November 2005

TRIP NOTES

Last minute changes kept us busy. We found out from Dr. Thatcher, who flew down on Thursday, that San Felipe was out of fuel. This logistical problem caused one plane to cancel. The weather was great for both the trip down and the return. The town of Mulege was celebrating the 300th anniversary of the founding of the mission. A car, donated to the Rotary Clinic and Aeromédicos by Ross and Lyndee Rankin, was driven down by Gary and Sheryl Willson.

Medical Clinic Notes

It was great to have Dr. Tom Kennedy back. For a while it looked like he was going to be our only physician on the trip. However, Ted and Margo talked Dr. Kevin Hutton, their son in law from San Diego, into joining the trip. Also, dermatologist Dr. Thatcher and assistant Kathy came and treated the sun damage of Baja. Myra Cochran, a physician’s assistant, rounded out the medical side. Once again, thanks to all the translators, nurses and emts who smooth out the flow… Great job.

Dental Notes

The dental clinic ran smoothly with Dr. Grube doing the majority of extractions, while Dr. Stu MacPherson was busy filling cavities. Dr. Dick Klein, whose return was eagerly awaited, was kept busy on dentures, and Cathie Pare cleaned teeth with help from Skye MacPherson. Triage was handled efficiently by RuthAnn Quarles. Susan Grube translated. Lyndee Rankin and Kim Cook did the sterilization. All in all, 37 patients were seen and a great job was done by all. Thank you!

Acupuncture Clinic

Karen Brown joined us from the Bay Area to treat patients with acupuncture. There was a wide gamut of neck, back, arm, knee, and name all the parts of the body, pain to be treated on these are hard working people. There were also, not surprisingly, cases of headache, sadness, and depression. In Karen’s words, ” It was very similar to what I see at home. I came back feeling very lucky to have been part of such a great team.”

Engineering

Tobin Greenswig and helpers moved the internet repeater to be more accessible to the elementary school. A wireless laptop and older digital camera were donated by The Grubes and Tobin gave lessons to teacher Rafael Hernandez on their use. You can now contact The Cadeje elementary school by e-mail. Please feel free to write them at .

Lunch Notes

The ladies of Cadeje always fix us a great lunch. This last lunch was Nobel worthy. Picture a great, fresh, hot off the grill lobster lunch. Now believe that the delicious lobster was not even the best part! Bea’s chicken mole got the most rave reviews. Myra Cochran, who claimed she never had a mole she liked, was seen, after her third helping, writing down the recipe. Others gave the rajas de chile high marks.

December Trip

Hard to believe its here already. Departing on the 9th. The Clinic is the 10th.

Pilots and interested volunteers for the December trip: call Melodi at 736-7123 if you have not signed up.

Pre-Trip Potluck: Frank Heintz will host the pre trip potluck, Wednesday, November 30th. Click here for map and more info.

November Volunteers:

Pilots: Craig Arcuri, Larry Cochran, Jim Gaskin, John Grube, Frank Heintz Tom Koff, Ted Kenney, Ross Rankin, Roni MacPherson MDs: Tom Kennedy, Kevin Hutton, John Thatcher Nurse Practitioner: Myra Cochran Acupuncturist: Karen Brown Dentists: John Grube, Stu MacPhearson, Dick Klien RNs: Kathy Ogden, Marilyn Enns, Christine Snider, Elizabeth Gilmore, Adri Lawson, Elana Feldman, Marci Lang Hygienist: Cathie Pare. Dental Assistants: Melodi Willis, Roni MacPhearson, RuthAnn Quarles, Skye MacPhearson EMT's: Christopher Huntsman, Alisa Monticelli Engineer: Tobin Greensweig Helpers: Kim Cook, Lyndee Rankin, Chelsea Snider, Pam Hutton Drivers: Gary Willson, Sheryl Hutton Translators: Susan Grube, Adri Lawson, Elizabeth Gilmore.

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