Tuesday, August 16, 2005


Many thanks go to Dr. Don Goldenberg (left ack), His wife Patty (left middle), Jannine (front) and the rest of his staff. They have contributed Comany samples of drugs for 3 years now. Many of the drugs they contribute could not be purchased by the abuelitos, but they need them. In this way, Dr. Don and his staff are making a difference. My hope is to get more MDs to donate samples, and I am asking all of those I see.
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Thursday, April 07, 2005


As I said, I don't look like someone with a broken leg, but one more month of no walking.
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Thursday, March 17, 2005

And now for something completely different...

I've been away from this log, and infact everything since my leg broke on March 5, 2005. I'm now in enforced rest (what else can I do?) for the next few months, and so will have to rely on whatever photos and news is sent to me. There are some pictures of me circulating around, but as I have no cast, they are unremarkable.

I have been spending the last 12 days thinking about the difference in care that I'm getting, and what is available for the Abuelitos. Without going into details, the care is as different as you can imagine. I only had to wait for 28 hours for my bone to be set and a pin inserted. I know of abueltitos with breaks who have had to wait 5-6 days, and some who were just sent home. I recall, specifically, meeting Barbara for the first time, in her home, on the very first home visit. She had her foot in a sling from the ceiling, and I thought then that she would never walk on that broken foot again. It's a tribute to the strength of her genetic makup that Barbara not only walks, but dances on that foot, 6 years later, with no thanks to the local hospital who just sent her home with no treatment.

Her time at home was a bit different as well. Her family (a son and Daughter-in-law) took turns taking care of her, their children and, oh yes, trying to find and do work. I've been lucky enough to be able to hire a nurse, who is also my neighbor, so she gets me set up, then goes and fixes her daughter lunch after school, comes back to help me at night, and then has time the next morning for her daughter before coming over to me. I get almost 24 hour care, she gets a job, and gets time with her daughter. Everyone wins.

But most of the abueltios would be unable to pay a nurse. Barbara was one of the lucky ones whose children looked after her, others have no children or ar estranged from those they have, or even have children who have abused and deserted them.

Los Martinctios provides for minimal care with a fill time nurse, and voluntary doctors, but cannot provide the personal care that many of the seniors need.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Better Vision for Better Health

This past week, a group of volunteer optical technicians, including an optometrist, came to Oscar Romero to give vision tests and write prescriptions for glasses. Below you will see how they and the abuelitos reacted. Unfortunately, only those who already wear glasses or are noticibly failing could be tested. If they can find, beg, borrow or steal S/.20 (twenty nuevo soles) they will be able to get new glasses from the prescriptions.

Of course, the problem is...Where do they each find S/.20? That's the equivalent of $6.20

Please consider clicking on the Donate Now button on the site, and giving $10.00 to cover the electronic payment fee and the cost of a new pair of glasses! If you wish to donate more, and have the donation used specifically for glasses, please indicate that when you donate.

When the tests were concluded, each of the abuelos got their prescriptions and an explanation of them.
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Checks for glaucoma and measurments for glasses.
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The Opthemologist and his team give their services as volunteers.
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There were two cifferent charts, one with letters and one with "E"s in different directions...We have many aguelitos who cannot read.
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Angelina takes the screening test with Juan's help
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Sunday, February 27, 2005

The completion (?) of the Mural.


Lydia adds her name to the wall, imortalzing her painting skills.
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The rest of the auditorium: there will be more work for other volenteers! Hand me the paint brush and call the Electrician.
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Neil and Lydia hard at work!
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The trio of Artists take a bow.
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Sandro putting his bag down...this shows the finished and unfinished (they tried) parts of the wall.
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Monday, February 14, 2005

Elaine Angstman presents a "big" check


Elaine Angstman, a director of Adopt a Grandparent (Adopta Un Abueltios), Inc. gives Tonny a check for $1000.00 dollars. Elaine has actually raised a total of $1500.00 since last March when she was last here. A tireless worker for Adopt a Grandparent, Elaine is also involved with an adopted child in Bolivia, her church, her garden, her art and her family, not necessarily in that order.
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Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Shopping at Fey y Alegria for donated clothes.

While the event shown directly below is a shopping event not to be surpassed, a little farther below you will see the completed Rainbow of Lydia's and Neil's (with Sandro). You will also see a picture of Lilmar Lopez and Tonny. There are many ways to volunteer, and Neil and Lydia showed their artistic side, as well as serving meals to the Abueltios, washing dishes, helping in Bingo and a myriad of other activites; Lilimar began a marketing campaign to businesses in Villa, put together a meeting, and a presentation for that meeting. You can also see below a picture of the entire Martincitos' staff.

Directly below, you can see pictures of yesterday's shopping spree at the school Fe y Alegria (Faith and Joy)#17. Sister Cecilia and her volunteers had table upon table of clothing for both men and women, and everyone was given a shopping bag. The whole scene reminded me of Filene's basement (for those of you not from New England, "the basement" is where all of the department store Filene's puts their marked down clothing). since there are so many good deals there, they just lay the merchandise out, and people can scramble for the best deals. Fe y Alegria put together an even better "filene's basement", since all of the clothing was donated.

The donated clothers came from Peruvians. Before you think about shipping old clothes here, please remember that there are duties and taxes at the SerPost post office. Often these "impuestos" are more than the value of the goods inside. A money donation can do two things: 1. allow Adopt a Grandparent to purchase the goods here, helping the Peruvan economy, and 2. allow us to buy that which is most needed at the time.

Please look at the stories of some of our grandparent in "Meet our Grandparents" section; they may need medicine, or a new roof, or shoes. The needs differ over time, and there is always an emergency to deal with.

Currently, the abuelitos who need prescription glasses, will be able to have eye tests next week, and for S/.20.00 (twenty soles, approximately $6.25) they can buy a new pair of glasses.Unfortunately some of the grandparents don't have the twenty soles for the glasses.... Here's where you money donations come in.

Please click on the "Donate Now" button on almost every page, and give us the money for three pairs of glasses ($20.00).

There was an air of excitement and concentration while waiting to enter.
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The Abuelitos in a line waiting to enter Fe y Alegria to look at the clothing.
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Tonny is giving last minute instructions to the "shoppers".
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For those of you not from New England, this is a close approximation of how "Filene's Basement" in Boston looks. Each of the Abuelitos were given shopping bags, and could wander fom table to table for clothes they liked.
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Checking over the merchandise are Celia (in back) and Marcelina (in front) with a Fe y Alegria volunteer/staffer.
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The checkout line...Tonny made sure that everyone took at least 8 pieces of clothing.
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Two of the Abuelitas, Maximiliana and Candelaria with Sister Cecilia.
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A satisfying day "shopping" at the Fe y Alegria "store".
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While Neil and Lydia (and Sandro) were working on the rainbow project, Lilimar Lopez (above left), from Puerto Rico, used her marketing skills to put a presentation together to present to Local businesses. The first presentation will be next week. Here Tonny is explaining how Lili put her interviews of the Abuelitos to good use. This was her last day, so, of course, she got a hug and kiss from everyone...
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Unfortunately, Irene (3rd from right, sitting down), a staffer for two years, has taken a position elsewhere. We had this picture taken of the team together (with a couple of friends) just before she left.
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And after a lot of hard work, and creativity, here's Sandro and some of the abuelitos with the completed wall. To say that it brightens up the place is a real understatement! The abuelitos love it.
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Tuesday, February 01, 2005

"Give us bread, but give us Roses"


The folk song of the same name indicates in poetic form that we need to nurture not only the basics of life, but the art of living. Adopt a Grandparent (Adopta un Abuelito), Inc. donates money to the acquiring of food for the "Grandparents", and it is dedicated to increasing the quality of life for Los Martincito. Money is needed to buy new games and puzzles, to encourage creativity, to enhance the environment. Yes, feeding these desperately poor seniors is of a high priority, but all the other areas of life need to be considered as well.

This is the beginning of a very wonderful mural, being created by Neil and Lydia, two CCS volunteers. The cost of the mural, not counting the time and effort and creativity, was $100 for supplies. There are 5 other walls to be painted, all donations toward this project gratefully accepted.

In order to live in dignity and harmony, the Abuelitos need bread AND roses. Please help!
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The end of the beginning (painting the "yellow brick wall") is celebrated by our two artists!
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Sunday, January 23, 2005

A trip to the Beach, everyone had fun!

Through contributions like the ones made to Adopt a Grandparent, the Los Martincitos are able to go on a few excursions during the year. Last week we took them all to the beach. We began the day early, serving breakfast, and then immediately served lunch, which everyone took with them for later. We also served a terrific mate (or tea) for them to take with them.

We all packed up our gear and then boarded the busses (it takes three to get them all in)and traveled to the south about 45 minutes to a beach called Punto Viejo, where the tide is gentle and there are many things to do, in a very relaxed atmosphere, since it usually isn't crouded. We brought chairs for those who needed them, and a big tarp for a tent (which kept blowing away).

Soon after we got there and the hardier ones took a swim in the ocean, everyone took out his/her lunch and we pikniked on the beach. There were many things to do, so that we didn't really miss the sun. It was warm, breezy and cloudy, which may have been the best weather of all. Certainly, everyone had a good time. See below for pictures.

Once or twice (or maybe three times) a year, the Martincitos go to the beach in the summer, and to a sunny resort in the winter. Here we all are in one of the three busses that took approximately 120 abueltos to Puerto Viejo, a beach about 45 minutes south of Villa El Salvador. The beach in Villa is very beautiful, but the water is a bit contaminated, and the Pacific has a terrific undertow. Puerto Viejo is surrounder by rocks and so the undertow is not forceful. Also, it is a fairly quiet beach, especially on a weekday.
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CCS volunteer Lydia covers Paulina in the sand. The warn sand really does help achy bones.
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A group of Martincitos climbed the rocks which form the inlet to Puerto Viejo, to see the sea.
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Zoila ,a Martincita (left) with Jenny, the nurse, Gali, one of the peruvian volunteers and one of the more scenic spots at Puerto Viejo.
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There was a very spirited game of Vollyball They call it "bally", with the women playing against the men.Girls are traditionally taught to play Vollyball, boys play soccar...it showed, the women won (I think).
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Corina (front center) shares a moment with Carmargo(left), Cerilo and Benidicta (in green with the hat). She and Jenny, our nurse, made sure that everyone had sunscreen and that they were comfortable.
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Maria Inez after a dip in the Pacific...it was cold. I could only stand it on my feet and ankles before I had to get out. Inez was more adventuresome.
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Henriquetta was one of the few who had a real bathing suit, but it really didn't matter.
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No matter what the activity, or inactivity, everyone founds things to do at the beach
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We believe that everyone enjoyed the outing, these two surely did!
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Tuesday, January 18, 2005

One of the two directors of "Los Martincitos"


The coordinator of "Los Martincitos" is Antonio Palomino Quispe, or "Tonny". He is deeply committed to Los Martincitos, and will think of them first before himself. Of course, he also knows how to have a good time, and not take life too seriously!
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Tuesday, January 11, 2005


Painting fingernails for Three Kings Day at the Program, we had several different activities, including therapy, Sapo and our world famous CCS boutique for manicures.
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After all the excitement and activities of the Holiday season, the CCS volunteers returned, and while some of the abuelitos played "Sapo" (see below), some of the women received manacures. Adopt a Grandparent helps to supply the manacure materials, while Cross-Cultural Solutions provides the "manicuristas"
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After New Year's weekend, the weather changed to real Summer, so the group played "Sapo" which is a little like pitching Pennies, and a little like Horseshoes. The object is to get the large metal coins into one of the holes in the top of the table; in the middle sits a large frog (sapo in Spanish), if you get a coin through his mouth, you get a 5000 point score. Almost all of the men, and some of the women either played or watched. They play for prizes, and generally work up some comptetition between the women and the men. Most of them are extreamly good at this game, and take the scoring very seriously.

While they generally enjoy playing this game and some others (dance contests, bowling, two legged races, egg-on-the spoon. etc.) many aren't capable of participating, many have done so many times, and many just need some new spark. The program's staff are currently working on developing new activities with the help of a small grant from Adopt a Grandparent.
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As usual at a New Year's Eve Party there was lot of Dancing. Maria del Carmen is shorter, older, and (we think) more energetic than some CCS Volunteers, They danced the morning away.
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On New Years' Eve day, the Cross-Cultural Solutions Volunteers went out of their way to prove that they are a wild and crazy bunch...no one doubted...
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In between Christmas and New Year The program received a visit from the Peruvian Red Cross (Surco Chapter), who visit on a regular basis.
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The Cruz Roja Peruana brought gifts and their special love of Los Martincitos inbetween Christmas and New Year.
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