The 15th Year The first day of surgeries is kicking off here in Huehuetenango! 2020 is the 15th anniversary of Iowa MOST. We have been reflecting on the many people who have contributed to our success over the years. We are grateful for all those who have come before us. We are also lucky to…
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There is nothing like screening day. Many say it is their favorite day even though it is often the longest day of the week. It is humbling to see parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers waiting patiently to have an opportunity to receive medical care. Some of the children have never been to the hospital before.…
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We are excited to say that Iowa MOST in 2020 includes a cataract mission! The need for cataract surgery here is clear. Several years ago Huehuetenango Rotary Club member Dr. Solorzano and Juan Francisco Fernandez, Executive Director of Casa Colibri brought the suggestion to team leader Deb Dunkhase. The Rotary Wheel The success of the…
Read MoreThe surgical team is performing the last lip and palate repairs in the operating rooms today, and is taking pride in being able to treat every child that showed up, and was healthy enough to receive a safe surgery. While this is going on, the rest of the team embarkeds upon another outreach mission today…
Read MoreNext to the regular surgery schedule a part of our team was venturing out to a little school tucked half way into the mountain range rising steeply up behind Huehuetenango. It is amazing how the landscape, infrastructure and with it, the standard of living changes within only 30 mins of a bumpy ride in a…
Read MoreThis post is to introduce a humanitarian project to you that runs under the sponsorship of our local Rotarian friend, Dr. Cesar Temaj at the Salus I clinic: The “Fundacion Salvacion” is an orphanage just outside of Huehuetenango and serves as a transient or permanent shelter for orphans or otherwise abandoned people. Usually the family…
Read MoreToday is a “full power” day. The team starts early and heads out to the hospital after a joint 6:30 breakfast & briefing. We have 7 surgical interventions under general anesthesia in our two operating rooms and 4 procedures in the dental clinic on the list. There are two little patients on the list who…
Read MoreIt is a little bit less obvious to detect than if a kid has come around to trusting you and finally gives you a smile, but those of you who traveled a bit will probably agree: There are times when “attentiveness” is only as skin deep as the surface of a fuzzy peach, because it…
Read MoreOur Sunday starts with good news: The local Rotarian team was able to move a back-up anesthesia unit into the hospital and got it up and running, also we finally found suction containers in our supplies = Both of our OR’s are open for business! The surgery schedule for today lists 7 interventions – tonsillectomy,…
Read MoreAnother beautiful day in Guatemala. Today we screened our second wave of patients and the diverse mixture of stories continued. Everybody loved that little Fernando returned with his parents. His father is a nurse and specifically sought out our mission for his son’s treatment. We have seen the family now for more than 6 years and…
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