April 2006

In the footsteps of the Incas

by Dr. Veronica Gutierrez

The journey from Seattle to Lima, Peru is a long one. It actually began at the World Chiropractic Alliance Summit in Washington, D.C., when my husband Tony and I shared a table with and talked to Liam Schubel, DC, a member of the WCA's International Board of Governors, who practices in Santiago de Surco, just south of Lima.

We discussed how much we enjoyed traveling to foreign countries and taking care of people. There is no paperwork and no end to the number of people who line up to experience chiropractic care for the first time; chiropractic care donated as courtesy care for those in need and want.

Dr. Schubel extended an invitation to us to visit him in Peru and to have just such an experience there. So, almost one year later, we found ourselves at the Lima airport, with one of Schubel's employees to pick us up.

The most striking first impression we received was the traffic! Six cars across on a three‑lane highway is the norm ‑‑ with the driver on the far right thinking nothing of making a left turn in front of the five lanes on the left! The drivers have a language all of their own on their horns.

We arrived on a Saturday morning, rested, and joined the members of the Peruvian Chiropractic Alliance for dinner that evening. It was National Pisco Sour Day ‑‑ a day set aside to celebrate Pisco, the national liquor, which is justifiably a source of pride for Peruvians. One of Peru's most important products, and exports, is liquor, particularly wine and Pisco, the prime ingredient for the Pisco Sour. In true Peruvian style, we toasted many things and Tony and I were awarded a beautiful plaque in appreciation for making the visit.

Lima is now a city of 9.5 million people, most of them refugees from the mountain villages where Shining Path rebels terrorized them not too long ago. They live in miles and miles of shanty towns with no electricity or running water.

Dr. Schubel and his associates regularly set up makeshift facilities in these areas and care for all people who arrive wanting help. In an area Schubel describes as "asentamiento humano las dunas" ‑‑ roughly, "dune of slums" in Lima, we set up such a "clinic" on Sunday.

After he gave the people who arrived there a brief explanation of chiropractic, we got to work. With an overhead protection from the sun and 10 portable adjusting tables in place, we joined eight other chiropractors and their able staff assistants to process and adjust about 300 patients in four hours. We took care of infants, children, adults, and seniors. As the word got out what was happening, more and more people appeared. Everyone was grateful. The young men and one woman practicing in Lima are full of energy, enthusiasm, and a love for chiropractic.

Tony and I had brought plastic necklaces, bendable animals, paper planes, plastic fish, and balloons to hand out and we were rewarded by laughter and smiles from the delighted children.

Before returning to the states, we flew to Cusco to visit the many incredible Inca ruins, including Machu Picchu. For so many reasons, this trip will go down in our memories as an incredible and rewarding experience, one we encourage all DCs to live for themselves.

(Dr. Veronica Gutierrez is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Chiropractic Alliance and the only chiropractor appointed to serve on the White House CAM Commission. She maintains a successful practice in the state of Washington.)