The second annual free medical clinic sponsored by Friends of Barron has come to a close. Our staff was very pleased with the turnout and pleased with the good they were able to do for the Barron population. We were able to successfully treat a variety of ailments from diabetes to arthritis, the most serious of which included a blocked ureter, rectal bleeding, heart arrhythmias, blurred vision, loss of vision and joint pain.

Nurses Barb Sowa and Anna Ohmes collect physical data

Many ailments could be treated using the donated and purchased pharmaceuticals but ten of the more serious cases were referred on to the co-operating Mazatlan doctors who will treat them for free and make sure they are directed to another place where they will receive appropriate and timely treatment.  Money to support the clinic was raised at a “Meet the Medical Team” Taco Party held, Wednesday, March 18 at the Estrella del Mar Phase One Palapa. Over 10,000 pesos was raised from the EDM residents and more than $15,000 was raised privately to support the medical staff and stock the pharmacy. This would not have been possible without the

Kay Yeagley & Dr Sandra Lithgow dispense prescriptions

support of the EDM community and the EDM residents who volunteered to be concierges. Many thanks go out to Bob & Julie Wallace, who were not only concierge to Anna & Barb, but who also hosted a staff dinner on Thursday night. Jack & Debbie Gilman, Kim & Heather Anders and Carolyn & Steve Barnet were also concierges and Debbie & Heather made a tray full of breakfast burritos which were much

Dr Ryan Dadasovich & son Ryder, Kay Yeagley, nurse, Dr Rod Kaasa, Dawn Martin, nurse, Lisa Brennan, nurse, Fran Festa nurse, Anna Ohmes, nurse, Dr. Bonnie McGuire, Barb Sowa, nurse, & Dr Sandra Lithgow

Dr Bonnie McGuire, clinic organizer, Greg McGuire, EPIC volunteer and translator, Dave Marvin, Terry Kaasa, & Lindy Marvin, patient intake specialists, and Dick McGuire, clinic organizer & translator.

appreciated. During off-clinic hours, many people chipped in to make sure the staff were able to travel into Mazatlan and enjoy our area. Thanks go out to Mike Winey for cooking the Saturday night meal, to Sue & Brad Heinkle for showing a group the Golden Zone, Cindy Weber for providing personal training, Jan & Bill Schoen  and Jan & Clay Simon for donating the use of their condos and Marie Claude & Fernando for donating the use of their home.

Dr Bonnie explains the basics of diet & nutrition to the class

In addition to the medical clinic itself, Friends of Barron was able to offer a lecture on Healthy Living, presented by Bonnie & Greg McGuire. One obvious health concern for Barron residents is obesity induced diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. In an effort to head these serious health issue off at the pass, the lecture included basic information as well as a worksheet to calculate the present caloric intake of the participants. Using a simple procedure, Greg & Bonnie were able to demonstrate that a daily diet that includes 10 to 12 tortillas is not a diet that leads to weigh loss.

Greg McGuire, a Vail Int’l employee and EpicPromise.com volunteer shares his weigh loss experience with the class to illustrate the importance of food choices and portion sizes in a weight loss program.

This year we offered an evening session to allow men & women who work long days in the fields to attend the clinic and a Saturday session. In all, we were able to treat 188 patients over the four-day long clinic.

The Saturday session included the help of Mazatlan Doctor Enrique Prado. He assisted with the Saturday morning session seeing patients and referring them to available resources.  FOB also appreciates the assistance of Dr Susana Pedrero who offered to treat patients in need of dental procedures for free. Thanks must also be extended to Dr Jose Murillo, a Mazatlan pharmacist, Dr Miguel Patino and Sr Juan Llausas for providing assistance and support from the local medical community. It must also be acknowledged that Dr Kaasa, Dr Lithgow and Dr Dadosavich donated significant amount of pharmaceuticals and supplies, bringing suitcases full of stuff all the way down from Connecticut and Canada. The cutest part of the clinic was Ryder Dadosavich who assisted his father at the clinic with unflagging enthusiasm, running errands, building blank medical records and dispensing treats, toys and T-shirts to children attending the clinic.

Claire Silk & some happy patients

Another new component to the medical clinic was a “Caries Free at Three” program instituted by Claire Silk, an EDM resident and retired dental hygienist.  She spent Friday afternoon treating children too young to be included in the all kindergarten clinic she conducted the week before.  The goal is to educate the mothers about proper brushing techniques and sugar at night to prevent caries before they start.

The Healthy Living Lecture

Tired but happy medical staff