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THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 8

By Jean Bedell
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Our trip has ended. After waiting for 1-1/2 hours at the airport in Tampico for the fog to lift we had a safe, smooth flight Tampico-Houston-Denver. Oh, yes, there was one challenge. How does one convince an employee that one suitcase 3 lbs over 50 averages with one suitcase 3 lbs under 50 and there should be no extra charges? The last day is spent with final surgeries and patients and then (ugh) packing, and labeling, separating those things to bring back to Boulder, and those things to be stored securely in Mante. By 1:30, the last patient was seen, rooms emptied, doors locked, and trucks loaded. Continue reading “THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 8”

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Milagros

By Rich Lopez
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sunmoon

February 17, 2010: Miracles do happen.

Virginia is a 32 year-old woman with three children. She’s been deaf for her entire life. Over time she learned to read lips. However, the limits of reading lips meant she couldn’t hear her baby crying in another room. She spent her life finding ways to deal with her limitations. Fortunately, she had a husband who loved her unconditionally. Still, she always hoped that there might come a day when she could hear. That day was today. Continue reading “Milagros”

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Una gota de agua

By Rich Lopez
Visit his blog on The Daily Camera

February 16, 2010: Yesterday was a dichotomy between treating patients is horrible conditions and the pomp of speeches and ceremonies. Both are important, but the day presented the Clinic team with many challenges. The temperature fell to the low 50’s and the blustery wind created a bone chilling environment. The Clinic patients sit in school chairs outside, usually under the shade of large tents to protect them from the sun or rain. Patients were ill-prepared for the cold and arrived with sweaters or light jackets at best. This is Mante remember. It is rarely cold, but yesterday was different. Patients shivered quietly waiting their turn to speak to a doctor. The triage team filled out the patient information forms, translating from Spanish to English. Elderly patients shivered uncontrollably. When it came time to take their blood pressure, they were asked to remove their jackets. Continue reading “Una gota de agua”

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THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 5

By Jean Bedell
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Today is Ash Wednesday. Traditionally folks sacrifice or give up something for the 40 days of Lent. Is it chocolate? Cervesa? Cigars? Complaining about the cold weather? Or nothing this year? Actually, here’s the scoop. Yesterday was Mardi Gras. A party-group spent the evening together hosted by one of our team. They toasted all of us and declared we were absolved of all our sins! Continue reading “THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 5”

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Maestros, Muralistas y Artistas

By Rich Lopez
Visit his blog on The Daily Camera

February 15, 2010: One of the most significant benefits of a sister cities relationship is the cultural exchanges that can emerge. The Dairy Center Mural by Florian Lopez was a gift from Mante. Florian is a “muralista” whose talents were recognized at an early age. Florian’s uncle brought him to the opening of the Ramon Cano Gallery in 1973. Florian showed examples of this work to the then curator of the gallery, Lucio Tenorio. Lucio himself was a celebrated muralist, who saw potential in Florian. Although many young artists brought examples of their work to Tenorio in hope that they would be allowed to apprentice with the master, only Florian was chosen. He spent the next seven years studying with Tenorio, growing his skill and learning the dicipline it takes to be a muralist. “First you must read before you paint.” In other words, you must know the subject matter and message before you can depict it. The paintings above were created from memory by Tenorio and capture the beauty of the daily life he experienced as a child harvesting sugar cane. These two paintings hang in the mayors office, a gift to the City. We were taken to a local elementary school where another of Tenorio’s mural graces the computuer lab. He spent time explaining his symbolism and use of colors. Continue reading “Maestros, Muralistas y Artistas”

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THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 3

By Jean Bedell
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We’re talkin’ at LEAST chilly if not COLD. It’s 53 degrees Fahrenheit with showers in the afternoon.
Here’s what’s amazing about Mante flexibility. The opening ceremonies scheduled here for outdoors at the School of Nursing were moved across the street to a covered area of the Technological School. Chairs were set up; the instantaneous Spanish/English audio translation system was in place. Continue reading “THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 3”

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THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 2

By Jean Bedell
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VALENTINE’S DAY…Are all you readers pleased with the flowers and/or candy you have provided for your spouses, SOs, want-to-be SOs or just good friends? Many folks are wearing red jewelry or shirts. And the DIF women provided us with red heart-shaped suckers for the day. It is now just 2:30. Remember the old Peter, Paul and Mary song, “WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?” But to paraphrase, WHERE HAVE ALL THE PATIENTS GONE? Peds commented that it is like a final Friday afternoon. But there are still good things happening. Continue reading “THE FULL MANTE Vol 12, No 2”