"I enjoy the feeling I get inside by helping someone," says Cassandra, 11. "These people are so poor; they need help. They have nothing. Their houses are made of bamboo, boards, tires, and broken car parts. The floors are dirt. They do not have water, electricity or sewer services. Animals live inside the houses, which are often built on top of trash. Many children are undernourished.  It means everything to me to help people like that."

Even though she is only 11, Cassandra handled some very important tasks during the medical mission and shouldered an enormous amount of responsibility.

First, because of her ability to speak Spanish and English fluently, she acts as a translator for some doctors, nurses and other volunteers. She also helps set up medical stations for doctors and nurses, and passes out donated supplies such as children’s shoes, baby formula, tooth brushes and toys.  She also consoles, teaches and entertains children as they and their parents wait to receive medical attention.

“We’re very proud of her,” says Dr. Ross. “She’s a wonderful child. Very compassionate and giving. And she takes this mission very seriously.”

Cassandra is so mature and responsible that Dr. Ross says, “I’ve actually had her dispense medicine to patients. I’ll often tell a patient, ‘Now this young doctor is going to provide you with your medicine,’ and Cassandra will tell the patient in Spanish, ‘Please takes two capsules in the morning and two more in the evening with food or milk.’”

The groups that organize the journeys to Latin America are “Medical Missions to Peru,” in a joint effort with the Miami based group "Emmaus Medical Missions" and the international organization “Solidarity in Action,” an association that seeks to help poor people, creating life conditions according to their dignity and human rights.

“We’re very proud of her,” says Dr. Ross.
“She’s a wonderful child. Very compassionate and giving.
And she takes this mission very seriously.”

The medical missions are coordinated by two doctors, Orlando Silva and Luis E. Raez, who started the missions to Guatemala in 2001 and to Peru in October 2006. They have formed a group of health care professionals and volunteers from around the world.

The goal of the medical mission to Peru is to provide medical care to a large number of people who are among the poorest in Peru. They live near Lima in poorly built homes. There are many malnourished children who suffer from upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, parasitic diseases, and dermatological problems.

Many children stick out in Cassandra’s mind.

“There was this one 4-year-old girl who was blind, deaf and had severe cerebral palsy. She has no voluntary control of her body.  Her only contact with the world is through touch, smell and taste,” Cassandra says. “It was hard for her to sit up. Her body and legs were stiff, like a board. For her mother to change her diapers or bathe her, she needed the medicine provided by the medical mission to relax her muscles.”

Cassandra’s compassion and warmth comes from her parents along with the education and life experiences she is receiving at Carden Academy of Huntington Beach.

“Coming to Carden Academy HB has made me a better student because of its challenging curriculum.  The teachers are the greatest; they really care about you. Academically, students here are far ahead of students at other schools.”