Cusco, Peru

On August 6-13, 2010 Hands Across the Americas will return to Cusco for the third year in a row to treat people in 5 remote locations affected by the floods. We are taking 48 volunteers, including doctors who specialize in the following areas: pediatrics, internal medicine, OB/GYN, dermatology and dentistry.

A Personal Testimony from the 2008 Peru Medical Mission

I had the privilege of participating on the Hands Across the Americas Peru mission trip in August. I was humbled by the vision and passion of our founder, Jennifer Diamond, and her family, by the leadership of Dr. Hector Tarazza and Gisella Alvarez, R.N., by the dedication, compassion and unselfish service of 29 medical caregivers and volunteers. Through serving patients and reaping the rewards of their grace and appreciation, we affirmed ourselves.

To some we gave Tylenol to offer relief for the first time from aches and pain, to others education about self-care and nutrition, medicines to treat ailments compromising the quality of their lives, a pair of reading glasses, a caring touch, reassurance and kindness to all. We treated many neglected and underserved and witnessed the power of quiet human dignity. We arrived at the clinic site on our first morning and were welcomed with handshakes and warm words of greeting from volunteers ready to assist us and gifted with shawls made by the women of the village. People began arriving, often walking for hours, patiently and willing to wait as long as was needed for a chance for medical care rarely available to them.

With a commitment of hard work from doctors, nurses, translators, and coordinators, $40,000 worth of donated medicines, supplies and medical equipment, we were able to care for more than 1000 patients; three days operating from the Lucre clinic, one day from a school in Tipon and one day in Huarcay, a remote location 14000 feet up in the Andes. It was there that we met Carmen Rosa, who would become known as this mission's starfish. At age five she had been suffering from epilepsy, having as many as five seizures a day. Our doctors predicted her life would be compromised without proper diagnostic testing and treatment. Hands Across the Americas, with Jennifer Diamond's unwavering determination, acted to arrange for this little girl and her father to be flown to Lima for his daughter to receive the needed care at the hospital. Carmen Rosa has been seizure free since beginning her medication. In tears, her father asked Jennifer how he could ever thank her properly. She responded, "In your lifetime if there is someone that needs help, help them. Also, be kind to your wife, be a good father" he responded, "Si, Mama Jennifer, I will make sure to do that, I promise."

The Parable of the Starfish (author unknown)

One morning an elderly man was walking on a nearly deserted beach. He came upon a boy surrounded by thousands and thousands of starfish. As eagerly as he could, the youngster was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean. Puzzled, the older man looked at the young boy and asked, "Little boy, what are you doing?" The youth responded without looking up, "I'm trying to save these starfish, sir." The old man chuckled aloud, and queried, "Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make? "Holding a starfish in his hand, the boy turned to the man and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said, "It will make a difference to that one!"

On August 6-13, 2010 Hands Across the Americas will return to Cusco for the third year in a row to treat people in 5 remote locations affected by the floods. We are taking 48 volunteers, including doctors who specialize in the following areas: pediatrics, internal medicine, OB/GYN, dermatology and dentistry.