Guatemalan residents wait in line to be seen at the medical clinic.

Dominga leaves the clinic with an armful of medicine.

COBÁN, Guatemala - She called herself an 'old woman,' but at age 42, that was hardly the case. Working as an agricultural laborer in the small, indigenous village of Pocola, Dominga had been the picture of health and vitality. But two years ago, things quickly changed. Dominga was having trouble breathing - and worse - she didn't know why.

"I felt a lot of pain in my chest and could hardly breathe," she said.

Unable to afford a doctor, Dominga was unaware of the severity of her condition. Fortunately, help was on the way. Operation Blessing and a team of four doctors arrived to their village and set up a free medical clinic at a local church. Over 600 village residents, including Dominga, stood in line, waiting to be examined.

"'I am an old woman and sometimes I feel a strong breathlessness," she told the doctor. When the diagnosis came back, it was not good. She had pneumonia - a dangerous strain that without proper medical treatment would be life-threatening.

But life was far from over for Dominga. Cradling an armful of free medicine given to her by Operation Blessing, she walked away from the clinic with a renewed sense of hope and healing.

"Thanks to God and to Operation Blessing, I will be able to work now without problems," she said.

At the clinic, doctors diagnosed a number of illnesses including viral infections, high blood pressure, anemia, skin tumors, vitamin deficiency in both children and pregnant women, and respiratory problems.

But as José Luis Casco, OBI representative in Cobán, pointed out, the value of the clinic was not just the free examinations, but also the free medicine that was dispensed.

"Other organizations hold medical clinics in the community, but the doctors only examine the patients. They don't give out medicine," he said. "Operation Blessing was diagnosing and handing out medicine to treat serious health problems - and all for free for these people who are so poor."

"Our children are no longer sick," said one parent whose twin sons were treated for a viral infection. "We used the medicine and our children now are healthy. Thank you to God and to Operation Blessing for continuing to help people."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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