II Brigada Neurologico

Last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday four neurologists (from New Orleans, University of Kentucky, Harvard, and New York University) and an EEG specialist came to Tena from the U.S. Nicole and an Ecuadorian neurologist who lives in the U.S. organized this for the second year. The registry shows that 320 patients were seen over the three day period. The patients were all ages and ranged in diagnosis but included epilepsy, cerebral palsy, parkinson disease, migraines, etc.
I sat in with the doctors and took down the names and diagnosis of each patient. Three presentations were given. They were on migraines, cerebral palsy, and the treatment gap in epilepsy. 2/3 people in Ecuador with epilepsy are not treated or untreated. The presentation was compelling enough that the hospital wants to open an epilepsy clinic, which would be great.

One night there was Amazon Night where we ate a typical Ecuadorian meal (ceviche and fish cooked in banana leaves, yuca), heard Kichwa music, and had a Shaman. Friday night most everyone made it out for drinks and dancing. The next morning, Katie and I hitched a ride with people from the Brigade to head towards Quito. On the way we stopped at Papallacta, a fancy hot springs locale where we hit up the six natural baths with our stylish swim caps.

We eventually found our hostal in Quito, took a short nap, and used the internet as it was raining and we were waiting for our friends to arrive. Through Skype I got to say hi and see a bunch of my friends hanging out at Don´s for the Kentucky Derby.
Katie and I ventured out that night with friends. Quito is much bigger with more people and it is more expensive. There were more options for places to go so it was a change from Tena.
The next day we walked around the artisan market, visited San Francisco church, and climbed up the many steps and ladders to the top of the clock tower and bell tower in the Basilica. From there, it is a full view of Quito.