boe4fun - 10-28-2008 at 12:39 PM
Hola, We just got back last night from a 3 week trip down as far as La Paz. On our way down, we stopped in Ensenada and met with Coco and Pablo
Ibarra as well as some others at a local rehab house. Coco is staying with Pablo while he's there in Ensenada. We delivered an electric wheelchair to
Coco, but we were unable to measure and cast(mold) for his bilateral below knee prostheses due to the fact that his newer amputation is not yet
completely healed. On our way back home we again stopped in Ensenada to deliver a below knee prosthesis we had casted on our way south. I called
Pablo and he came by the rehab center where we were seeing the other patient. I delivered to him several "stump shrinkers" for Coco to use during his
healing process. These elastic tubes control post operative swelling and help decrease natural edema which tends to occur in the more sedentary
patients. Their use will allow us to obtain more accurate molds of Coco's limbs at a later date. Pablo said that he now rarely sees Coco as he is
out and about in his electric wheelchair from morning until night on a daily basis. But he also said Coco has remarked that he wishes the batteries
would hold a longer charge so he could stay out later! Anyway, our plan is to see Coco again on our way south this coming February and cast him for
his new legs if he's completely healed. On a similar note, we managed to deliver 17 lower limb prostheses (both above and below knee) and a dozen
lower limb braces (mostly to children) at our La Balandra Rotarian Clinic in La Paz. While heading back north from La Paz, we stopped in Loreto to
deliver a resting hand splint for a head trauma patient, a shoe build up for a beautiful little girl in Santa Rosalia who suffered a gunshot injury to
the growth plate on one of her femurs (thigh bone), a walker to an amputee in GN, and a wheelchair to a little girl in BoLA. Also, while spending the
night at the Cuesta Real in Mulege, I met and talked with Gary Graham, who owns a Baja guide service specializing in fly fishing and who is also an
associate columnist for the Western Outdoor News. He will most likely be doing an article on the La Paz clinic in a future edition of WON and help
get the Rotarians some more press coverage. All in all a great trip.
elgatoloco - 10-28-2008 at 01:02 PM
Great stuff you are doing!
Go Rotarians!!
ELINVESTIG8R - 10-28-2008 at 01:04 PM
boe4fun I do not know you and I am sure you do not solicit praise, but I just wanted you to know I think you and yours are doing wonderful work.
Debra - 10-28-2008 at 01:25 PM
Paul, Thanks for the update on Coco.
You mention the little girl in Bahia, is that the one that her mother pulls her around in the wagon that you talked about before and he mom wouldn't
let you help? Great news if it is.
Thanks for all you do.
I'll be down in a couple of weeks for a long stay, stop by while your down, you know where to find me.
Say Hi to Brad for me. Debra
boe4fun - 10-28-2008 at 02:00 PM
Hi Debra, Yes, that's the little girl. The Flying Sams that service the clinic in BoLA were going to try to get her up to the US for surgery, but her
mom wouldn't go for that. Her mom said that she is scheduled for some medical procedure (hopefully surgery) in Ensenada coming up soon. We gave her
a good used wheelchair that we had at our La Paz clinic, but it doesn't work too well in the sand - but real good and much better than the wagon when
on blacktop. If you and your son need a place to flop on your way down to Baja, shoot me an email or U2U. Me and my wife would be glad to put you
up for the night (barring other commitments as I'll be in Las Vegas at a sibling reunion Nov. 11th). Hasta Pronto, Paul
Debra - 10-28-2008 at 02:08 PM
Paul, can't seem to get U2 to work, although I seem to be recieving ok.
I might just take you up on your offer, although looks like it will be just me for right now, hubby and son to follow later. I still have Brad's cell
phone number I'll get in touch.
Try to U2 me and we can get emails from there maybe. Thanks
tripledigitken - 10-28-2008 at 02:43 PM
Paul,
The image of Coco burning the midnight oil in his wheelchair put a bigggggggggg smile on my face. Your group is awesome, a big thankyou for your
work!
Ken
David K - 10-28-2008 at 05:25 PM
Paul, I am so happy to hear such a great report of your efforts... So many thanks to you and your crew for what you do! BRAVO!!
BAJACAT - 10-28-2008 at 08:34 PM
Yes Paul , you guys did good, COCO is a good man, the little time I waas able to talk to him he dind't seem worry at all about his predicament, he is
like the Energizer Bunny, he keeps going in going and now more going..
Thanks for all the great things you guys do for the people of Baja
shari - 10-28-2008 at 08:39 PM
What fantastic work you are all doing...gracias amigos for helping all those folks who really need it...oh yeah, I can imagine coco wanting longer
lasting batteries all right...classic!
greybaby - 10-28-2008 at 09:08 PM
With all the bad "news" we encounter on a daily basis, this is such an encouraging and uplifting account of what can and is being done to make a
difference in people's lives. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. During our years living in Baja it was always our desire to help the less
fortunate there and you are an inspiration to all of us. Again, thank you.
Boe4fun
capitolkat - 10-29-2008 at 05:47 AM
Send me an email-- I'm the chairman of the world Community Service committee of the Washington DC Rotary club and we have one of the largest
international service organizations in Rotary and I own property in the La Paz area and would like to see if we can work on a matching grant- I'll be
in La Paz in two weeks--nherring@vetapp.gov--Norm
TMW - 10-29-2008 at 07:05 AM
Thanks for the update on Coco and thanks for the good work you and your people are doing.
TacoFeliz - 10-29-2008 at 03:46 PM
Thanks, Paul. You are doing great work. Glad to hear that Coco is getting out into the world!