First Day of Surgery

Xela Hospital

A note – our internet situation is not ideal, so we will post whenever possible.  Hopefully it will be each day, but do not panic if this does not occur – keep checking back.

After we posted the blog last night (it seems the internet is more accessible after 10:00pm) I thought of several items I should have mentioned. 

-The shipment arrived early Saturday morning – What a relief!  However we did have sufficient supplies that we could have preceded today without the shipment.  It was finally ‘liberated’ from customs.

-Also, I mentioned it was a ‘tough day’.  Missions of this sort are very emotional experiences.  Most of these families are from poor hillside villages and are devastated when at the birth of their precious baby they realize their baby has a facial deformity.  They are often too poor to search out medical treatment, so the family often lives a secluded life with their child. When they hear of a ‘free’ clinic, they arrive on screening day full of HOPE.  They travel great distances (for them) often on a ‘chicken bus’, to arrive early in the morning.  Many think there will be surgery yet that day.  They are so patient and so full of Hope. 

Waiting Room During Screening Day

Dee Grems Checking Vitals of Potential Patient

Developing Surgery Schedule

During the screening process yesterday, we screened 80+ persons.  However some were not healthy enough for surgery so they are referred to other health care so the child will be ready for surgery next year.  Some are underweight for their age – they are referred to an NGO who will work with their nutrition.  Some are simply too young – yesterday we saw a 4 day old child.  We will not do surgery on a baby less than 6 months old, but we refer all of these families to farther free medical care so they will be ready for surgery next year in Huehue.  We keep a data base on all the children we screen.

Now today!  Another beautiful Guatemala morning!  It is chilly in the morning and at night, but during the day it is beautiful. 

First day of surgery!  Our utmost priority is safety!  The surgical staff is ready!  Surgery patients have been in the hospital overnight, and after checking their vitals, they are ready to go.   

The Dentists are not able to get into the dental section of the hospital, so they are taking ‘a hike’ today.          

We are going to have several of the volunteers add segments to the blog – interviews they have had, as well as their experiences on this Mission.  Over the course of the week we hope to cover all of the staff on the blog.

The whole team is so grateful to the women of the Inner Wheel Club (Rotarian wives) for the food they are providing for our lunch. 

This afternoon we had another disappointing situation for the team, however due to safety, they could not progress with surgery.  The child’s mouth and air passages were still too small.  Even though the surgery was aborted this year, the parents were accepting of the invite to Huehue next year for surgery.  Safety first!!  Every morning Dr Canady say “safety first”!