Wildlife Refuge Volunteer in Crisis

(Versión en español a continuación)

On October 12, 2022, Gordon Walker, an American ex-pat and dedicated volunteer at a local wildlife refuge, was committed to a hospital in La Paz, Bolivia, after suffering a sudden and serious health crisis. While his situation is improving slowly, he remains in Intensive Care, currently unable to speak, under constant medical supervision. While Gordon’s friends and family are doing everything they can to support him in his fight to stabilize, he needs our additional emotional, spiritual and financial support. The American Cooperative School Class of 1984 (a.k.a. Friendship and Knowledge) are eager to help get Gord back on his feet. Please read below to hear how you can help.

Gordon Walker grew up as the son of a U.S. State Department family. Postings ranged as far and wide as Japan (where Gordon was born), the Czech Republic, Kosovo, El Salvador, and Bolivia. In 1984, Gordon graduated from the American Cooperative School in La Paz, Bolivia, where he had formed many lasting friendships, despite his itinerant existence. Post-secondary life continued to bring out the nomad in him, living temporarily in parts of the United States and Europe.

Years later, he found himself back in the Czech Republic, but as fate would have it, he suffered a stroke that left him incapacitated. With the help of family, he eventually was moved to the Balkan republic of Montenegro, where, up until spring 2022, he was convalescing in a small apartment. Gord has always been an animal lover, and with time on his hands, he took it upon himself to rescue abused cats and rehabilitate them at home, something he had done in the Czech Republic. Little did he know this practice would lead him to a new lease on life.

It was in July, 2022, that Gordon first heard about Senda Verde Wildlife Refuge in the Bolivian Andes. On a whim, Gordon had contacted an old high school friend, who, he learned, had filmed a documentary about the animal shelter, and who had been profoundly changed by the extraordinary work of its proprietors, Vicky Ossio and Marcelo Levy (a.k.a. The Monkey Whisperer). After discussing future plans, Gord made the decision to volunteer rehabilitating neo-tropical animals rescued from Bolivia’s illegal wildlife trade. A few weeks later, he landed in La Paz, the highest capital in the world.

A harrowing drive over the Andes brought him to Senda Verde, where, after a brief orientation with Vicky Ossio, he got down to work. Gord found an instant passion working with the more than 950 animals at the refuge, discovering that each animal had a unique and often troubled story, not unlike his own. Besides doing the grunt work of caretakers cleaning cages, feeding the animals etc., he started a Tiktok channel documenting the day-to-day at the refuge @gordonwalker835.

Determined to become a long-term volunteer, in early October, Gord decided to extend his work visa for a three-year period. But unfortunately, after travelling to La Paz, On October 12th, he developed sudden and severe health symptoms including high blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, disorientation and gastro-intestinal issues. Four-hours later he was committed to the Intensive Care Unit at Clinica CEMES, where he has remained ever since.

While Gordon’s father has been able to send funds from his residence in Washington D.C., age, personal health and family issues (Gord’s sister has multiple sclerosis, requiring special care) prevent him from traveling to Bolivia.

Gord NEEDS OUR HELP. While the doctors at the clinic have done wonders to keep Gord stable, the cost of care is significant and constant, and he may require long-term care. We are asking people moved by Gord’s story to PLEASE donate whatever they can to ensure he ‘gets going’ again.

Ideally, Gord was hoping to continue his work at Senda Verde. Let’s help him make it happen!

Sincerely from the Class of ’84 and the broader American Cooperative School community, THANK YOU.

Versión en español

Fue en julio de 2022 que Gordon escuchó por primera vez sobre el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Senda Verde en los Andes bolivianos y se puso en contacto con un viejo amigo de la escuela secundaria, quien, según supo, había filmado un documental sobre el refugio de animales, y que había sido gratamente conmovido por el extraordinario trabajo de sus propietarios, Vicky Ossio y Marcelo Levy (conocido como The Monkey Whisperer). Después de intercambiar criterios y considerar sus planes a futuro, Gordon tomó la decisión de ofrecerse como voluntario para rehabilitar animales neotropicales rescatados del comercio ilegal de vida silvestre de Bolivia. Unas semanas después, aterrizó en La Paz.

Un angustioso viaje por los Andes lo llevó a Senda Verde, donde, luego de una breve orientación con Vicky Ossio, se puso manos a la obra. Gordon encontró una pasión instantánea al trabajar con más de 950 animales en el refugio, descubriendo que cada animal tenía una historia única y a menudo problemática, no muy diferente a la suya. Además de hacer el trabajo duro de los cuidadores limpiando jaulas, y alimentando a los animales, abrió un canal de Tik Tok en el que documentaba el día a día en el refugio @gordonwalker835.

Decidido a permanecer como voluntario a largo plazo, a principios de octubre, Gordon viajó a La Paz a tramitar su visa de trabajo por un período de tres años, pero desafortunadamente, después de unos días en la altura de La Paz, el pasado 12 de octubre, desarrolló síntomas de salud repentinos y severos (presión arterial alta, disfunción renal, desorientación y problemas gastrointestinales) conllevándolo a internarse de emergencia en la UCI de la Clínica CEMES, donde permanece desde entonces.

Si bien el padre de Gordon ha podido enviar fondos desde su residencia en Washington D.C., la edad, su delicado estado de salud, y los problemas familiares (la hermana de Gordon tiene esclerosis múltiple y requiere atención especial) impidieron que llegara a nuestro país.

Gordon NECESITA NUESTRA AYUDA AHORA. Si bien los cuidados intensivos lo mantienen estable, la erogación continua de gastos en la UCI es tremendamente abrumadora, existiendo la posibilidad de que necesite atención permanente y a largo plazo. Motivo por el que recurrimos a las amistades, y a la comunidad en general conmovidas por la historia de Gordon que POR FAVOR donen lo que puedan para asegurarle una continua supervisión médica a la talla del cuadro clínico que presenta.

Queremos que Gordon tenga una pronta recuperación y que cumpla su deseo de volver a los Yungas a trabajar y contribuir al desarrollo y noble esfuerzo que se realiza en Senda Verde. ¡Ayudemos a que esto ocurra y se haga una realidad!

De parte de la Promoción ´84, la comunidad del Colegio Calvert, extendemos nuestro sincero y eterno agradecimiento.

20 de octubre de 2022