YOUR donations saved a life!

What's the price of a life?
Next time you think that $5 or $10 can't make a BIG difference, think again!

As I posted previously, the Health Brigade to Djati was cancelled this past weekend so the brigade was moved to another village.

Here's an email we received from Maritza.

I was at the Crossroads with Raquel, Freddy, Luke, a wonderful Guinean doctor, Dr, Umaro. It was fantastic. They took care of about 27 people, suffering from all sort of things, from cut and bruises to high blood pressure etc.   Less people attended due to the cashew season.  Many families were out in their orchards collecting cashews and making the famous cashew wine to bring in a little extra cash for their families. But, It really doesn't matter if one person shows up or fifty, they all are in need of help and the important thing is that help is available.

On this particular day an amazing thing happened in the morning…

I decided to take a walk from the crossroads to the land where the new school is being built, as I walked the 100 feet or so, and a policeman walked with me. He was friendly and very chatty.  He told me how his bus was broken down and that the driver had hopped another bush taxi and went to Quebo to get the part fixed.  So there he was alone with the rest of the passengers, stranded and waiting for the driver.  When I turned left onto the land where the school is being built, he followed me and wanted to know what was going on that land and who was building it. As we spoke another passenger walked by us and headed towards the cashew trees. The policeman and I continued chatting and suddenly he said '' look the woman has fallen on the ground''  She had suffered a seizure, she moaned in pain and her eyes rolled backwards. 

I am no nurse, so I called Raquel on the phone and she told me that the woman would most likely wake up and that she should be brought to where the health brigade was working.

We waited for what seemed like hours (but I am sure it was only half hour or so).  The policeman in his desperation proceeded to give the woman a back rub, thinking that would bring her back.  Then he took one of her legs and moved it back and forth as if it was a gym class.  I stood there in shock.  Then another bus passenger decided he was going to blow on her ear, and that would bring her back to life. My dear, this was the weirdest thing I had ever witnessed.

As soon as the woman had a little bit of energy, I headed towards the road and we asked for help from some guys with a jeep.  They headed back to the place where the woman was and I headed for the health brigade to make room for the incoming emergency.

Dr. Umaro and Raquel were ready as soon as she came in. The woman was really spaced out, and had very little energy.  Suddenly Raquel and the Dr. started running. They took her blood sugar and it was 400.  She had experienced a diabetic seizure.  It was pretty  bad and she was in danger.  They put IV's in arm and administered many of the medications that you guys bought for the village. The woman was alive and stable.  She eventually recovered enough to be transported to Bissau where she could continue her diabetic treatments.

Not only did the health brigade most likely save her life, but there was medication available to give to her in order to make sure she could survive the trip to the hospital in Bissau.

The woman's name is Fatu. The medicine she received was the medicine you guys bought and her treatment was all free...as we said before, for those that need it and can't pay for the medication -  is given free of charge!!

Raquel also is monitoring the Senior citizens in Quebo that come to her clinic and they receive medial treatment and medications for blood pressure and diabetes free of charge.

One more time, thanks to the generosity of your team who have raised enough funds for those in need.

take care
love
Martitza

UPDATE:
I was in touch with Maritza today and she says:

Fatu left for Bissau after three or four hours at the clinic....yet her life was saved and she is expected to do diabetic treatment in Bissau.
Her bus driver was going to stop at Quebo in order to get her some more  medication at a local pharmacy before continuing the trip to Bissau. Raquel plans to contact her to find out how she is doing since being released.

I tell you one thing friends, just think about this, she would have been dead if the health brigade had not been there and if there had not been free medicine available when she fell (only hundred fifty feet away from our clinic).

Maritza will keep us posted

 We should all feel good after reading this story.