Today and for the next two days, we are with CinterAndes — a mobile surgery team that travels around Ecuador performing free surgery for those unable to pay for such needs. They obtained their surgery truck (shown above) 20 years ago today.  It is amazing how much they can accomplish in such a small space.  CinterAndes desperately needs a new truck though, and is currently working with various organizations such as the Rotary Club Cuenca, to try to raise the $300,000 needed.  The expected new truck will be slightly larger (can’t be too big or it won’t be able to navigate many of the roads in the outlying areas), and will have updated medical equipment.

The team travels with a full complement of doctors needed for performing surgery.  Dr Edgar Rodas (center in the image above) founded the organization in 1990. Among many other awards, he received the 2009 Surgical Humanitarian Award from the American College of Surgeons. The other volunteers are a rotating combination of advanced medical students and professional doctors.

Watching them work is a sight I had never expected to be able to witness.  I have been on the table as a patient a few times in my life, but this is the first time I was able to watch the process unfold. 13 surgeries were performed over a two day period.  The Mission de Guadalupe (in the Amazonian jungles of Southern Ecuador) where we visited, also had an operating room, so both the mission room and the truck were kept busy from 8:00AM until 9:30PM each day.

Families waited outside while surgery was taking place.

On the way back, everyone stopped at Parque Nacional Podocarpus for a swim beneath a waterfall.

Claudio Velez, one of the surgeons, brought along his guitar and entertained everyone near the waterfall, before heading the long drive home.