Let me introduce you to Alan Garcia

"Let me introduce you to Alan Garcia, but not the real one." Such were the words of introduction that Karen gave to our group while on a walking tour of a new Pueblo Jovenes on the outskirts of Alto Cayma. Alan we would learn, was from a very poor family. In fact, the afternoon we met him on the road up to the neighborhood of "the 11th of May" (neighborhoods are named in accordance to when they are settled) he was carrying food provided to him from the community kitchen Father Alex runs.

Alan was a severely developmentally delayed young man of twenty three. His parents, both developmentally delayed, were extremely poor and had very few skills to help their son break from the vicious cycle of poverty. That afternoon on the side of a dirt road high in the sand hills outside of a vey poor community, we exchanged a few words with Alan and laughed with him about his famous namesake. He smiled as best he could.

Later in the week Dr. Bob and Karen were with Maria (the social worker from Father Alex's mission) on home visits with some of our North American volunteers. They stopped at Alan's house to say hello and check on him. He was very sick. More than likely suffering from a severe case of pneumonia.

Dr. Bob examined Alan and told Maria that they needed to get him to a hospital as soon as possible. He was not just sick, he was VERY sick. In fact, in the cab ride to the hospital - Alan stopped breathing. Dr. Bob and Karen were able to resuscitate him and asked the cab driver to get them to the hospital "hasta pronto!"

When they arrived at the Hospital Goyeneche, the principle hospital in Arequipa for the poor and a place that HBI hosted a Continuing Medical and Nursing Education conference in April of this year, Alan was breathing at a rate of 35 respirations per minute and ashen in color. Fortunately, our HBI team is on a first name basis with the director of Emergency Medicine (thanks to our conference and countless meetings of introduction and relationship development). Dr. Talavera offered all of his help to assist in Alan's care.

Unfortunately, Alan was brought to the hospital gravely ill. He was septic and had to be intubated soon after admission. He died later that evening. Karen, a true Saint of a person and a real blessing to HBI, stayed at the hospital (missing the Team Peru farewell dinner) to assure that Alan's developmentally delayed parents had an advocate to help them through the trauma of losing a son.

The life of the people of Alto Cayma seems to be one of constant lose. They struggle to get their basic needs met - often falling far short. Alan more than likely developed a pneumonia as a result of a primary infection with H1N1 influenza. His case was extremely complicated by his intellectual delay and the poverty he lived in. He was a typical person living in desperate poverty in that he was always a bit undernourished and forever under the heavy load of severe stress.

Tonight, as I type this update, my heart and prayers go out to Alan's family. I hope that they will know that they are not alone. I hope that they will know that there are people working to one day end their suffering and provide them with the services and support they need and deserve.

Please join me in remembering Alan Garcia . . . a young man whose life was cut far too short; and a young man who should not be forgotten.