2017 Guatemala City, Guatemala
Mission Day One
Guatemala City, Guatemala
On Monday April 27, volunteers began their journey to Guatemala City. They come from around the United States – California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington State, Florida, Minnesota, New Y... Read More »
Day Two, Rotaplast Mission
Guatemala City, Guatemala
The dominant emotion today was hope. As the sun was rising, 180 children and their families were waiting when we arrived at the hospital Centro Medico Militar in Guatemala City. Those families were motivat... Read More »
Day Three, Rotaplast Mission
Guatemala City, Guatemala
A medical mission in any country requires adaptability by all involved. Today was a perfect illustration of that fact. Our team and the patients rose to the challenge. A sampling: All of our medical suppli... Read More »
Day Four
Guatemala City, Guatemala
By Day Four, the team set into a practiced rhythm. We arrived at the hospital around 6:30 in the morning. The day began with a quick breakfast, then the pediatricians met with the patients who had spent th... Read More »
Day Five
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Today is May Day, a national holiday in Guatemala. It is equivalent to the American Labor Day. So the roads were much less crowded during our 30 minute commute to the hospital. A visit to the ... Read More »
Day Six
Guatemala City, Guatemala
It is already Saturday, the half-way point of our mission. The cooperation among team members and the warmth of the Guatemalan people are making this mission a tremendous success. This morning volunteers p... Read More »
Have you heard the story of the audiologist, the three guys in the bar, and the milk?
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Many parents do not bring formula to hospital for their babies. And a few days ago the hospital actually ran out of “formula 2” which the team pediatricians recommend. Our audiologist, Richard Riedman,... Read More »
Day Seven
Guatemala City, Guatemala
We took a forty-five minute bus ride to beautiful Antigua. It is one of the oldest cities and was the country’s capital until 1773 when an earthquake demolished it. It now has beautiful colonial building... Read More »
Day Eight
Guatemala City, Guatemala
After a sweet day of rest yesterday in Antigua, today we were back at the hospital by 6:30 a.m. facing a full schedule of surgery–we had eighteen children scheduled for today. Two of the children who... Read More »
Day Nine
Guatemala City, Guatemala
The simplest toy can keep a group of children happy and busy while awaiting surgery or clearance to return home. The team brought balloons, balls, coloring books, and soft toys. Our little ones have played... Read More »
Day Ten
Guatemala City, Guatemala
The Vice President of Guatemala, Dr. Rafael Espada, came to the hospital today amid heavy security and media attention. Dr. Espada is a renown cardiac surgeon who practiced in Houston for 40 years. He met ... Read More »
Final Day
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Today, the last full day of this mission, went by in a flash. Fifteen surgeries were conducted but none was complex. Because we will be traveling tomorrow, Dr. Johnson only scheduled the simplest procedure... Read More »
Day Five: Second Day of Surgery
Guatemala City, Guatemala
The second day of surgery begins with the team doctors checking on their patients in the post operation ward. All of yesterday’s patients are doing remarkably well and most of them are happily playing wi... Read More »
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A teenage girl with burn contractures on her wrist, elbow, and knee from an untreated accident as a baby arrived at the clinic with her sister, both burdened by exhaustion and hesitant to trust. They were ... Read More »
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