer who wanted to share this anonymously.
Anonymous post from a volunteer:
The experiences I have had here have been nothing short of incredible. My first day in Peru consisted of a 9 hour bus ride from Lima to Ayacucho through the Andes Moutains. The sights were breathtaking. Our second day allowed us some time to rest and adjust to the altitude and our new surroundings. I enjoyed some of the delicious food in the city and bought some beautiful souvenirs for friends and family back home. Our third day in Peru was our first in the clinic. I worked side by side with Dr. Wayne Wells as he saw probably 40-50 patients over 10 hours in our family medicine tent outside the hospital. Patients had a broad variety of complaints ranging from scabies to weakness to abdominal pain. A surprising number of our patients broke down in tears in the clinic, describing to us their struggles with depression, family, or work. Luckily, we have a Psychiatrist on our mission that we were able to refer our patients to. Dr. Wells became my impromptu teacher, showing me how to listen to patients' lung sounds, diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or explaining to me how to observe subtle nuances in patients' behavior and study their body language as he made often difficult diagnoses.
Our fourth day, we traveled for about an hour along windy roads through the Andes until we reached the quaint village of Quinua. We started off the day with a "song and a prayer" by Raquel and the rest of her staff at the hospital there. I assisted Petra and Nicole in the Diabetes clinic as we tested patients' blood glucose levels. Later, I switched over to Pharmacy, where I helped Ashley fill prescriptions. Adrian and Nicole were given the opportunity to interview patients, collecting a review of systems and history of present illness, under the supervision of Dr. Hougen. Later, we explored the beautiful city of Quinua. On our way home, we stopped to hike up a steep hill to visit "El Salvador" and take photos of the breathtaking view.
Our fifth day, today, I shadowed Dr. Khan in surgery. Dr. Khan performed three complicated hernia repairs and two cholecystectomies. I was struck by his confidence and poise in the OR as he showed me and another volunteer some of the tricks he had learned over the years. We were allowed to scrub in on two cases, retracting wounds and assisting him as much as we could.
I have been struck by the Peruvians here in Ayacucho. They are incredibly resourceful, honest, polite, and grateful people. It has been an honor and a privelege visiting their country and doing what I can to help. Though my Spanish is limited, I've learned that at times, a simple smile and a gentle touch can communicate far more than words ever could. Though we have often worked 10-12 hour days, it's easy to forget how tired you are or how much your feet hurt when you realize how much the people here need our help. At times, I have done little more than carry messages from one end of the hospital to the other or fetch patients or supplies, but I know that every little bit helps. I could care less about what I am doing, as long as I am helping to keep things running smoothly with the rest of the PAMS team to help the Peruvians. The camaraderie and teamwork evinced by the rest of the team has been incredibly inspiring in itself and I look forward to my last 2 days here.
I'd like to end this post with these final words--this has been one of my favorite quotes since high school, but I can't say I really quite understood it's meaning until this summer, when I traveled to Ayacucho to volunteer with the PAMS medical mission:
"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable." -Joseph Addison
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