In May of 1996, I returned to continue my Anthropological research among the Achuar Indians of Alto Corrientes and to check up on how Maclovia (the woman suffering from a tumor) was doing.

By the time of my arrival, the tumor on her lower cheek had grown to the size of a golf ball and she complained that it was causing her pain. It had grown so large that it was disfiguring her face and neck. The tumor needed to come out right away or it would soon begin to block her throat and airway passages. So, I made the necessary arrangements with the Hospital medical personnel for her surgery to take place as soon as it was possible.

On June 20, 1996 a missionary flight came into the village to pick Maclovia up and then to transport her to the Hospital where she would have her surgery (the only access to this and many other isolated Achuar villages is by missionary aircraft). The next day, she had her tumor removed and thankfully, the submaxiliary tumor turned out to be a benign growth which was excised without any peripheral nerve damage.

On June 23, Maclovia was flown back to the village where she soon made a full recovery. Her husband and her four small children are very pleased and grateful to have their now healthy wife and mother back home with them.

All of this was made possible because of the generosity of donors who contributed to the Alto Corrientes Health Care Fund. The entire Achuar village of Alto Corrientes is very happy to see how Maclovia has now resumed living a productive and healthy life. I am sure that the entire Achuar people would join me in saying "Yuuminsahmeh" (which means: "Thank You" in Achuar) to everyone who made donations towards Maclovia's surgery.

Visit the CONTRIBUTION INFO PAGE to get specific information about how you can contribute to the fund.

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