Today, Kim, Dr. Grijalva and I had the opportunity to stand in on a pacemaker insertion surgery performed by Dr. James Laws, an American cardiologist who accompanied us on our trip. My first job was to calm the 63-year-old patient.  Feeling her shake under my hands and not knowing enough Spanish to comfort her was really hard for me.  Once the surgery began, I documented the procedure with a video camera.  It just floored me to see how two wires and a battery placed in a person will have such a dramatic change in their lives.  We all talked to her afterwards and her smile drove me even harder to help people in my medical career. 

The procedure was performed in Eugenio Espejo Hospital. In our previous visit to this hospital, we learned that the only fluoroscope available was broken. Dr. Laws offered to pay for 50% of the repair costs if the hospital paid 50%. As a result, the equipment was ready for the pacemaker implant and is serving the cardiology unit for their routine work.

In addition to this, Knightsbridge International also donated two compound light  microscopes to rural clinics in Loja province.

Sir Dr. James Laws donating two microscopes to be used in rural clinics in Cariamanga and Catacocha areas, Loja Province

Dr. Laws at the Equator monument in Ciudad Mitad del Mundo