GUERRERO MEDICAL CLINIC FALL 2007
What an eye opening, rewarding, and life changing experience. During my trip to the Guerrero clinic, I learned so much about myself and about the conditions people live with in other countries, not to mention the vast amount of clinical knowledge I gained. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to travel to Mexico and take part in such a wonderful cause and hope to return this coming spring. Once I graduate and I'm in practice for myself, I will definitely return to Guerrero and do whatever I can to help.
Haley Archer
University of Houston College of Optometry third year student
I got involved in the Guerrero medical mission through Dr. Gregory Clariday, an eye surgeon from Houston, whom I have worked for since 1991. He started going to Guerrero in 2003 and I was in charge of getting the medical donations from various vendors to be able to do cataract surgery.
The first time I went to Guerrero was in April 2006. I had no idea of the clinic's magnitude - the mass of people in line outside the front door of the clinic was overwhelming. These people had been traveling days to reach the clinic to be able to have surgery or have glasses prescribed for them.
My job was getting the patients ready for cataract surgery. In all the years that I worked in Ophthalmology, I never saw cataracts so dense. These people were only able to see light, hand motions or counting your fingers. The next day after surgery, they were able to see again.
Some would get on their knees and thank God for their sight and for all of the volunteers who made this possible. I had people telling me they would praise our names to God for being there helping them. I would tell them that they were my blessing for being allowed to be there. Needless to say, it was hard to keep from crying and it humbled me greatly.
They never complained about having to wait for hours as they were thrilled to be there. I have attended the clinic two more times and each time is a blessing for me. We start work at 7:00 am and sometimes work until 7 or 8 at night trying to help as many people as possible.(it is so hard to turn people away) It is tiring, but the most rewarding experience I have ever had.
Cheri Clement
The Guerrero experience lasts long after we leave the clinic. Recently I received a note from Rae Sinor who attended the Fall 2006 clinic. Please visit the 2006 Fall "share our experiences" page and read her thoughts
(and see the 6 second video clip of her and Cheri in action!!) .
Robert...
There are many reasons why I continue returning to Guerrero. As a human being, I believe that we have a short time on earth and it's our duty to make at least one person's life better. This makes the man upstairs smile. As a doctor, I made an oath that I would help people regardless of if they had money to pay for my services. Obviously I participate in countless pro bono programs in my city where my practice is, but at this clinic, for these patients, having no money to pay is an understatment.
When my family needs a favor I am there without a second thought. Well the Guerrero clinic (i.e. Walter, Luis, Dr. Pruett, Alma, etc) has become my family. So when they say "Javi I need you", I'm there! The Guerrero clinic is like a car engine. Every single volunteer is a very important part to keep the engine running. I consider myself the bolt that joins the engine with the carburetor. I have to be there! I share alot of the same feelings others have posted here as well.
Francisco Javier Morales, OD 4th or 5th trip?
WHY DO I KEEP GOING BACK TO GUERRERO ?
I didn’t know anything about Guerrero until I became District Governor in 1999.
As Rotary requires, I visited the Guerrero club at that time. I met the local Rotarians and they took me and my wife to visit the clinic. There was not a clinic going on during the visit but we were very much impressed, so we started firing questions: Who did this? How long has it been going on? Who does the work? Etc. etc...
I gradually got a more complete picture and it was somewhat hard to believe that such a thing existed and that it was so little known in my district.
My second visit was in 2000 when I still was District Governor and Walter sent a private plane to pick me up (those were the good times!) from my home city in Torreon to see the clinic in action. I met Walter, DG John Painter PDG Bob Franklin, DGE Charlie Clemmons and many other volunteers from both countries. Seeing the clinic in full operation only strengthened my enthusiasm…
Watching so many volunteers give so selflessly to so many people in need makes you think we really can make a difference in this world!
Since then, I have been going back and enriched myself in the process. Not in terms of money but through so many rewarding experiences and new friendships made.
A round trip to Guerrero means 14 or more hours driving but I will keep coming back, spreading the word about this wonderful thing, and working from a distance as long as I can.
Celso Reyes
District 4110 Governor 1999-2000
What an awakening experience it was in Guerrero! To be part of a team that works long hours with few breaks for no monetary reward, yet always had the energy to smile and laugh at the days' end was undeniably the best experience of all. The clinic is so well organized with amazing volunteers.
The patient load is never ending with the severity of disability ranging greatly from person to person. The patients were very eager to be “cured”, but didn’t
seem to be bothered by the long lines and waiting. Volunteers maintained the atmosphere by passing out gifts, drinks, and candy. We were even entertained by various volunteers with singing and dancing. The overall atmosphere was amazing and by the end of the week, everyone was like a big family, making it difficult to leave.
Laura Vondra, 3rd year OD student at University of Houston
This morning I was distracted as I sat at my desk working. My mind drifted back to last Sunday as I made the return trip from Guerrero to El Paso and eventually to Dallas. The six days of travel, work, helping others, and of course some play at the end of the days were invigorating, rejuvenating, completely exhausting -- so rewarding.
I'm "unskilled" labor and my spanish skills are almost nil. The only way I'll ever make it into surgery is as a patient. Yet, there is a roll for me in this organized chaos. I support the medical team and administrators - getting up early making breakfast, flipping burgers on the grill, moving people and supplies - as well as the margarita machine twice a day - and of course, managing this web site.
This was my second to trip to the clinic. Last fall my oldest son, Josh, was able to join me. 
It was a bonding experience for us and a life changing experience for him. We helped people who could not help themselves. We helped give sight to people who could not see and dental care to people who desperately needed it. I came home last year and thought about the impact we made and thought about how I could do still more. Shortly thereafter, I surprised Walter with this web site.
Luis spends half the year lining up patients from across Chihuahua who desperately need our help. Almost 1,500 patients plus accompanying family or friends (as they can't see) move through our doors during a clinic. The choreography is awesome to watch and even more amazing as a participant.
Quite honestly, this web site was created to spread the message of what we do and help keep the clinic going by recruiting people and donors. Not everyone can take time to spend a week in rural 
Mexico. Yet everyone can help in some way - if we can touch them. One of the best ways is to share our stories and pictures - the "why" we do this and what we come away with. It works. After all, that is how I ended up at the clinic.
Send me your pictures and words (robert@guerreroclinic.org). Let's tell our stories and recruit new friends to help with our mission.
Robert Yudkin,
Addison Rotary Club
Dallas, TX
Wow, what an awesome week. You can spend countless hours in class, clinic and vision screenings and think you have seen it all until you step into the Guerrero clinic. I have never before been 
surrounded by so many amazing people who are so willing to step out of their comfort zones to help others.
What touched me the most was how appreciative the patients were. Many of them waited in line in the freezing cold weather for hours and came in with lots of eye problems due to sun damage. They were so excited just to get some eye drops and sunglasses! The best part was taking off the eye patches the day after the patients had cataract surgery. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be essentially blind for years and all of a sudden be able to see the world after having a free surgery done by a volunteer doctor. How grateful would you be? After we took off their patches, many of these patients cried, grabbed our arms, and couldn't say "thank you" enough.
It was really amazing how everything came together. It couldn’t have been done without everyone, from the coordinators to the food preparers, cleaners, doctors, nurses, encouragers and all of the other smiling faces. I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of the clinic this year. It was so hard to leave everyone and go back home, but I look forward to doing it again every 6 months!
Amie Montazari
3rd year OD student at University of Houston
When I went down to the clinic I pretty much had no idea what to expect. I was amazed by what I saw. From beginning to end, the experience was wonderful. It is truly eye-opening, for both the volunteers and for those who come to be served. Realizing the vast needs of the people, and the amount of good we can do in just a few days both saddened and motivated me. While I was overwhelmed by the amount of need, I was also encouraged by the generosity of the doctors (and all the volunteers) who take time and money to help. Most of us here in the U.S. are extremely fortunate, and we can help enormously in countries where health care is not readily available to vast parts of the population.
Volunteering at this clinic is one of my most rewarding experiences. While we are the ones “giving” I think that the sweet spirits of the people who come for the clinic’s services give more to us than we give to them. Almost across the board they were incredibly brave, grateful, patient and funny. We talked, laughed, sang, and danced. They came from far away, slept on floors, had only ice-cold water (or no running water at all) and sat waiting for hours. For some of them, this was the first time they had ever been to a doctor, and there must have been some element of fear. Yet almost all of them seemed calm and trusting, and continually told us how much they appreciated us.
The other volunteers also impressed me. Although the days were long and the mornings were early (especially for the breakfast crew!) people were cheerful, kind and cooperative. The health professionals were so patient with all of us novices, and everyone worked together so well. For a group of people who don’t necessarily know each other, or anything about healthcare or running a clinic, it was truly impressive that we were able to work together and get things done. Thank you to the organizers (especially Luis and Walter) and all the volunteers, because it was truly a pleasure. By the end of the clinic I think we all felt like a big family. Even though I had only known them for a few days, I was sad to leave everyone!
Jodie Jinnette
San Diego, CA
The ability to help others less fortunate, or with particular needs that we can fill, is most rewarding; our hearts smile.
Tom and I take our giving experiences back with us each time we leave Guerrero. We share these with others in hopes they, in turn, will catch the "giving bug", changing their lives as well as the lives of those they help.
Thomas and Suzanne Juarez
I hope everyone had a safe journey home. Please remember to send me your photos and stories about your experiences at the clinic. My email address is at the top of the page. I look forward to seeing old and new friends at future clinics.
Many thanks to Michel for hosting our end-of-clinic dinner on Saturday night. It was a wonderful event with good food, good company and good music. For those of you who were not able to join us, you missed a great time and a pleasant drive through the country. I took the liberty to combine the directions we should have taken with the Walter's route. You can chose which one to follow next time.
This clinic is now complete. Final numbers are found on the home page.
So much has been done yet so much more there is to accomplish. The clinic is an amazing place. It brings people together from two countries to help people in need. Many of the volunteers are new. However, many of us - both American and Mexican - have returned for our 2nd, 3rd, 5th or too many times to count time. There are people from all walks of life doing all types of things we never imagined - a lawyer dispensing glasses, an insurance agent sterilizing surgical instruments, a consultant helping behind the scenes, a rancher cutting lenses. The list goes on an on. There is something special about volunteering here that causes multiple generations to partake of the opportunity. Last year I brought my oldest son. This clinic, a long time volunteer brought her recent college graduate daughter. Alma's daughter, Isabell, returned for her second visit, this time with her baby in tow. Donald McDonald, another volunteer, returned not only with his adult son to improve our technology but also drafted a long time family friend from England.
While it is more difficult and more expensive for the Americans to get here, the clinic would not be a success without the Mexican volunteers who help in so many different ways - managing the patient flow, interpreting for the doctors, preliminary testing, opening their homes, providing meals, cooking, cleaning, and so much more.
There are 15 Rotary clubs from multiple districts represented in this clinic. This long time Rotary project, continues to allow us to live "service above self."
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Last night we celebrated this week's work with a large party at the Cabanas hosted by the Mayor. Volunteers and local Rotarians participated. Guerrero's Mayor and his wife addressed the gathering. A good time was had by all.
There will are a few more pictures to post over the next couple of days. Please check back.
The dentists were busy this morning with 30+ patients, 20 extractions, many fillings (rumor has it that they are drilling with a Black and Decker). The dental team consists of 3 dentists from the US, one from Mexico , two translators and a dental assistant. The team is watching a rerun of "Marathon Man" to prepare for the afternoon session.
Rise and Shine: While most of the volunteers won't arrive at clinic until 7am, a small, hearty (and cold) group head over to the clinic to prepare breakfast. The temperature is somewhere in the high 30's with the promise of a warm and clear day. Patients are already lining up at the clinic when the breakfast crew pulls up at 6am.This morning's breakfast consisted of pancakes, biscuits, scrambled eggs, cinnamon toast bacon, sausage and of course lots of hot coffee.
While breakfast prepares, the Mexican volunteers are getting set up and organized for the morning rush of patients. Some early birds arrive to beginning preparations in the surgical unit.
