Bill Johnson

A young man who couldn’t walk but was able to participate in El Tour de Tucson, the annual bike race, drew local attention and led Bill Johnson to the St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic.

After the race, Johnson’s son, who had cerebral palsy, was contacted to participate in a study that looked at the effects of reiki therapy, an energy release therapy from Japan, on patients with the condition.

Now, three years later, Bill and his son volunteer in the reiki therapy area where they perform techniques to make their patients feel more relaxed.

“If the body has some kind of pain or trauma then that energy doesn’t flow freely through the body,” Johnson said. “We channel that energy, so the body can work more efficiently.”

The children that come through reiki therapists are often times badly damaged, Johnson said. But that doesn’t stop him from trying to alleviate any pain even if it is only temporary.

“Its very rewarding because some of these kids have no hope,” Johnson said. “First time one of them smiled, that was a big breakthrough. When we can get them to respond and be active it’s a major breakthrough for them.”

Megan Cox

Megan Cox was drawn to St. Andrews Children’s Clinic after watching her father volunteer. Her fascination with cross cultural medicine propelled her to get involved with the clinic in ways she never expected before.

During the month, Cox runs fundraisers and does research for the clinic from Tucson, Ariz. When she drives down to Nogales,Ariz., she spends her time giving out tours and translating.

Cox reveals what amazes her is the month to month dedication of the volunteers.

“I think it’s great (when) people, who are in a certain social, political or economic situation are able to come to America to receive free health care,” Cox said. “People are able to come together to do good things.”

John Ruse

After six years of volunteering at the clinic with his wife Margie, John Ruse still jokes that he needs a Spanish dictionary strapped to his side.

“We don’t speak Spanish but my wife does a good job,” Ruse said. “A lot of the mothers are relaxed when they see a grandmother.”

John and his wife volunteer every month with the clinic and usually do airport and hospital runs.

“We carry coloring books in Spanish to keep the kids occupied,” Ruse said.

“Its amazing how everything just works out. It looks like chaos but everything gets done.”

Ruse admitted that he tries to keep up with a mother and her son after driving them to the airport. The son had a foot that was completely turned out, which resulted in a surgery where his leg was removed.

Now every time the family visits the clinic, they always look for the Ruses.

“When he came off that plane as proud as he can be with this new leg, I felt rejuvenated,” Ruse said. “It was amazing and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”

Pini Paredes

Pini Paredes knew she had to satisfy her curiosity about the clinic after hearing countless stories about it on the television and in newspapers.



After retiring, Paredes immediately started volunteering as a translator in the physical therapy area.

Even though she had been a translator at her previous job, Paredes found herself shaken up after meeting a certain boy.

“I was showing him a toy and he wouldn’t respond,” Paredes said. “I asked the mother, I said, 'I don’t think he likes this little toy' and she said 'it’s because he’s totally blind.'”

Paredes said she remained quiet for awhile before tears started to fall.

One of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is to see how grateful the patients are to receive whatever care they can, Paredes said.

“You totally forget about yourself completely when you see real, real suffering,” Paredes said. “It is such an incredible feeling to be able to completely forget yourself and your problems.”