Continuity of Care What are the chances that a team like us, who has traveled thousands of miles to do surgery, would see a boy with a cleft lip and cleft palate born, then return a year later to repair his lip, and THEN return another year later to repair his palate? That is what…
Read MoreWe did it! Thursday, February 19, 9:28pm. It doesn’t seem possible but we have just culminated a very successful mission here in Guatemala. Access to the Internet has been spotty so you will see some catch-up posts when we return. The team completed surgical procedures on 39 people, often with multiple procedures on a single…
Read MoreMonday, February 16, 2009. Today was our second day of surgery. We started at 7:30 am with our first little one in Dr. Canady’s room, Maricela Perez Morales. This is the second time we have seen Maricela. Last year in Xela (Quetzaltenango) the team repaired Maricela’s cleft lip. If you scroll down on this blog,…
Read MorePassing It On~ Sunday, February 15, 2009 – First day of surgery. This was a very busy day, as most first days tend to be, with new surroundings and new team members getting accustomed to a new setting. One of the very special moments occurred when we were able to have our lead surgeon Dr.…
Read MoreArrival in Guatemala We have arrived! The entire team came together in Huehuetenango on Thursday, February 13th, another beautiful day in Guatemala. The Club Rotario de Huehuetenango hosted a wonderful luncheon at the home of Dr. Oscar Marroquin. The Rotarians and their families have provided us with a grand welcome and are true partners in…
Read MoreOn January 25th the Iowa M.O.S.T. team for 2009 met at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City to be briefed by team leader, Gary Pacha, on their upcoming trip to Huehuetenango. The team has spent the last two months collecting supplies and equipment and readying the 7 skids of materials in a frigid warehouse in Coralville…
Read MoreFor those following this blog, I am Team Leader and we are finalizing our trip to Huehuetenango, which is coming up in just one short week – February 12. Just got word today that our supplies should clear customs today or tomorrow, so we are hopeful that this year for a change our supplies will…
Read MoreIowans & Guatemalans & Rotary! Teaming up to make a difference! On April 5, 2008, the Rotary 6000 Iowa MOST (Miles of Smiles Team) began its journey to perform cleft lip/palate and dental surgeries in the highlands of Guatemala. The 30-member Iowa team included many mission-experienced medical personnel from the University of Iowa, who worked…
Read MoreA big thank you to Iowa MOST 2008 for giving me the opportunity to participate in the Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate Repair team trip to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.It was a week of inspiration as well as learning for me. The care and attention given to each child and family by team members was heart warming,…
Read MoreIt was the morning that Victor would have his surgery. I was documenting vital signs on all of the kids, when I heard an “Emily.” Victor wanted to show me the coloring book page that he had just colored. He was so very proud. This fun went on all morning. Victor was very chatty with…
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