Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Our Rotary Relationship
We established the Iowa MOST Guatemalan connection nine years ago. It is through our Rotary relationship that we were able to establish the reliable partnership we have enjoyed during eight mission trips. Rotarians in Guatemala are our working partners and our friends, and they always invite us to their weekly Rotary meeting. The meeting is an opportunity to show our appreciation for the support we have received from one another. This year the Huehuetenango Rotary Club also gave us precious gifts. Our head medical team leader John Canady received a beautiful painting of the images of a child before her cleft lip surgery and after, and each of the team members received a print of the painting. So fitting is the fact that the child in the painting is one of the patients helped by Iowa MOST.
Monday, February 25, 2013
More Iowa MOST Partners
Some of us are lucky enough to have the Iowa MOST experience in person. We have the satisfaction and joy of being with the patients and their famlies and of being the recipients of their gratitude. However, there are so many partners, both organizations and individuals, who make the Iowa MOST mission possible, but who do it from a distance. If you were here in Guatemala, you would be recipients of the blessings and thanks that the Guatemalans are bestowing on us. So we thank you for them. You are part of the team.
- Johnson and Johnson, and Mentor for generous support of supplies, equipment and financial backing
- DHL Global Forwarding for annually donating shipping of supplies and equipment, and Virginia Gilbert and Adrianne Suarez, DHL employees, for their special caring attention
- Technigraphics for annually donating printing and supplies and Technigraphics employee Jill Chambers for caring consideration
- Medikids for arm restraints for our tiny patients
- Life Box for a pulse oximeter to use in the Recovery Room and to donate to the hospital at mission end
- Rotary District 6000 organization FAMSCO for annual donation of essential supplies and equipment
- KXIC Radio and especially Jay Capron for telling our story through programs and interviews each year
Tomas
Tomas was born with a disfiguring cleft lip. Superstitious friends and neighbors who were frightened by his appearance warned his parents that he would perhaps not survive infancy. In a small, out-of-the-way place, such can be the mistaken belief of those who have no knowledge of the cause and effects of clefts, but who are looking for explanations. Fear and avoidance of the one who suffers the defect can cause a life to be lonely and harsh.
Four more children were later born to Tomas's parents, none of them with cleft lips. Tomas always wondered why he was different from his siblings and his father tried to explain by saying it was God's will.
Living with such an obvious disfigurement is difficult at best, but Tomas could avoid cruel teasing and curiosity by working with his father and not attending school. He had friends, but they were few and his life was ruled by embarrassment and shame.
Tomas's father brought him to Huehue from San Pedro Necta, a trip of 4 or 5 hours, but they almost didn't come. His father couldn't really believe that this surgery would be performed without a charge. Perhaps the consultation would be free, but surely not the surgery, he thought. He didn't have money to pay a bill, and to receive this surgery as a gift was too unbelievable to accept as true. So you can imagine how Tomas and his father felt when they came to understand that the cleft lip surgery would not cost them anything.
On screening day, Tomas caught the attention of all of us because he was the one individual who sat with a scarf in his hand covering his mouth. Out of more than 70 patient candidates, he was the single one who refused to give us permission to take his photograph. His actions and demeanor were clear evidence of the humiliation he had endured throughout his sixteen years.
Tomas was healthy, a good candidate for surgery, and Iowa MOST provided him with life-altering cleft lip repair. In the night after his surgery, Tomas told his father, "I was reborn!" The next day he asked that we tell his story, and he is proud to have us show his picture now. His father heaped blessings and wishes for a long life on Iowa MOST along with promises to go back home and tell others with reservations to come next year. "I will bring them myself!" he said. "This is my testimony!"
And so next year, we expect to see others from San Pedro Necta. Throughout the coming year we will know that Tomas no longer covers his face in shame. He will make friends, he will go to school, and he will be just like his brothers and sisters.
Such is the change in a life. Such is the reason for this mission.
Four more children were later born to Tomas's parents, none of them with cleft lips. Tomas always wondered why he was different from his siblings and his father tried to explain by saying it was God's will.
Living with such an obvious disfigurement is difficult at best, but Tomas could avoid cruel teasing and curiosity by working with his father and not attending school. He had friends, but they were few and his life was ruled by embarrassment and shame.
Tomas's father brought him to Huehue from San Pedro Necta, a trip of 4 or 5 hours, but they almost didn't come. His father couldn't really believe that this surgery would be performed without a charge. Perhaps the consultation would be free, but surely not the surgery, he thought. He didn't have money to pay a bill, and to receive this surgery as a gift was too unbelievable to accept as true. So you can imagine how Tomas and his father felt when they came to understand that the cleft lip surgery would not cost them anything.
On screening day, Tomas caught the attention of all of us because he was the one individual who sat with a scarf in his hand covering his mouth. Out of more than 70 patient candidates, he was the single one who refused to give us permission to take his photograph. His actions and demeanor were clear evidence of the humiliation he had endured throughout his sixteen years.
Tomas was healthy, a good candidate for surgery, and Iowa MOST provided him with life-altering cleft lip repair. In the night after his surgery, Tomas told his father, "I was reborn!" The next day he asked that we tell his story, and he is proud to have us show his picture now. His father heaped blessings and wishes for a long life on Iowa MOST along with promises to go back home and tell others with reservations to come next year. "I will bring them myself!" he said. "This is my testimony!"
And so next year, we expect to see others from San Pedro Necta. Throughout the coming year we will know that Tomas no longer covers his face in shame. He will make friends, he will go to school, and he will be just like his brothers and sisters.
Such is the change in a life. Such is the reason for this mission.
Hospital de Especialidades
It may be hard for the reader to imagine a whole hospital being turned over to people from another country who want to carry out a cleft lip and palate mission, but that is what happens in Huehuetenango. For a whole week each year, Dr. Oscar Marroquin and his partners take emergency cases only in order to free their private hospital to serve Iowa MOST and it patients. Not only do they provide the space, but they make a plea to their entire staff -- nurses, administrators, cooks, custodians, lab technicians, sterilization techs, laundry workers -- to volunteer to work extra shifts to be able to effectively handle the large patient load generated by this mission. And the hospital staff answers the call to the last employee! Nurses take on extra shifts during the night, cooks and laundry workers do back to back turns, personnel in the pharmacy and labs extend their hours, medical personnel take a turn as cooks. The staff support is immeasurably beneficial.
It is difficult to adequately thank the doctors and their loyal staff for providing what Dr. Canady rightly calls this "hidden jewel." One of the expressions that gets used again and again on our mission to describe the various partnerships is "somos un equipo" ("we are a team"). In Huehuetenango, our team doubles its size and strength. Thank you, Hospital de Especialidades! Mil gracias! A thousand times, thank you!
It is difficult to adequately thank the doctors and their loyal staff for providing what Dr. Canady rightly calls this "hidden jewel." One of the expressions that gets used again and again on our mission to describe the various partnerships is "somos un equipo" ("we are a team"). In Huehuetenango, our team doubles its size and strength. Thank you, Hospital de Especialidades! Mil gracias! A thousand times, thank you!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Education
One of the outgrowths of the Iowa MOST presence this year has been the opportunity for some of our doctors to provide educational presentations to various groups. Dr. Jeff Hammond discovered that firefighters would appreciate some workshops concerning burn treatment and crush injuries and obligingly prepared talks, which were very well received. Constant training and education of the firefighters is of major importance and a focus this year for them is rescue because as much as 50% of their calls involve vehicle accidents.
Two years ago, Dr. Canady gave a talk to the medical students at the Universidad de Mariano Galvez about cleft lip and palate, and this year he followed up with a talk on sleep medicine. Dr. Hammond spoke about burns to this group as well, and Dr. Oscar Gomez presented a talk to the members of the local Association of Medical Doctors concerning acute gastroenteritis. Both groups were excited to be offered these opportunities.
Each year it is good to find ways to give back to the community in any way we can for the many kindnesses we receive here. Thank you, Dr. Canady, Dr. Hammond and Dr. Gomez, for going to the effort to share your time and expertise.
Two years ago, Dr. Canady gave a talk to the medical students at the Universidad de Mariano Galvez about cleft lip and palate, and this year he followed up with a talk on sleep medicine. Dr. Hammond spoke about burns to this group as well, and Dr. Oscar Gomez presented a talk to the members of the local Association of Medical Doctors concerning acute gastroenteritis. Both groups were excited to be offered these opportunities.
Each year it is good to find ways to give back to the community in any way we can for the many kindnesses we receive here. Thank you, Dr. Canady, Dr. Hammond and Dr. Gomez, for going to the effort to share your time and expertise.
Guatemalan Volunteers
Working in the Hospital de Especialidades is particularly pleasant because of the valuable support we receive from the staff of the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital last Saturday, we were greeted by familiar faces and our Guatemalan teammates, old friends who are also volunteering their time to make this a successful mission. We are deeply grateful to the hospital staff from every department who have worked extra shifts without pay and who have been a cheerful, supportive presence throughout the week to help Iowa MOST create smiles.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Some Favorite Pictures
Katie is the Pied Piper of the pre- and post-op wards. I asked her for ten of her favorite pictures and as you can see by the number of photos below, that was an impossible task.
Gladys
Nine-year-old Gladys and her mom came from Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Gladys was very quiet, and she spent lots of time doing artwork showing Lake Atitlan full of boats and three volcanoes in the distance. She generously gifted this writer with one of her pieces of art, which I will take home and frame and keep close to me. I spent a lot of time with Gladys. She is the same age as my granddaughter Sofia and also happens to look like her. I missed her when she left.
A Long Time Relationship
Read a little history from Vinicio Lopez, Rotarian and Firefighter, in a letter to Gary Pacha in February of 2013.
"Recently I have been reviewing some files from previous years and I found an email sent by Jim Peterson in which he told us about an upcoming trip to Huehuetenango by a group of Rotarians from Iowa. This was the first visit and in the group came Gary Pacha, Jim Peterson, Bill Olin, Brock Earnhardt and Bill Burress. This happened in February of 2005. Incredibly eight years have passed since the first trip and the help you have given to Huehuetenango continues still. On that visit the Rotarians from Davenport were interested in carrying out a water project and thanks to that the lives of many people in the village of Santa Barbara were changed. It is also incredible what has been achieved with Iowa MOST. A good number of children and adults today have a smile that before did not exist for them. That is wonderful. But it doesn't end there. The Huehuetenango Fire Station today is very different than it was three years ago. You and FAMSCO have made the difference in changing the safety of the work of the firefighters thanks to the equipment and vehicles they now have, and with that, it is the inhabitants of Huehuetenango who have benefited by having better attention in emergencies. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US."
"Recently I have been reviewing some files from previous years and I found an email sent by Jim Peterson in which he told us about an upcoming trip to Huehuetenango by a group of Rotarians from Iowa. This was the first visit and in the group came Gary Pacha, Jim Peterson, Bill Olin, Brock Earnhardt and Bill Burress. This happened in February of 2005. Incredibly eight years have passed since the first trip and the help you have given to Huehuetenango continues still. On that visit the Rotarians from Davenport were interested in carrying out a water project and thanks to that the lives of many people in the village of Santa Barbara were changed. It is also incredible what has been achieved with Iowa MOST. A good number of children and adults today have a smile that before did not exist for them. That is wonderful. But it doesn't end there. The Huehuetenango Fire Station today is very different than it was three years ago. You and FAMSCO have made the difference in changing the safety of the work of the firefighters thanks to the equipment and vehicles they now have, and with that, it is the inhabitants of Huehuetenango who have benefited by having better attention in emergencies. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US."
The Joy of Giving Spreads
Since there is need to keep children occupied and entertained to help pass time, medical students went out to purchase more colors and coloring books. The store owner asked the reason they were buying multiple items. When she heard what Iowa MOST was doing at the Hospital de Especialidades, she found lots of small notebooks children could use for drawing and plastic building blocks which she donated, saying she was exceedingly pleased to be a part of the effort.
It takes the generosity and effort of so many to carry out this project.
It takes the generosity and effort of so many to carry out this project.
Fernando
Fernando is 13 months old and at 7 months he had open heart surgery. He also suffers from a cleft lip and palate. He is a tough little guy. According to his dad who is a nurse, Fernando quickly recuperated from his heart surgery and he was certain his son would do as well with the surgeries we could begin to provide.
Fernando had cleft lip adhesion repair yesterday, the beginning stage of his lip repair surgery. This morning Fernando is sweet and active, the strong little character his dad predicted.
Iowa MOST will continue to serve Fernando next year in Quetzaltenango. It will be a delight to see him again.
Fernando had cleft lip adhesion repair yesterday, the beginning stage of his lip repair surgery. This morning Fernando is sweet and active, the strong little character his dad predicted.
Iowa MOST will continue to serve Fernando next year in Quetzaltenango. It will be a delight to see him again.
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