We have been helping to serve individuals in need in Loreto.  A group of Americans started to raise funds for the individuals below.  Some of their needs have been fulfilled, but more work needs to be done.  A local support group called Amor y Esperanza (Love and Hope) has been formed including local Mexican parents, friends, and local American residents, that has been raising funds through raffles and dinner fundraising to help the individuals below.  Included are:

Isis Andrea Rojas Arce   

        

 Isis Andrea is currently 6 years old and has a complex set of problems concerning her heart.  She suffers from Pulmonary Atresia with a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).  This is a birth defect in which the pulmonary artery and all of the branches do not fully develop and limits the amount of oxygen she can get from her lungs.  Her oxygen levels are normally about 75% but lower when ill or under stress.  The low oxygen is due to the mixing of oxygenated and non-oxygenated blood.

She came to Tijuana in early March 2023, to do a full series of tests.  After exhausting her options in the Mexican medical system, we were able to find a doctor who was very familiar with this kind of condition.  The doctor is James D. Hammel,

a Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon practicing at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital - Congenital Heart Center in Grand Rapids Michigan.

He is a highly regarded surgeon who has worked with an American-based non-profit organization doing work in Baja California Sur (BCS) called Los Cabos Children's Foundation (LCCF).  Dr. Hammel has worked with them for 20 years doing operations for them both in the U.S. and in Mexico.  He worked for about 6 years in Mexico and was the driving force behind building a pediatric heart center at Hospital Salvatierra in La Paz, BCS.  Dr. Hammel is going to donate his services to perform the operation.  Dr. Hammel has performed nearly 3000 operations for congenital heart defects including Pulmonary Atresia including more than 200 in Mexico and Central America.  Dr. Hammel has assembled a Mexican cardiac team that ranks among the best in Mexico.  Together they will perform the surgery. 

A procedure to reopen the pulmonary artery and its branches have shown that the body has the ability to generate new pulmonary arteries and capillaries that could significantly improve her oxygen levels.  While there is risk involved, the potential for improving the quality of her life and life expectancy makes this surgery worthwhile.  Dr. Hammel and LCCF both believe that it can be done.  Dr. Hammel convinced LCCF to take up Isis Andrea's cause and will pay for the majority of the costs.

The operation will be at Salvatierra Hospital in La Paz, scheduled for February 15, 2023.  A critical part of her care will be the post-op in the ICU unit which is the only pediatric ICU unit in BCS.  We are trying to raise funds to cover items that are currently not covered.  We will pay for the travel expenses of Dr. Hammel to come to BCS, expenses to cover the cost of extra doctors needed in the ICU unit, and any contingencies that may arise during and after the surgery.  We hope you can help.

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Yuri Guadalupe Amador Villegas   

Yuri is a 3 year-old girl who has spastic cerebral palsy.   She is a very happy little girl who is currently receiving regular therapy both in La Paz and in Loreto.   Because she loves her therapy and approaches it like a game, she is showing tremendous progress.  With the help of a special-needs walker she has discoverred freedom for the first time in her life and is well on her way to learning how to walk.  She is also just beginning to form words.

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She was also given a special needs stroller to help her mother move her around.  The hope is that in the very near future she will be able to walk with the help of a walker or cane.  This would significantly improve her life.

 

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NACHO - Ignacio Arce Arce

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Nacho Arce has been one of the most respected guides in the Sierra de San Francisco.  I have had the pleasure to travel with him in the Sierra at least a dozen times visiting virtually every major and minor site. 

 

It was virtually unanimous among my fellow travelers that while we had a nice group of guides on our trip, Nacho was the best one.

 

Now he needs our help.  Nacho is in critical need of knee replacement surgery.  We have tried to work with the Mexican Insurance company, ISSSTE, for almost 18 months trying to get this done, without success.  We simply can't wait much longer.  We have a private doctor named Victor Hugo Ramos in La Paz who was recommended to us, who has offered to do the surgery for USD 8000.00.  We need to add to that the cost of transportation to and from the Sierra to La Paz and back, along with food and accommodations.  We need to consider that a follow up will be needed.  Then there is the rehab, which is difficult to determine how long and how difficult that might be.  Whether or not ISSSTE can or will help is uncertain.  Trudi Angell knows a therapist in Loreto who can help start the rehabilitation.  Nacho may also have to spend time in either Santa Rosalia or Vizcaino to do the follow-up.  The costs for the other items may easily be USD 2000.00 more for a total of at least USD 10,000.00.  We currently have USD 6000.00 directly allocated to this project and hope that some of you can help out.

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Please use the DONATE button at the bottom of the page.  If Nacho does not show specifically, please donate to Commitment - General Fund - Where Most Needed.

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