At MEDLIFE, one of our core beliefs is that follow up care is a critical aspect of any healthcare journey, particularly within medically underserved areas where access to consistent care can be limited. Today, we’re sharing Isaac’s story, a patient from the community of Pichan San Gerardo in the canton of Guano, Ecuador. Isaac’s medical journey serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of follow up care in overcoming health challenges. Despite navigating a complicated healthcare system and facing long delays, Isaac has been supported by MEDLIFE every step of the way, ensuring that his medical needs are met.

Isaac’s Health Challenges: A Tumor Diagnosis

Isaac’s health issues began receiving treatment when he visited a MEDLIFE mobile clinic in his community, where he was diagnosed with an abscess on his left forearm. However, as the situation worsened, further tests revealed a much more serious condition: Isaac was diagnosed with a sarcoma, a malignant tumor growing near the nerve in his arm. This aggressive tumor required immediate medical attention, but like many people in medically underserved areas, Isaac was faced with delays and long waiting periods to access the necessary care.

While these challenges are common in regions with limited access to healthcare facilities, Isaac’s story also demonstrates the essential role of follow up care. After his diagnosis, MEDLIFE was there to provide ongoing support and ensure that Isaac’s treatment wasn’t delayed any further. By coordinating care for Isaac, we were able to advocate on his behalf, ensuring that he remained on the path to getting the surgery and medical attention he urgently needed.

The Importance of Advocacy and Support

Isaac’s ongoing care from MEDLIFE can largely be attributed to our dedicated and passionate staff members who facilitate our follow up care program. But we also have our volunteers to thank who have devoted their time to joining our medical volunteer opportunities abroad and worked to support our staff in the mobile clinics.

When volunteers from Creighton University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Tampa, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University participated in the mobile clinic, they played an integral part in diagnosing Isaac’s condition and ensuring he received the attention he deserved. These volunteers didn’t just assist in providing medical care, they offered hope, compassion, and a vital lifeline to patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks of an overburdened healthcare system.

The challenges Isaac faced in accessing care previously are unfortunately not unique. Many people in medically underserved areas often experience delays, misdiagnoses, and difficulties accessing advocating for themselves. But through our follow up care program and support from a large group of passionate staff members and volunteers, individuals like Isaac can receive the necessary treatments to improve their quality of life.

Moving Forward: Advocacy and Support

Isaac’s journey isn’t over. He is now on the waiting list for surgery and will continue to undergo evaluations and tests as part of his treatment. Through all of this, MEDLIFE remains dedicated to supporting Isaac and patients like him, working to bridge the gap in healthcare access and ensure that no one has to wait unnecessarily for life-saving treatment.

Thank you to the volunteers and supporters who have made this possible. Your commitment to helping individuals in need is making a lasting impact, and we will continue to stand with Isaac and other patients, ensuring they have access to the care they need, when they need it.

To learn more about how you can join a Service Learning Trip and assist people like Isaac, fill out the interest form below, download our free brochure, or check out some of our upcoming trips!