Angel Notion’s Compassion Report
“
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
-The 14th and current Dalai Lama
In its ongoing mission to make a difference in its community, Angel Notion relies completely upon the generosity of spirit of its benefactors and volunteers. At Angel Notion’s Centro de Salud clinic, office volunteers work 6 days a week, and 10 area doctors, specialists, and therapists also work without pay to help hundreds of people monthly. This clinic, which uses both traditional and alternative methods, was created to give options to thousands of people living in Playa del Carmen who, because of financial or educational insolvency, are without other medical options. While Angel Notion fundraising efforts are often focused on extreme cases, the fact is that without continuous, regular support, the clinic cannot function.
The next time you visit Playa del Carmen, we invite you to visit our clinic to help us celebrate our 3rd year of operation and to witness first hand the everyday miracles your donations effect. Our areas of focus include, but are not limited to, the following:
Gynecological cancer detection and prevention
Pediatrics; primarily birth defects and heart problems
Maxillofacial specialties; focused on rare facial deformities
Orthodontics; focused on teeth and palate deformations
Dentistry; routine dental work and preventative education
Ophthalmology; general diagnoses and treatments for children and adults
Chiropractic; treatment of bone and muscle problems
Massage therapy; relaxation and therapeutic massage and technique education for parents of children with disabilities
Reiki: alternative treatment for treating medical and emotional problems
Homeopathy; Natural form of medicine that uses immeasurably small doses of medicines to stimulate the body's own defense and healing process. Homeopathy focuses on bringing the entire body back into homeostasis, or balance.
Psychological services; support for children and adults struggling with social problems, abuse, medical issues, poverty, or stress
Physical therapy; primarily treatment of musculature issues caused by birth defects, accidents, sciatica, and more.
Orthopedics; prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and abnormalities of musculoskeletal systems, along with the provision of supports and special shoes for those with problems walking
Music therapy; alternative treatment for the body, mind, and spirit
Self Esteem courses for kids and parents
Tae Bo and Yoga courses
Diabetic treatment and prevention courses
Behind every medical “case” is a flesh-and-blood person with hopes and dreams that parallel your own. Here are just a few of their stories:
Moise is 20 years old and is originally from an impoverished native Maya region. He now works for Kalus restaurant in Paamul. Moise was born with nose bifida, which in an appearance-conscious society has proved to be a difficult disability to live with. Unlike some other birth defects which can be camouflaged, Moise’s disability is literally as plain as the nose on his face. Angel Notion has arranged for him to go to Michigan at the end of May to be seen by Dr. George Polets at Sparrow Hospital, but we still need to raise another 5, 000 usd to enable his Mexican doctor, Dr. Jorge Salazar, to accompany and translate for Moise. Moise is so overjoyed at the prospect of the difference this will make in his life that he has phoned the Angel Notion clinic countless times to thank the staff and promise that he will live the rest of his life in gratitude. Moise will make a difference for others in the same way that others have made a difference for him.
Together with US charity Carrie’s Heart, Valerie, the 8 year old child with cerebral palsy whom we found in very bad shape on the island of Cozumel last month, has been transported via continental airlines to the Texas children’s hospital in Houston, where her long road to health is just beginning. We anticipate that we will need over 15,000 usd to help this child, and to date, we have raised only about half of that amount. This case is special for us, as we are focused not just on rehabilitating Valerie, but on helping her mother, Alejandra, to gain self-esteem and to learn how to properly care for her daughter. Any parent of a child with cerebral palsy or other severe disability will tell you how difficult it can be to care for a special- needs child…now imagine how hard it must have been for Alejandra, who is uneducated and poor and who lives in a country in which there is very little information or infrastructure to help her. Quintana Roo has the highest number of cases of cerebral palsy in all of Mexico, due to complications during birth.
Leslie Pinto of Cozumel needs 10,000 usd to complete her funding for open heart surgery in San Antonio’s Santa Rosa Cristus hospital. Leslie Pinto is the final child on the list for open heart surgery from our 2005 Fixing Broken Hearts mission. Her parents have waited patiently and have watched all of the other children go through their surgeries and recoveries, and have witnessed the amazing changes in these children’s health. Now their greatest wish is that their daughter also be saved. The clock continues to tick, however, and without this surgery, Leslie will run out of time. Please help save Leslie.
It is difficult to fathom that here in Playa del Carmen, so many lives are cut short from illnesses or disabilities that can be easily fixed in wealthier or more developed nations. Thanks to our Angel Notion angels, we have done our level best to defy the odds and have saved more than 15 young lives this year alone.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued love, support, and compassion. We could not do this without you.
