Cataract Surgeries in Tarapoto, Cookout, and Birds of the Pantanos de Villa

12 November 2017

We spent time this week in the high jungle city of Tarapoto with the final part of the vision project. This project included: 1) exams and donations of glasses for 800 children, 2) donation of vision surgical equipment for the new hospital in Tarapoto, and 3) the visit by a US ophthalmologist to train b8 and perform cataract surgeries. This was the week for the surgeries.

Sunset over the new hospital in Tarapoto, the site of the donation of the surgical equipment and eye surgeries

Tarapoto - high jungle city in northern Peru

Cataract Surgeries and Training

This week was devoted to the visit and training course by an American ophthalmologist, Dr. Kyle Klingler, and his sister, Nurse Kailani Klingler Lee. Dr. Klingler gives his time as a volunteer several times each year to travel to poor countries teaching cataract surgical techniques and overseeing surgeries for the poor. We served as the in-country contacts coordinating the visit.

Arrival at the new Tarapoto Hospital (L to R) - Marshall, Dr. Kyle Klingler, and Nurse Kailani Klinger Lee. Note the two huge duffel bags they brought that were filled with donated surgical supplies.

If you have money in Peru, you go to private hospitals and clinics. But, if you are poor, you go to government hospitals, which many times lack essential equipment and services. Poor people with cataracts were previously referred to bigger hospitals in Lima, but they often could not afford the airline or bus tickets, so many just stayed in Tarapoto in their blind state. This project hopes to help reverse that by giving sight back to those that previously had no hope.

The visit included training to perform small-incision cataract surgeries (SICS), a preferred technique in areas of the world lacking resources. The students included three Peruvian ophthalmologists and two nurses. Although the doctors had all performed cataract surgeries previously, this is the first time these surgeries had been performed at this new government hospital in Tarapoto.

The course provided a review of techniques, along with hands-on practice before proceeding with the actual surgeries.

Dr. Kyle Klingler (who served a Portuguese-speaking mission as a young adult) taught the course in English. His sister Kailani, is a nurse and served as a translator during the course (she served as a Spanish-speaking missionary here in Peru, so she was a great help). 

Students included three Peruvian ophthalmologists - Dr. Villafuerte (left), Dr. Arevalo (right), and Dr. Fonseca (far right), plus the two nurses, Claudia and Veronica.

Classroom training took place during the first two days and included formal teaching and videos.

The hospital served lunch during one of the modules on 'complications during surgery'. Watching eye surgery videos while eating didn't seem to affect the doctors. But, for some reason, we couldn't finish our lunches!

On the first day they also held a formal delivery ceremony for all the surgical equipment we had donated a few weeks prior (ocular ultra-sound, tenometer, and other instruments). The press covered the event and, like always, I ended up being interviewed and on TV that night.

Dr. Arevalo, head of the ophthalmology department, spoke during the delivery ceremony / press conference regarding the eye surgery equipment we had donated (part of which is shown here). Also at the ceremony (behind Dr. Arevalo) was Jimmy Guevara, a local church leader, who had  accompanied us around the region on previous visits.

While class went on, we helped organize the surgical supplies that the Klinglers brought in their large duffel bags.

Before actual surgeries on patients, the Peruvian doctors practiced their skills by performing surgeries on pig eyes.

Dr. Klingler demonstrated first by performing surgery on the pig eyes. Each class member then followed.

Dr. Fonseca got her turn operating on the pig eye while Dr. Villafuerte observed.

The day of the surgeries arrived, and patients who had been pre-screened arrived for their surgery. Surgeries progressed daily for the three final days of the course with a total of 11 patients being treated during the week.

Cataract surgery in progress - Dr. Villafuerte assisted by Dr. Arevalo

One afternoon, we gathered at a viewpoint about two blocks from the hospital to enjoy the view. Tarapoto is in such a beautiful jungle setting, kind of like what you would expect in Hawaii.

Near the hospital in Tarapoto - Henries, Klinglers, and Dr. Villafuerte. On a final note, Dr. Villafuerte was hired by the hospital only a few months ago and is a member of our church. Whether his hiring was by coincidence or divine intervention, his presence made an enormous difference.

We pray this project will have a long-term impact and that many of those without sight will again have hope once their vision is restored.

Cookout with Friends

Napoleon Quispe (from the Area Office) and his wife Larysa invited us to their home last week for a cookout. We and a few other senior missionaries were invited. 

Napoleon is an incredible chef at the barbecue. I have never eaten so much meat in my life! It was a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon.

Napoleon Quispe - Master grill chef (and also the Purchasing Manager at the Area Office when he is not grilling)

Senior Missionaries at Napoleon and Larysa Quispe's home
(L to R) Elder & Sister Jones, Sister Toro/Elder Liebel, Napoleon Quispe, Sister Rosario, Larysa Quispe, Elder & Sister Henrie

We are grateful we have the chance to associate with such great people here in Peru.

Birds of a Feather - Pantanos de Villa Bird Refuge

Saturday, our day off, included a visit to the 'Pantanos de Villa' bird refuge. Located on the southern edge of Lima City in a district called Chorillos, this refuge is a marshland (or 'pantano' in Spanish) that the city has preserved as a refuge for an incredible number of bird species. Even though it is still in the city of Lima, this refuge feels like it is on the other side of the planet from Lima - quiet, peaceful, and totally wild. What a nice escape! (Sandy decided to take the day off to catch up on chores, so she stayed home while I went.)

I was invited to go with Jerry and Jeanne Dunn, senior missionaries in charge of recording church history in Peru. Jerry has been an avid bird enthusiast for years and was an excellent guide. His life list of birds before the visit included 1,998 species. He picked up three more species on this visit, putting him up to 2,001 birds. Hurray!

Pantanos de Villa - A series of ponds, marshes, and canals that is the home to tens of thousands of year-round and migratory birds. It is hard to believe this place is inside the city limits of Lima.

We hopped into a row boat for an up-close and personal tour. (L to R) Marshall, Jeanne Dunn, Augusto (the native guide), and Jerry Dunn.

I saw more bird species in this one day than I have ever seen at one time. Here are a few of the incredible birds I photographed on Saturday.

Andean Coot - the yellow forehead can range in color from white to beige.

American Oystercatcher - their long orange beak can be used to break open large shells. 

Great Egrets - tall and stately birds with beautiful white plumage. 

Pied Billed Grebe - found throughout North and South America.

Common Moorhen or Gallinule - the orange beak makes this bird really stand out.

Black Crowned Night Heron - this beautiful bird is found throughout the world.

Black Skimmers - these birds fly low over the water with their lower bill touching the water, skimming for fish. When they hit a fish, their upper bill slams shut on it and then they have their dinner.

Little Blue Heron - their deep-blue feathers make these birds look like they are covered in velvet.

Cinnamon Teal - this is a North American duck that winters here in South America. What a long migration!

Sanderlings (with American Oystercatchers behind) - Sanderlings breed north of the Arctic Circle and migrate over 6,000 miles to winter in Peru and Chile. Tens of thousands of these birds were on the beaches the day we went.

Snowy Egret - beautiful white bird with black beak and yellow feet.

Peruvian Pelicans - these birds are massive. When they fly, they look like small airplanes.

Many authorities believe Peru has more bird species than any other country in the world. With the Amazon Jungle, the Andes Mountains, and the desert coast, Peru is a prime place for bird watchers. I was glad I had Jerry Dunn with me on Saturday to tell me the names of all the birds I was photographing. My 'trigger finger' on my camera was sore by the end of the day!


And so we return to work on Monday to face another incredibly busy week. We currently have over 30 open projects that we are working. This is the busiest we have been in years!