Graciela - outside the Clinic the day of her three week post-op visit

 Graciela is a 76 year old woman who came to see us at the Clinic in October.  She has high blood pressure, heart failure and persistent swelling in her lower legs.  She walks with a walker and had a difficult time climbing the stairs to get to the second floor for her appointment.  Graciela had uterine prolapse, which means that whenever she was on her feet, her uterus would “fall out” and be in a dependent position between her legs.  She had been to see other doctors over the past four years, all of whom told her that they would not operate on her.  They told her that because of her other medical problems, the risk of surgery was too high.

We had two visitors with us in November.  Dr. Suk Chang, an anesthesiologist from Michigan, and Dr. Marv Eastlund, a gynecologist from Fort Wayne.  We talked to Graciela about the potential risks of her surgery, and she wanted to proceed.  On November 8 we performed a vaginal hysterectomy with some other surgery to support her bladder and rectum.  She was up out of bed the day after surgery and never had any problems; she went home on November 11.  She came back for a post-op visit this week and looks wonderful.  She told me as she was leaving that she wishes she had come to us four years ago.

We have had continuous blessings from the Lord in our operating room here.  We have been able to do complicated procedures without the support of ancillary services.  We thank the Lord for sending us talented professionals to help in the Clinic from both here in Ecuador and from other countries.  And we recognize where all the credit goes.  God’s mighty hand has done marvelous things here – all the praise and glory to our almighty King!