The Iowa MOST Team

A Day in Antigua, Guatemala (Saturday)

We arrived in Antigua by mid afternoon on Friday.  After checking into the hotel, everyone went their own way, some relaxed at the hotel before dinner, others were exploring the city.  Antigua is a town prepared for tourist.  It is known as a place to come for one-on-one Spanish lesson. 

Antigua Central Park with Jackaranda Trees in Bloom

Gov't Building on Central Park Decorated for Lent

Cathedral on Central Park

We are here during Lent, and that is visible in different ways – purple banners on buildings, ‘way of the cross’ stations on the square, but the most unique way is a large piece of ‘sand art’ on the floor at the front of several of the churches. The saw dust art is beautiful.

Saw Dust Art in an Antigua Cathedral

Another Saw Dust Art in an Antigua Cathedral

Close-up of Saw Dust Art

Today (Saturday) the group will be doing things entirely on their own, some are zip-lining, others are hiking, other shopping at the large market, and others relaxing.

The bus will be leaving for Guatemala City around 5:00pm.  Dinner will be in G’mala City tonight, with the flight back to the states leaving mid-morning Sunday. 

Cal and I will be picking up a rental car today, and spending several more days in G’mala. If anyone is interested in following the Litwiller’s further adventures in Central America, - Costa Rico and Panama, go to http://Litwilleradventures.blogspot.com

Fourth (Wed) & Fifth (Thurs) Days of Surgery

The week is flying by.  Each day procedures are completed in both surgery and dentistry. 

Each day patients from the previous day surgery are discharged, and new patients are being admitted.  Parents and patients are so patient! 

The clowns came to the pre and post surgery ward several days to entertain the kids.  Also, Volunteer Robyn and other volunteers helped entertain the newly admitted patients and for those who had surgery - help divert their thoughts from their discomfort. 

Each day the Lady Rotarians (Damas Rotarias) would bring us lunches.  This group of Ladies is very special to us!

Each day daughters, granddaughters and sons of Rotarians came to help translate.  This has been a delightful group of young people. 

Mindy and Dee were able to give ‘comfort gifts’ to each of the children.  – a stuffed animal and a beanie baby. 

Ruben brought with him several bags of new clothing his classes at Columbus Community High School made for the children of Guatemala.  Mindy and Dee had the pleasure of seeing the smiles on the faces of the parents in appreciation.

Volunteers Jim Arthur, Reinhard and Krasi spent much of their time between the Recovery Room, observing surgery, and generally giving a ‘hand’ when it was needed.  They also had the unique experience of visiting a rural school where they gave the kids new toothbrushes with a tube of paste, all donated by J & J, along with a brushing demo. 

Each day those who had time and the inclination explored Xela – the markets, churches, and other shopping – a few ‘green backs were left in Xela!

Thursday we were able to finish procedures early, so with ‘all hands on deck’, we packed and inventoried the items we will store here in Xela for 2014, the items we donated to the hospital where we held our MOST clinic, and the items we will ship to Huehue for next years mission. 

Gaylords Packed for Storage

Thurs pm MOST was invited to the Xela Rotary Club meeting held at the Xela Tennis Club. Xela Rotary showed us their appreciation in many ways, but the great fellowship, celebration and dancing brought the mission to a fabulous close. 

On the Bus heading to the Tennis Club Gala with Xela Rotarians

Ben, Jody, Lucia and Mindy

David, Keith and Sandy

Steve, John, Gary and Bill

This (Friday) morning after breakfast the ‘strong’ guys returned to the hospital to help load the gaylords (shipping boxes), while the rest of us made final preparation to leave Xela. 

The Hotel Dining Area

Nancy Giving Gratuity to the Hotel Dining Staff

Today we will be taking a bus to Antigua for a day of R & R (sightseeing), before the group flies back to their various locations in the US. 

The drive through the Guatemalan country side is lovely.  It is winter here so in the higher elevations nothing is actually growing but you see the farmers working in their terraced fields upgrading them for the planning season.  None of this farm work is done by machine. The corn they grow is picked by hand.  In the spring the stalks are burned off the field before the land is prepared for the next crop.      

An Evening of Celebration

After a week of hard work the Iowa MOST team, consisting of the gringos from the US, the local Rotarians and the Damas Rotarias (Rotarian Women), met for a celebratory meeting.  And celebrate we did!  There were serious parts of the meeting recounting the week’s successes and the lives changed for the better, exchange of certificates, words of gratitude, ending with Team Leader Gary Pacha’s cheer.  “Somos un equipo!”  (We are a team!)  “Viva Guatemala!  Viva Quetzaltenango!”  Then we danced!


Submitted by Nancy Pacha

Bill Gates Dancing with one of our Guatemalan Translators

Paco Dancing with our Dental Student, Guatemalan Translators

Steve Aquilino looking Dapper in a Top Hat

Rachel & Cal Litwiller - Non-Medical Volunteers / Rotarians

Rachel Litwiller, Jim Arthur, Pete Wallace and Cal Litwiller

This is our second mission with MOST.  We are definitely non-medical and non-Spanish speaking Rotary support volunteers.  This year Cal was in charge of record keeping – entering and updating the patient data on the MOST data base, plus up-dating and posting the operating schedule. Cal also posted all the items on the blogspot. He did spend one afternoon, dressed in scrubs, observing surgeries which he really enjoyed.  Due to Cal’s Biology background he finds this very interesting.  Cal also handled all the computer generated items – such as photos. 

I, Rachel, spent most of my time keeping ‘command central’ organized so I could find requested items.  I also spent time gathering bios from each MOST participant and wrote some of the articles for the blog, so Cal could post them at night when the internet was more responsive.  On screening day I took all of the photos of the prospective patients, so a photo could be included in their file. 

It has been another rewarding year, “changing one life at a time”.  To see the deformities and then see the correction these skilled surgeons perform, it is just an amazing emotional experience. 

I hope everyone has enjoyed the blog and if you are so moved, please make a contribution to Iowa MOST so this wonderful program will be able to continue year after year.  

Rachel Photographing Patients during Screening

Cal and Mario

Dr. Raul Cordon -- Co-coordinator

Dr Cordon, left, Gary Pacha, right

            Dr. Raul Cordon is chief surgeon of the hospital where we work and a specialist in therapeutic endoscopy.  As co-coordinator of this mission each year and a doctor on staff at the hospital, he has helped us to establish a very congenial relationship with hospital employees and administration.  The strong support he offers us has a great deal to do with the success of the Quetzaltenango mission.  He values Rotary, the organization that brought us together and is grateful for this opportunity to work with Iowa MOST every other year in Quetzaltenango.    

            Dr. Cordon offered an extra service this year when our team leader’s blood pressure shot up to an uncharacteristically high reading.  He called in a cardiologist, went into consultation with other doctors and prescribed medication.  Thank you, Dr. Cordon!

Pete Wallace & Oscar Gomez - Team Pediatricians

Oscar Gomez, left, Pete Wallace, right

Pete Wallace

Pete Wallace Screening Potential Patients

Dr Pete Wallace is a retired Pediatrician. Pete was in private Pediatric practice in IC his whole career.  This is Pete’s 6th Mission with MOST.

Pete has been VP of Medical Staff Affairs of Mercy IC Hospital.

Pete was an organizer and continues as fundraiser for school basic clinics in IC. He also serves on the National Board for school based health. 

 Oscar Gomez

Oscar Gomez, Discussing and arm restraint design with Krasi Hristov 

Dr Oscar Gomez is not only one of our Pediatricians, but also one of our translators as Oscar is Colombian born.  Oscar completed his medical training in Colombia before coming to the US for farther specialty training and research. Oscar has a PHD in Microbiology and Immunology.  He enjoyed research, but missed being with patients and, so he returned for training as a Pediatrician and specialist in Pediatric Infectious Diseases.  Oscar is currently Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. This is Oscar’s 5^th mission with MOST.

Thank You, Dr Wallace and Dr Gomez, for all to do for the Children pre and post surgery.     

The following has been submitted by Robyn Braverman

As the group was unpacking and setting up their stations, I was interested in what brings people back time and time again to this delegation and the work. I spoke with Oscar, a pediatrician currently living in Nashville, and he articulated it so well, it is worth sharing.

"I came as part of this group because this group has a big heart- to come to a country like Guatemala, where kids have no access to this kind of medical care. To be a part of a group with such great infrastructure and expertise is so worthy as it does contribute to effectively meeting the needs of these children. My role as a pediatrician enables me to work with the kids to recognize and reduce any potential risks. We are clear we want to avoid any risks at all. I get to take care of the children post surgery and to help them through the pain and help them in preventing complications after the surgery. "

Pete Wallace, another old hand at this summed it up quite well:

"I love learning more about the indigenous cultures we attend to, but most importantly, I love seeing the before and after..."

I watched Dr. Wallace perform a magic trick to a young girl recovering from appendix surgery today, (as we were walking down the hospital hallway) and I saw her face light up with the pure, and simple joy of being able to laugh and enjoy her recovery just a little bit more than before.