,
Day 1
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
This picture shows the 33 containers containing all the medical instrumentation and supplies that came with us to Guatemala. This mission, for most of the team began at the San Fra... Read More »
Day 2
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
On Tuesday, May 18, we woke up at 5:30AM, ate breakfast, then boarded a bus to the Hospital in Retalhuleu. We were greeted by the hospital staff, who gave us a tour. More interesting than tal... Read More »
Day 3
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
On Day 3 we began the first day of surgery. We woke up at 5AM, ate breakfast, and boarded the bus to the hospital. We arrived at 6:30AM and surgery began soon after. I was impressed by the level of Read More »
Day 4
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Up again at 5 AM although we were all in bed by 9:30 last night due to exhaustion. New breakfast location, but the same food. Bus arrive at 6. Made it to the hospital by 6:30. First patients ... Read More »
Rick Waltonsmith – In His Own Words
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Please visualize your children. Got them in your mind's eye? Cute, aren't they. Your little boy, or your little girl, though, has a cleft lip, or a cleft palate; and you know th... Read More »
Joel Buhyoff – In His Own Words
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
My wife and son are home in Virginia. Health care is immediately available and I know they are safe. I look into the faces of these Guatamalan families and see people that are waiting and hoping for... Read More »
Day 5
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Day 5 Up once again at 5am. Last night we celebrated Dr. Al Goldberg's 78th birthday and his 28th year doing medical missions. Way to go Al !!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Frankin is a 17 month old ... Read More »
Day 6
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
This morning I had the opportunity to watch surgeons Dr.Ron Gemberling, Dr. Don La Rossa and Anesthesiologist Dr. Bert Drop perform surgery on a 2 year old named Josue Adonias. Little Josue came to ... Read More »
Day 7
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Day 7 Sunday, our day off! No, not for all. Healing doesn't stop when the children come out of surgery, healing continues 24/7. So Dr. Ron Gemberling, Dr. Don LaRossa... Read More »
Bella Mahoney – In Her Own Words
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Coming here from California to work side-by-side with all of the team demonstrates that we are all very connected. Just try to imagine the daily challenges and struggles these families have faced eve... Read More »
Day 8
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Day 8 Were back! We had our day off yesterday and now we are back, rested and anxious to get to those children. On the bus at 6:10am (we have to be, otherwise Rosalie makes us walk, only kidding abo... Read More »
Joanne Wessels – In Her Own Words
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
A story contributed by Joanne Wessels. Joanne is an in-country facilitator that is helping Rotaplast on this mission. She speaks spanish fluently and has been living in Guatemala for 4 plus years do... Read More »
The Quilts and Blankets
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
by Scott Wheelwright – Saratoga Rotary Rotaplast Chair 2010 You may notice in some of the pictures the beautiful quilts and blankets that enfold the children. As each child is brought to the... Read More »
Marilyn Willis – In Her Own Words
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
What a happy birthday I'm having helping this great team change these babies lives. At breakfast yesterday the entire mission wished me a happy birthday by singing happy birthday! Thanks to all ... Read More »
Day 9 (5/25/10)
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Day 9 This morning we had a candle light breakfast. Sounds romantic right? Not exactly, the electric power went off at 5:15am. Good that we have battery operated alarms or we would all still be sleeping.... Read More »
Bella Mahoney – In Her Own Words Part 2
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Our experience over the last few days has reaffirmed my sense of our shared responsibilities as Rotarians. These procedures changes the lives of the children and families in ways that we cannot full... Read More »
Joyce Kuhn – In Her Own Words
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
With this being my first mission I wasn't sure what to expect. Just trying to think of words to express the emotion brings another wave of the tears welling up in my eyes, the lumps in my throat and th... Read More »
Jacquelyn Arata – In Her Own Words
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
This is my 3rd mission. It never ceases to amaze me how much my heart is touched every time I see a mother or father look at the face of their child after surgery. With the limited resources of thes... Read More »
Garcia Girls: A Special Story
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
As I am doing my rounds yesterday looking for another story to write about, my old friend Bruce our Clown (payaso) grabs me by the neck and tells me that I am going to write about this mom and her Read More »
Joel Buhyoff – In His Own Words Part 2
Retalhuleu, Guatemala
Final Surgery Day Thoughts Today we will finish surgeries on over 100 patients. Anesthesia care here is frugal, simple, but challenging. One must understand that many of these children... Read More »
Latest From Around The World
Stories from the Ward
Faridabad, India
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 »
Dental Care & Cleft ...
Faridabad, India
Cleft lip and palate deformities can result from genetic disorders or syndromes. As technology and databases improve, our understanding of genetic markers and risk factors for these conditions continues to... Read More »