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These two patients Alan and Kresley touched our hearts! They have both been seen by the Iowa MOST team in previous years. Alan had a palate revision this year following a lip and palate repair in prior years. Kresley’s lip was repaired during this visit and her palate was repaired last year. Such “return visits” are not…

Thanks to Dr. Oscar Marroquin, pediatrician and co-owner of the Salus Hospital de Especialidades, (center) who in effect turns over his facility, including operating rooms, patient rooms and more, to the Iowa MOST team to ensure this necessary care is available. Team pediatricians Dr. Oscar Gomez, left, and Dr. Peter Wallace, both mission veterans provide…

A group of four anesthesiologists Dr. David Swanson, Dr. Melissa Meiners, Dr. Patrick Gore and Dr. Martin Mueller are first in the operating rooms to start the surgical cases. They see that patients are safely asleep, breathing and hydrated while administering appropriate medications during the procedures. Nurses Trudy Wright and BJ Wagner care for the…

Gabriella, a palate patient this year, holds a card featuring a painting for which she was the model in 2013. Pedro Delgado, the artist of the painting, was commissioned by Dr. Oscar Marroquin to create a work representing the Iowa MOST mission. The large original painting of the toddler was presented to medical team leader…

Coloring books and smiles work in every language!   Submitted by Jacque Andrew

Although more than a medical mission, the many surgical procedures, dental and medical care are the heart of the effort. Medical team leader Dr. John Canady, along with Dr. Brian Andrews, Dr. Dan Jorgensen and Dr. Ross Zbar are performing cleft palate and lip repairs and other procedures that change the lives of patients who…

Dental procedures are important to the mission. Dentist Dr. Steven Aquilino and nurse Jen Oliver prepare obturators to be used for those patients who are not surgical candidates. Dr. Aquilino and dental student Amber McCarville with dental patient happy with results of partial denture. Dentist Bill Gates (really!) will appear later! — at Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Submitted…

Rodolfo, 16, doing well after surgery. His dad feeling relieved and happy now that Rodolfo is ok. Team member Alba Spreen joins in the moment. Submitted by Jacque Andrew

Onsite coordinator Paco Fernandez has a good laugh when asked by Karin Franklin where the Home Depot is in Guatemala! Submitted by Jacque Andrew