Nogales, Arizona

Our story begins with the birth of Raymond Romero, son of Coca Romero who would become the Patient Coordinator of The Clinic. Looking around, Coca found other mothers with disabled children who wanted to learn how to help their children. Someone had a cousin who was a speech therapist in Tucson. She was invited to help the mothers work on language skills with their children. This was in 1973.

The therapist saw children that could be helped by orthopedic surgery. She invited Dr. Mark Frankel, Tucson orthopedic surgeon, to join the group and assess children for surgery. He brought along colleagues: another surgeon, a physical therapist, an orthotist to make braces, and other specialists.

Word of the group spread and soon the home setting was too small. The group moved to a local Catholic orphanage. Dr. Frankel recalls climbing over the nuns’ beds to see patients.

In 1976, Dr. Frankel told the parents that he was concerned that American doctors were practicing medicine in Mexico with licenses to practice only in the U.S. Attention turned to finding a location in Nogales, Arizona where the small clinic could practice and, hopefully, continue to grow. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church had available space. The Church and its parishioners opened their arms to The Clinic and a relationship was forged which continues today.

More specialists continued to come to The Clinic. Just as word-of-mouth brought in patients, so did word-of-mouth bring in medical personnel. Pediatrics and neurology joined as did support services, audiology, speech therapy, nutrition, occupational therapy, and vision. An affiliation with the University of Arizona, College of Medicine in Tucson was established with the result that medical students and residents joined the medical staff. The Clinic provided a tremendous learning environment for the students who, in turn, brought state-of-the-art medical training with them.

 In the late 1980s, almost 100 children were seen each month at The Clinic, but there was little income to pay for medicines, tests, orthopedic devices, hearing and speech aids, or any other necessary items. Concerned volunteers decided to create a board of directors and become a non-profit organization.

In 1990, St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic, Inc. became a reality with 501(c)(3) status conferred by the Internal Revenue Service. In late 1993, The Rev. K.E. Gustafson, Father Ed, was hired as the Clinic’s first paid executive director.

A shortage of volunteer orthopedic surgeons in the late 1990s resulted in children waiting for needed surgeries. The Clinic reached out to Shriners Hospitals for Children to provide free medical services. The first children traveled to Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah for surgery in 1998. Since that time, a doctor and nurse from either Shriners Spokane or Shriners Northern California have come to each Clinic Day to assess children for surgery and to do follow-up examinations.

Although surgeries and medical services at Shriners Hospitals are provided free, The Clinic must provide transportation for the patient and one parent to Shriners Hospitals. In the late 1990s, air transportation was provided by Air Life Line where private pilots donated services. This was followed by commercial airlines donating mileage. Today, with the economic downturn, The Clinic has to pay all of the air fares.

By 2003, The Clinic visitations had grown to 200 patients each month with most coming from Nogales, Sonora and other parts of northern Mexico but some coming from much farther south. During this time, services expanded as volunteers saw a need for them. For example, a van was rented to pick up patients and families at the Border to bring them to The Clinic. Families often traveled a great distance and had little money. So, the volunteers instituted a snack for soon after The Clinic opened followed by a lunch of sandwiches, chips, and a beverage around 11:00 a.m. Other volunteers noticed that children were often waiting some time in the Parish Hall reception area for their appointments. The volunteers brought games and arts and crafts supplies so the children would have activities while waiting. Other volunteers collected clothing for distribution. And, Borderland Food Bank in Nogales, Arizona began to provide produce for each family to take home.

Volunteers also helped to institute the Christmas Clinic. Santa Claus is invited to visit with the patients. Individuals and groups in surrounding communities work throughout the year to collect money for toys or to make toys for the children. For example, the Woodworkers of Green Valley make wooden trucks, planes, and cars for the boys and doll beds, complete with cloth dolls, for the girls.

In October, 2005, The Clinic held its first Cleft Palate Mission by partnering with Children’s Surgery International, a Minnesota-based non-profit volunteer organization. The medical team performs the surgeries at CIMA Hospital in Hermosillo with Clinic staff and CIMA volunteers organizing the Mission. Approximately 30-35 cleft palate/cleft lip patients have had surgery each year since that time.

By 2010, the Clinic patient caseload stabilized at 200-250 patients a month. The demand continues, but resources available to The Clinic are not available for more patients at this time. Currently, we have patients on a waiting list. Children are seen from age 1 month to age 18. All patients have legal border-crossing documents. Throughout The Clinic operation in the U.S., we have worked closely with Immigration Services to ensure proper documentation of all our patients and families. In turn, Immigration Services personnel have volunteered their own time to come in early on Clinic Day to ensure that our patients have the documents they need for a timely crossing.

Throughout the history of The Clinic, the one continuing factor is love. The love of the parents who bring their children to The Clinic for a miracle is overwhelming. They tenderly care for their disabled children, carry them even when their size is burdensome, and faithfully teach their children at home, whether it is practicing speech patterns or exercising muscles. The love of the volunteers is evident everywhere as they faithfully return each month to help our patients. We have volunteers who have been with us 30-35 years. We invite you to see the love at our clinic by visiting on Clinic Day. Call our office to schedule a tour (520) 648-3242 or e-mail: office@standrewsclinic.org.