Screening Day and a Birthday

Dr. Juan Ruiz celebrated his birthday today hard at work, but he didn't mind.  The work he was doing will make this birthday particularly memorable and special.

Screening Day February 16

 

While patients and thier families wait for news of when to be at the hospital for surgery, the children play games with some of our team members or contentedly color in coloring books.

Screening Day February 16

It has been a busy day of the careful screening process for our patients.  Safe surgeries are our greatest concern and our most important goal.

 

The process begins when head surgeon John Canady and pediatrician Oscar Gomez survey the potential patients to make decisions about whether or not they are good candidates for surgery.  Some are too young (usually younger than a year), not healthy enough or suffer from a condition outside of what our mission can provide.  The patients who are screened out see the pediatricians who treat any health concerns they can or they are directed to further local assistance.  The rest of the patients go through four stations to be reviewed by surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists and pediatricians.  If all conditions for safe surgery are met, patients are scheduled into the week's master plan. 

Getting to work

It was a long, but beautiful trip from Guatemala City to Huehuetenango and great to see our Rotarian friends and partners in this venture.  They hosted a wonderful luncheon at the home of one of the Rotarians and gave us a chance to unwind from our bus ride.  But then it was time to go the the Hospital de Especialidades and begin to organize for tomorrow's screening day.  We were greeted with a very warm welcome from the hospital staff who will work alongside us this week.  It was great to see them again.  Then it was "manos a la obra."  To work!

Welcoming Rotarian Friends

On to Huehuetenango

Gratitude

 

As we await the start of the Iowa MOST 2013 mission to Huehuetenango, Guatemala, we are aware of the special support we have received from generous organizations, businesses and individuals.  These partners make the mission happen.  We thank:

            Johnson & Johnson for a most helpful financial grant to sponsor this mission.

            DHL for generously shipping our supplies and helping us navigate customs.

            Technigraphics for annually printing at no cost.

Dr. David Swanson for organizing The Longest SMILE fundraiser road race.

            FAMSCO for donating supplies and equipment.

            Rotary D6000 for significant annual financial support. 

            Rotarian partners in Guatemala for caring for and supporting the patients and our team.

            Each participant, past and future, for devoting personal time and energy.