On Thursday, a small group of University of Arizona journalism students took a trip to the St. Andrews Children's Clinic, 969 Country Club Nogales, AZ, with the goal of shedding light on gradually developing miracles.
The Children's clinic could not be made possible without the help and desire of hundreds of volunteers, coming from all areas of Arizona. For example, a group of physicians from Phoenix came down to the clinic to volunteer for a day on their day off. It just shows the commitment of each volunteer/individual.
The St. Andrews Clinic is a non-profit organization that strictly relies on the community for support and overall success. Money that is continually donated goes directly towards the efforts of providing disabled children with proper medical care.
According to the Clinic's website, there are three primary elements making the clinic work. Volunteers, donations, and love are absolutely vital for success. The clinic takes children ranging from 1-18 years old who have proven medical problems.
The first Thursday of each month, the St. Andrews church is quickly transformed into an operating children's clinic. Because the clinic receives no help from the state of government, most of the medical care is organized via folders, and not computers, which can be a severe organizational factor.
The clinic has separate areas/rooms for each medical specialty. For example, orthopedics are in the day care center, pediatrics in the hallways, and audiology in the outdoors trailer.
Families spend hours and lots of their own money to make the journey to the clinic in Nogales. Therefore, the clinic provides some transportation when helping poor families go back home.
For a majority of impoverished families, this trip to the clinic means everything. They cannot afford regular medical care, and therefore this children's clinic is providing miracles, literally. Kids are given the opportunity to see a specialist, and gain an educated perspective on what can be done to improve their current situation.
It was an experience in itself to take the trip to the clinic. I have never seen so many people willing to help others, especially when they know their job is an unpaid position. These people are involved in something that will carry on forever. Kids will be able to overcome their medical disabilities because of the unselfishness and compassion of the volunteers. Improving the quality of life often has no price tag.
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