The Selfless Work of an Unheralded Saint - Kenosis Spirit Keepers founder Carla Woody and Board Member Dr. Mike Weddle

 Long time supporters of Don Sergio share their most recent experience while visiting him in San Cristobal de las Casas.

https://thelifepathdialogues.com/2016/08/21/the-selfless-work-of-an-unheralded-saint/

Sergio Presents to the Local Medical School

L>R: Elsa, Don Sergio, Ethan.

Cesar and his girlfriend Lupe (both 2nd year medical students) invited Don Sergio to talk to their peers at the local medical school UNICH.  Sergio asked me to bring the video, El Andalon, to show the students then afterwards he'd say a few words about caring for wounds and burns.

Display put up by Cesar and Lupe about the care Don Sergio provides.

Sergio was clearly nervous, which was refreshing to see: indicative of the importance of speaking to future local health professionals. After the film, he quickly went into a dialog of how best to assess and treat burns, then onto ulcers. I never seen Don Sergio talk so much. If he knew how to do a powerpoint he may have talked for hours.

Don Sergio talking about burn and wound care.

The university emphasizes cultural awareness of the local indigenous population and opened the medical school 3 years ago.  It will take a total of 6 years for Cesar and Lupe to finish their training, then one year of social service to obtain their medical degree.

Sergio and his wife, Elsa.

Sixteen medical students came to the lecture.

L>R: Don Sergio, Cesar, Lupe.

A special thank you to Veremos Productions, Consuelo Alba and John Speyer for their generosity of creating this well told story of Don Sergio and his work.

Posted by Patricia Ferrer, PA-C.

Summer 2016: Effects of the road blocks

Flowers at Bela's are in full bloom.

This summer trip finds Sergio with good energy and nice support so that he can complete his local projects.  As usual, on the medicine side, we see the same health problems but different people.  As for the local turmoil, teachers and healthcare professionals are striking and protesting and have control of the flow of traffic in and out of the San Cris.

Ethan and I arrived Tuesday night with a few glitches but we knew everything would work out.  Our taxi driver What'sApp'd us and said he could not pick us up at the airport. So when we arrived in Tuxtla at 630pm it turned out the OCC bus was getting ready to depart to San Cris and unknown to us, we purchased the last 2 seats (the bus was packed). Eleven kilometers outside of San Cris we had to detour via a dirt road to get on the old highway into the city.  Safely we arrived at Bela's around 9pm.

Driving against traffic, these are the lines to get into the gas station, double file.

We had been aware of the recent protesting and violence in Oaxaca and although we did not see any protesting, we definitely experienced the effects. Teachers and health professionals (to my understanding have not been paid) create road blocks which prevent certain items to come in and out of the city. Tourism numbers are low and gasoline is limited. The lines at gas stations are long and they run out quickly. We cannot go out to the communities so we only treat the local patients....keeps us busy enough!

Progress at a snails pace

January 24, 2016

In some parts of the world progress moves at a snails pace...or as Don Sergio says, 'poco a poco'.

I am back home now after spending 2 weeks with Sergio in San Cristobol.  It was a rewarding visit finding Sergio well and busy.  Below are some thoughts I have about the state of Sergio's mission.

The Supply Line
Don Sergio is always in need of burn and wound care supplies. He can never have enough gauze, gauze wraps, ointment and gloves. Thankfully, there is a Tucson organization where I can request these items and check them as luggage when I visit him. Also, my medical network seems to come through when I request items they no longer need and a friendly physician who ships me boxes of good, unused supplies from Michigan throughout the year (Thank You, Dr. Beckmyer).

Some supplies I repack as tightly as possible and have friends (Thank You, Alejandra) who visit family in Mexico and postal ship them from Sonora. This system has worked well and supplements Sergio's inventory.  He does have friends from France that send him creams and other items as well.

The Help

L>R: friend of the team, Nataly, Esmeralda, Deborah and Edith.

Edith, is now in nursing school and doing well. She continues to help Sergio on a regular basis. I believe her nursing school is 5 years long and this is her first year. She had recruited a few others students to come help as well and they love it. They love the hands-on care and knowing they are making a difference in their community working along side Don Sergio.

Alfonso also continues to help Sergio. His unwavering admiration and respect is palpable. He has decided to pursue an engineering degree in San Cris and help Don Sergio until his compadre Cesar completes his medical training. Alfonso told me he looks to Don Sergio as a wise grandfather and spends most evenings working with him.

L>R: Sergio, Juanito, Alfonso.

Cesar, El General, is in his second year of med school and is doing well. Only when he is on break is he able to come help Sergio. He says his studies are going well and he is learning so much about medicine and loves it. He will be an exceptional physician!

Newbies: Esmeralda, Deborah, and Nataly. Esmeralda has a permanent smile on her face and is in nursing school with Edith. Nataly is a gymnastic teacher and helps in the evenings as well. She took up running a year and a half ago and has run 2 marathons already...she's a natural athlete.  She usually comes in the top 10 of various races...usually 15 to 42 kilometers. She was there most nights these past two weeks. Deborah is 15 years old and loves to hang out and hand out supplies to everyone working. I love the feeling of camaraderie and family that has developed over the years.

Gymnastic teacher and runner by day, volunteer at night.

Iker has been gone for almost a year now. He's ridden his bicycle over 9000 kilometers and is putting on another 3000 more as he heads to Usuiasia in Argentina.  We still hope for his return one day. We all miss him.

Having gloves, good blades to care for wounds is a plus.

Here we use a bucket for a stool.

Indiegogo Fundraiser
Last year's fund raising was a tremendous help for Sergio. This fundraiser helped support him over the last 8 months. His life is easier because of all of your donors. We plan another Indiegogo this spring. 

The Patients
It is a dream to one day, to find a way to integrate a patient education program...alas..for now, just a dream. Sadly, same conditions, different patients. It seems there is no end. We are making a difference but albeit, a bandaid..speaking metaphorically.  Each patient, young and old, are always expressing their gratitude for Sergio's (and his team's) help. The care they would receive if Sergio were not there, may not be adequate or sufficient to heal their wounds. As I've mentioned before, sometimes its more cost effective for the hospital to cut off the limb as oppose to nurse a wound back to health.  Sergio has nursed many limbs back to life.

Stop here, the following is for strong eyes and stomachs only.

His family brought him in 4 days after the injury.

This photo, left, is the young boy who was accidentally burned with polvora (flammable power used for fireworks). See posting Jan 9th. I cannot paint the picture with words of how quietly and calmly this child sat while Sergio applied vaseline and silver sulfasalazine to his open facial wounds.

Day 15 after initial burn and 11 days of burn care.

Sergio believes when one is calm during receiving wound care, their bodies heal quickly.


We hope all who know and/or who've met Sergio continue to provide support in some way, every bit helps. Stay tuned, we will keep updating the blog.

My nephew Ethan, a pre-med student, joined me this trip. He will do great things in his life!

My First Day With Sergio - by Ethan Hartman

After breakfast, Patti runs to call a taxi as I wait with the medical supplies that we have gathered for Don Sergio. The taxi takes us to Sergio’s museum, which doubles as his clinic. We unpack the supplies that we need for this morning’s house calls, and we leave almost as soon as we arrive. The taxi driver, a very good friend of Sergio’s, greets us at the door. “You’re late,” Sergio bellows. The two of them laugh and embrace. I receive a handshake, and notice that he has no thumb on his right hand—an amputation? “Me llamo Juanito, mucho gusto” he says with much gusto. “Soy Ethan, es buen conocerte,” I reply with a smile.
The four of us jump in Juanito’s taxi and begin an unexpectedly long journey.
It is possible to tell the generosity of a person by many measures. As we drove through the mountains, I begin to realize the true generosity of Don Sergio, a man willing to pay for a taxi to travel an hour and a half just to change the bandages and clean the burn wounds of a man he barely knew. The roads twist, rise, and fall, as we go deeper towards our destination; the town of Chanal. Patti feels nauseous and I hand her a plastic bag just in case.
I enjoy the long periods of silence between small talk when I just sit and think. I imagine myself living in Chiapas, writing medical blogs or working at Bela’s to pay for my rent. Above all I imagine helping Sergio with his work. I think about Brazil, and how much I long to visit the friends I made last summer. There is something about travel that I find so romantic, it truly is the greatest teacher. Learning a language introduces a new way of thinking, and a knowledge of 3rd world medicine is difficult to get in the 1st world. Maybe I can do all this in my year off between graduation and medical school…
No sei.
Plans are difficult to make in such an uncertain future.
When we arrive in Chanal, Sergio leads me into the home of burn victim, and I see what real 3rd world looks like. An entire family of 8 lives in 2 rooms, with no shoes, no clean water, and few sources of light or heat. One light bulb illuminates the room where a 41 year old man lies, cachectic and moaning. After greeting us with a weak smile, he uncovers himself to reveal his naked lower body. His legs, thinner than arms, are wrapped in bandages, oozing with green pus. My job for today is to hold the LED light, retrieve supplies, and take pictures. As Patti and Sergio take off the bandages, we can see that most of his right leg and half of his left is covered in 2nd and 3rd degree burns. This man had gotten drunk and fell into the fire at the center of his home. This story is all too common in Chiapas, and Sergio knows from experience that these wounds take a long time to heal without surgery. As we packed up to leave, I notice Sergio leave 100 pesos for the man on his dresser without saying a word.
The rest of the day is very busy. Juanito delivers us to people with various problems including diabetic ulcers, venous/arterial ulcers, and burns. I am thankful for my strong stomach, because many things we come across would destroy most of my friends’ desire to eat for days. 

After about 8 patients, Patti and I return to Bela’s for lunch; beet soup with salad and pepper empanadas…tan delicioso! After a quick nap, we are off to Sergio’s museum again. Only this time, patients are coming to him. Sergio also has other helpers, an 18 year old man who wants to go to medical school, and two 20 year old girls that are studying to become nurses. I struggle to get into the flow of where everything is, and I quickly become overwhelmed by all of the supplies, and how to get organized. I learn the ropes, however, as Patti scolds me a few times, and I observe how the other volunteers work with the patients and Sergio.
A child with terrible burns to his face from a firecracker accident is brought in by his parents. His face is inflamed and covered in pus. He sniffles slightly as Sergio cleans, debrides, and wraps his wounds, but he does not cry. What a champion. Another kid, who had cut his thumb open and received stitches several days ago, cries and thrashes as if we are torturing him when we take out his stitches. Not quite the same level of champ in that kid. I can’t blame him, I was the same way as a child.
Throughout the night we see infections, fistulas, eczema, ulcers, burns, and scabies. It’s amazing that Sergio can send these people home with some sort of treatment, from a limited amount of antibiotics, to various topical medications and wrappings. It’s great to know that people believe in his work and send things from all over the world. The end of the shift working with Sergio and his team brings a warm feeling to my heart, and I can’t wait to play a larger part in it.
Patti and I leave just before 7pm. I buy us some sandwiches and we walk home. After a quick workout, I head to the kitchen to eat my sandwich and Meli stops me, asking me to help her translate what a man named Jose is asking her. Why she asks me, I haven’t the slightest clue. I probably know less Spanish than she. By the end of our conversation, however, Jose asks for my email, and wishes to stay in touch with me. As I write my email down for him, he expresses interest in my pen, which has a flashlight at the end. I tell him that it’s his, and his face lights up with delight. How wonderful to make someone so happy with such a simple thing. Whether it’s treating a burn, or giving a gift, we can all make a difference.
Patti and I meditate on this before we chow down our sandwiches and discuss the clinical presentation and treatment of ulcers. You know that you are medically inclined when you can eat and look at disgusting photos…

Vistors from Kenosis Spirit Keepers

Earlier in 2015

Spiritual leader Carla Woody, founder of Kenosis Spirit Keepers (kenosis.net) has been traveling to Central and South America over the years leading tours in efforts to educate others of Indigenous traditions that may be on the verge of extinction. Somewhere along the way she met Don Sergio Castro and during her trips to Chiapas, she makes his museo/clinic one of her stops. She has noticed and appreciates Don Sergio's ability to heal wounds by the compassion and care he provides and does not miss an opportunity to share the experience with others.

Ms. Woody gives a portion of her proceeds from her tours to help Don Sergio carry on in his work. Below is a photo of her latest trip to Chiapas in 2015.

Friends of Sergio Indiegogo Campaign 2015

Thanks to Don Sergio’s Friends, our Indiegogo campaign was a success beyond our goal. I presented Don Sergio with a mock check disclosing the amount raised from the campaign. Several people gave to the campaign outside of the Internet process.

To all we THANK YOU!!

"Thank you all my friends for supporting my work."
Don Sergio Castro.

Don Sergio was surprised and very pleased. This money will tide him over for the next 4 – 6 months, relieving his financial burden of wound and burn care.

For those unaware of medical wound and burn care, it is very costly. The US has many burn hospitals to care for these horrific accident victims, and Mexico opened up their first burn hospital in 2011 (Mexico City). As for wound care clinics, there are many throughout the US: you will not find a major city without one. Here, there are none, at least in Chiapas. Sergio is a one-man wound care clinic, however, as I will post later, this may be changing....at least this is our hope.

Wound care is very costly due to the frequent visits and constant changing of dressings (wound care supplies are not cheap). Diabetes is rampant and once an ulcer starts it is hard to heal when the patient has uncontrolled diabetes and lives in poor conditions. Mexico has one of the highest rates of diabetes.

For those interested in continuous support we have extended the Indiegogo campaign to ‘indemand’, to accept funds indefinitely.

For those of you who’ve never visited Chiapas or San Cristóbal de las Casas, I encourage you to see this magical city and pay a visit to this incredible human being.

El Regalo de Iker (The Gift of Iker)

January 15, 2015 Thursday

Jueves 15 de Enero

Bela's garden. Jardin de Bela.

Many people ask what will happen when Don Sergio is not able to provide wound and burn care to the people he’s been serving all these years. DS usually answers, ‘I don't know’ or ‘it will just stop’. It makes sense to train someone who can continue, but who would be likely to give of themself as DS does? People have wanted to help but the follow-through has been iffy and in the past, has compromised his trust.

Mucha gente pregunta ¿qué pasará cuando Don Sergio no es capaz de proporcionar atención y cuidado a las heridas y quemaduras a la gente ha estado sirviendo a todos estos años. DS generalmente responde, 'No sé' o "sólo se detendrá". Tiene sentido entrenar a alguien que puede continuar, pero ¿quién sería capaz de dar de sí mismos como DS? Personas han querido ayudar pero el seguimiento ha sido incierto en el pasado, y ha comprometido su confianza.

 

In this seventh year of my working with DS, I have been the consistent medical help that returns again and again…. as far as I can tell.  Thankfully, that has changed.

En este séptimo año de mi trabajo con DS, he sido la constante ayuda médica que vuelve una y otra vez... en cuanto lo que pueda ver. Afortunadamente, esto ha cambiado.

Iker works while DS looks on. Iker esta trabajando
mientras DS mirando.

Iker, from the Basque region of Spain, said when he arrived at his posada last year, he briefly met someone who told him of Don Sergio. Iker went on DS’s tour and then came back later to see if he could help. DS told him, “only look, don’t touch”. Iker, a well-trained RN with a lot of experience with serious wounds, saw DS getting busy so he stepped in and got to work. He has been in San Cris for almost a year and helps DS most evenings at the museo.

Iker, de la región Vasca de España, dijo que cuando llegó a su posada el año pasado, brevemente conoció a alguien que le habló de Don Sergio. Iker se fue de gira con DS y llegó más tarde para ver si podía ayudar. DS le dijo: "sólo mira, no toques". Iker, un enfermero registrado con mucha experiencia al trato de heridas graves, vio a DS ocupado por lo que intervino y se puso a trabajar. Él lleva casi un año en San Cris y ayuda DS por la noche en el museo.

The gift of Iker is trust.  El regalo de Iker es la confianza.

His working with DS consistently has built trust.  Shortly after his arrival, Cesar and Alfonso, two Coletos jovenes (young people born in San Cris) showed up wanting to learn and help DS as well. They both plan on attending medical school and are eager to play a part in some type of patient care exposure. Of course, it is my hope, these Coletos will continue to help and possibly return after all their medical training.

Su trabajo con DS consistentemente ha construido confianza. Poco después de su llegada, Cesar y Alfonso, dos jovenes Coletos (jóvenes nacidos en San Cris) aparecieron y quisieron aprender y ayudar a DS también. Ambos planean asistir a la escuela médica y están dispuestos a participar en algún tipo de exposición al cuidado del paciente. Por supuesto, es mi esperanza, que estos Coletos continuarán ayudando y posiblemente volver después de todo su entrenamiento médico.

From my observation, it was Iker’s presence that made this easy for DS to train and trust them. Iker’s natural energy is sweet, loving, compassionate, and fun and he has a grounded presence everyone is attracted to.  Los jovenes look up to Iker and DS and I can’t imagine better role models.  Now Edith (another premedical Coleta) is helping and its obvious DS appreciates and enjoys their help.

De mis observaciones, fue la presencia de Iker que hicieron esto fácil para DS entrenar y confiar en ellos. La energía natural de Iker es dulce, amoroso, compasivo y divertido y tiene una presencia que todo el mundo se siente atraído. Los jovenes admiran a Iker y DS y yo no puedo imaginar mejores modelos a seguir. Ahora está ayudando Edith (otro pre-medicina Coleta) y es obvio que DS aprecia y disfruta de su ayuda.

Foreigners that come from countries with good medical resources are changed when we spend time in parts of the world where there are great disparities. Once you see things a certain way, you can never close your eyes to them.  This change creates an irreversible desire that moves you to do what you can in your world to make it better in theirs.

Los extranjeros que vienen de países con buenos recursos médicos cambian cuando pasan tiempo en partes del mundo donde hay grandes desigualdades. Una vez que ves las cosas de cierta manera, nunca les podrás cerrar los ojos. Este cambio crea un deseo irreversible que te mueve y al hacerlo querrás hacer todo lo que está en tu mundo para hacer mejor el suyo.

In the near future Iker will be leaving San Cristobal on his bicicleta to unknown Central and South American destinations for an unknown length of time, hoping to promote blood donation and finding ways he can help along the way.  He has no concrete plans; just to live and help on this journey of life.

En el futuro próximo Iker se irá de San Cristóbal en su bicicleta a destinos desconocidos de centro y Sur América por un período de tiempo desconocido, la esperanza de promover la donación de sangre y encontrar maneras que pueda ayudar en el camino. No tiene planes concretos; Sólo para vivir y ayudar en este camino de la vida.

Iker believes there are no coincidences and his time here was meant to be…this I agree.  Iker told me that this may be the last time we see each other, but I don't believe it, nor do I feel that way.… I think our paths will cross again, somewhere, someday.

Iker cree que no existen las coincidencias y su tiempo estaba destinado a ser aqui...estoy de acuerdo. Iker me dijo que esta puede ser la última vez que nos vemos, pero no lo creo, ni me siento así...Creo que nuestros caminos se cruzaran otra vez , en algún lugar, algún día.

L>R: Patricia, Santo Iker, Mexico’s future physicians: César, Edith, Alfonso.

Thank you Iker, we love you! 

 I > D: Patricia, Santo Iker, los futuros médicos de México: César, Edith, Alfonso.

Gracias Iker, te amamos!

There are more photos of Iker in past blog postings over the last year.. Hay más fotos de Iker en publicaciones en esta blog el año pasado.

Posted by Patricia Ferrer.

January 14, 2015 Wednesday

You can buy Amantenango pottery from
the local market, but your choices
are better in Amantenango.

Bela, Ricci, Manuela (Bela’s cocinera) and I had planned a trip to Amantenango de Valle to shop and buy handmade and painted pottery but with Ricci’s tummy problem it was a no go. This worked out as I could spend time with Don Sergio before our departing on Thursday.

Handmade and hand painted pottery from Amantenango.

He was glad to see me at the museo as he thought I was going to Amantenango. We quickly fell into our routine as we waited for the taxi. I told him the progress of our two crucial patients as we prepared our bags.

Our driver, Juanito, was running late so DS and I sat in silence until he started telling me of Elsa’s situation of dividing things amongst her sisters. He hopes it does not become too complicated.  Then he started telling me of his visit with his father and how his father wanted to leave him part of the house in Mexico City. DS said he did not want part of the house and since his step-brother had been taking care of the father the house should go to him.  There were other family issues and heartbreak but it sounded like a good visit.  Then with pause he said he wanted to spend more time with Elsa and take her on a trip to Tuxtla for one night - this was music to my ears as I told him that was a fantastic idea.

It was in November 2008 when I met Don Sergio and the person I am most grateful to for sending me to him is Nadia Guilliard. She started the La CasaEn El Árbol Language School and speaks 5 or more languages herself. Over the last 7 years we have seen each other infrequently, but today I had the pleasure of visiting with her again.  It turns out Christiane, Tuesday night’s tour guide, is good friends with Nadia and invited her to join us for tea in the afternoon. It was a short but wonderful visit at Tierra Adentro en Real de Guadalupe andador.

 

Nadia, right, is expecting her first child in May. Christiane, long time
supporter of Don Sergio is in the middle.

During the evening clinic DS was in his natural stride; quietly doing his wound care as he’s done it for 40+ years.  The crew was there except Cesar; since starting medical school he can only come in occasionally; and Ricci still battling the runs, but she came in later. It was nice having DS back.

Fellow PA, and dear friend, Ricci Silberman and I spend our last night, for this
trip visiting with Alfonso, Edith and Iker while DS gives a tour.

Shortly after patients left we sat on the benches looking forward to chatting with him but three English-speaking tourists had come in and were hoping DS would give a tour.  Whenever English speakers come it’s my opportunity to tell them of DS’s humanitarian work that he does not mention himself.  He gave a nice tour and I followed up with checking if they had questions. Everyone always has questions, as they are amazed with him. The words ‘surreal, amazing, Mother Teresa, Saint’ comes up a lot with many questions about the healthcare system, injuries, funding, and help.

Don Sergio and I hugged and said our good-byes for now. He knows I will be back this summer.

That evening Ricci and I had a dinner party for the crew: pizza, salad and Iker brought the Spanish wine.  It was quite and simple and we all visited. Bela joined us and chatted with everyone.  There were 7 of us and we could not finish the two bottles of wine Iker brought – wimps.


Posted by Patricia Ferrer.