Soul Of The Peruvian Andes

We would like to thank everyone who generously donated to SoPA Charity Day! Every single one of your contributions will allow us to help the people in these Andean communities. SOPA would also like to thank every single doctor, dentist, nurse, technician and volunteer that has dedicated their time and effort over the last eleven (11) years. There are not enough words to express SOPA’s gratitude. You have all worked tirelessly under extreme circumstances, yet smiled and giving nothing less than your full attention to the people in these communities. For that we and these communities thank each and everyone of you. We look forward to seeing you all again in the near future!

Dr. Luis Basaldua - Here Since the Beginning Dr. Basaldua is a medical doctor from the military hospital in Lima, Peru. He has been with SOPA since the beginning of the organization. He has brought so many of his young doctors with him on these missions to provide their services in all of the different towns. Dr. Basaldua has conducted many surgeries, removing tumors and correcting hernias. He’s had to conduct some of these surgeries inside of makeshift tents that were barel...y standing. These people have come to know and trust him over the years and value his guidance. Dr. Basaldua is determined to see everyone he can, especially the children. Over the years we have had many cases that have needed follow up surgeries and treatment in Lima which were under his care. After the mission, he travels back on his own to check up on his patients throughout the year. SoPA thanks you Dr. Basaldua! http://www.sopacares.org/2020-virtual-fundraiser

Dr. Roberto Monge Mama I Can See Dr. Monge is an ophthalmologist who has traveled with us on our mission for the last (10) ten years. He comes with a team of 2-3 assistants. He travels in his own car because he brings about 4-5 very delicate machinery, equipment he personally transports from his office in Lima. He is always the first to open his clinic and the last to leave. People line up outside the clinic for him for days and he tries his best to accommodate every sing...le person. Every year, he donates over 300 pairs of eyeglasses and returns after the mission with additional eyeglasses and delivers them person to person. A few years ago, there was a 13-year-old girl who was very shy and awkward. Her mother forced her to see Dr. Monge who conducted the vision exam and discovered she had a huge eyesight deficit. He was able to diagnose the problem and gave her a pair of glasses. She put them on and with a smile on her face, she exclaimed Mama puedo ver, which means Mother I can see. There was not a dry eye in that room. SoPA thanks you Dr. Monge! http://www.sopacares.org/2020-virtual-fundraiser

"In this world, there are two sides to a coin: one side is the side that can help, because they can, and the other side is the one that needs the help. I was put on the side of being able to help, and it is my duty to do so." Today October 14th SoPA is holding our Virtual Charity Day, to celebrate what would have been the last day of our 2020 mission in the Andes. Any amount that you can give will help us to continue our crucial work.... Please watch the full video of our 2019 Mission, generously filmed and created for us by davids.visuals, and consider donating on this important day for SoPA. THANK YOU! http://www.sopacares.org/2020-virtual-fundraiser

Quote from Dr. Richard Belli, a podiatrist who has been with SOPA for many years. Traveling to Peru with Soul of the Peruvian Andes these past two years has proven to be one of the most rewarding and challenging projects of my 40 year medical career. It has been very satisfying to treat the people of Peru. Everyone on our team has been extremely helpful in carrying out our mission. The patients we treat have been most appreciative of all that we do to help them. I beli...eve the children are the most needy as they begin their lives under such stressful living conditions. I for one feel blessed to have helped treat many children in Peru. One young girl was diagnosed with a bad hip that SOPA was able to surgically correct with the help of Dr. Basaldua. Without SOPA's help that young girl, I can say with great certainty, might never have been able to walk her whole life. That's a very powerful gift SOPA provided and I'm sure there are and will be other cases in the future. If you can help in any way, I urge you to do so. Maybe you can come along and offer some assistance in some manner. Perhaps you can donate a few dollars to SOPA to help in their humanitarian efforts. SoPA thanks you Dr. Belli! http://www.sopacares.org/2020-virtual-fundraiser

Dr. Casanova Returning to Peru 2019 was Dr. Casanova’s first year with SOPA. Dr. Casanova was born and studied medicine in Peru. He later traveled to the United States to further his education in gynecology and is now based in New York City. Being a male gynecologist served its challenges as the mission commenced in Castrovirreyna. Although the women from the area were hesitant at first, his kind demeanor and attentive nature quickly settled the women into sharing their wor...ries and concerns. When finally graced with a break in between patients, Dr. Casanova made sure to call his wife and daughter and wish them a good night. It was easy to see that Dr. Casanova’s love for his family translated into his work, as he empowered women to take care of themselves and speak on things that felt almost taboo in the reserved little town. As the mission came to an end, it seemed only good news had come from Dr. Casanova’s patient room, he had smoothly prescribed medications to resolve common issues, reassured multiple women that they had the ability to conceive and even provided useful tips for them to try, he was even able to surprise a young woman with sonograms of her developing child, an unexpected blessing. SoPA thanks you Dr. Casanova! http://www.sopacares.org/2020-virtual-fundraiser