We did feel the earth

This is just a quick note. For those of you who may have heard through the news, we did feel tremors from an earthquake today. The first tremor we felt woke some of us up about 5:00 a.m., and then two more forceful ones were felt about 9:00 a.m. and 9:15a.m.

Obviously we were scared, and have since heard that there was indeed an earthquake, with it registering about 5.0. Everyone is fine. Catherine Lane

The day started out on a happy note. Oscar, the gentleman who wasn't able to make his appointment yesterday because he couldn't afford the bus ride, was able to find the funds to make the trip today. We were all elated, but especially the dentists. In the morning they made an impression of his upper teeth for the purpose of make an obturator, which is a speech appliance. It will fit around his teeth like an orthodontic retainer, with an extention to the back of his throat. The obturator will close a defect between his soft palate and the back of his throat, thereby enabling him to speak clearly for the first time in 65 years.

Oscar will have to come back in the afternoon, at which time the portion of the appliance which will help correct will be formed. That will then be converted to plastic, and will be inserted in his mouth on Thursday. Funds will have to be found for him to make that bus trip.

The motto for this trip, which is posted on the door to our "Mission Control" is the phrase, Blessed are the flexible, for they shall never be bent out of shape." Adherence to this motto was certainly important today.

This was a wonderful day of surgery and recovery. The children all left the operating room with their futures bright. Their moms were all aglow, each enjoying showing off the beautiful new faces of their little ones.

But flexibility was important, because schedules for the next few days were changing. For example, one gentleman who was scheduled for dental work didn't show up because he could not afford the bus fare. Another family canceled the child's procedure because due to hospital policy, no more than four people per patient are allowed in the room, and this meant grandma could not come along.

The language barrier is always there, because many of these people speak the Mayan dialect, which necessitated two translations. And directions and explanations get lost in the translation. But this group of professionals handles challenges very well, and tomorrow brings another bright and sunny day. Catherine Lane

First day of surgery

This was the first day of surgery, after evaluations and scheduling yesterday. 7 surgeries were done today, with ages of patients ranging in age from 7 months to 15 years. Everything went well.

Six stayed overnight because of the distance from home. Four of these all came together in one truck, and these four were traveling home the same way. Each family is provided with a "before" and "after" photograph, a momento of this life-changing experience.

The Rotary Clubs in this area have been so supportive. Not only have they provided lunch for us, but they have provided many amenities for the patients and their families. They have been invaluable to us with their translation skills, and sensing a need, have promised to provide food for all the families of the patients tomorrow.

This has been a very long day, hence this day's posting is somewhat short. More details will follow tomorrow. Catherine Lane and Kathryn Wallace

Screening Day, February 20

Today was "seeing patient" day! The group was very enthused and energetic, and the walk to the hospital went very quickly. Patients were already patiently waiting to be seen. To those of us who are new to this mission, it is humbling and amazing to see the trust that these people place in us.

Out of the organized chaos of setting up work stations at a site that hadn't been used before, the patient faced the following steps:

1. Registration

2. Surgical evaluation

3. Anesthesia evaluation

4. Dental evaluation

5. Pediatric evaluation

6. Scheduling for appropriate procedure

Patients who have been scheduled for surgery then needed to meet with a medical student from this local hospital to complete their registration. (Educating these students is also part of this medical mission,)

It was a long day for each of these patients, and their extended family. Some have traveled long distances to be seen. I was so impressed and in awe of their patience and graciousness. I left at 4:30 p.m. because my job was done, and many of these families were still waiting for their surgical schedules.

At the end of the day 71 patients were assessed. Some were directed to physicals at the hospital for admission tonight for surgery tomorrow; some where scheduled for surgery later in the week, with the local Rotary Club assisting with housing for those who needed it; and the remainder, who were not appropriate candidates for surgery at this time, were sent home with the possibility of being seen next year.

Kathryn Wallace, Volunteer

fFrom Guatemala City to Quetzaltenango

We arose early this morning and started out to Quetzaltenango (Xela) about 7:30. It was a long, slow bus ride. We initially fought rush hour traffic, and discovered just how close two vehicles can actually get without pulling off a rear view mirror.

Our trip went along the Pan American Highway, or Central American One. Once outside of Guatemala City, we were into farming country, with many small plots of farming, each one tilled by hand.

Xela is located in the western hill country of Guatemala, and our trip took us through some beautiful countryside. These small farms used every inch of land, with many plots of planted vegetation along some pretty steep slopes.

We finally arrived in Xela about 12:30, and had a nice lunch of sandwiches provided by the Rotary Club of Quetzaltenango. And then we were off to the hospital to get ready for tomorrow.

We walked to the hospital, which is about 1/2 mile from our hotel. For those of us who are on this trip for the first time, it indeed is a sobering picture to see the facilities. People are camped outside on the steps, probably waiting to be admitted. There is no heat, nor air conditioning in the hospital. It is what I would think a U.S. hospital would look like in the 1920's.

Tomorrow is a big day, with screening and physical evaluations to be done. We expect to screen between 70 and 90 patients. Some of these young folks are traveling 1 1/2 days for this treatment. Some are coming from Hue Hue. These kids will be evaluated and a surgical schedule will be set up for the week. Catherine Lane

MOST team arrives in Guatemala City

Greetings, it is about 11:00 p.m., and the team has arrived at the hotel in Guatemala City. All of our connections went well, there is a wonderful spirit with the group, and we begin another day tomorrow very early. We have about a 5 hour bus ride to Xela tomorrow, and then the work begins. Will keep you all posted. Catherine Lane