Guatemala- January 16-21, 2010
TRIP STATISTICS:
| Team members: | |
| Dr. Byron Henry*
Dr. Reinaldo Claudio Dr. James Sinard Dr. Vincent Romanelli Dr. Paul Satwicz Steve Cohen Bonnie Rizzo Suzanne Johnson Stephanie Iacono Jill Scyrup Johanna Thompson Judi Shivener Ann Madden Ryan Cook |
Dan Dragin
Stacy Henry* Debbie Jefkin-Elnekave Anna Valencia Ryan Cook Dan Dragin Jacob Hyten Sam Gebhardt Angie Williams-Gebhardt *Denotes Team Leaders |
Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Procedures:
Cleft Palates Repairs: 7
Cleft Lip Repairs: 20
Lingual Frenectomy: 1
Dental Extraction: 1
Mass Removal: 1
General Surgery Procedures:
Hernia Repairs: 24
Mass Removals: 2
Total Patients Treated: 56
All of the hard work, late nights and sweat, laughter and tears culminated in 56 patients getting a new chance at life. 21 volunteers from 6 states and 2 countries came together in the true spirit of helping the poorest children of Guatemala. The motivations for all team members were pure and one, to give back to another human being.
Our week began with a screening process where 72 patients were evaluated by our nursing, anesthesia and surgical teams. Many of these patients had traveled from rural villages as far away as 14 hours by bus through curvy, mountainous roads. All they hoped for from this was to cure their many ailments that had crippled their lives in so many emotional and functional ways.
After a long arduous and tiring day, the Free to Smile Foundation team scheduled 56 patients for their five operating days ahead of them.
Over the following five days of surgery many children were given this new hope by having their cleft lips and palates repaired. Many adolescents, children and adults were given a chance to function again in life by having their hernias repaired.
The true spirit of this mission could never be captured in words yet, our photographs tell the story so many of us had felt. In the end, this chapter of Free to Smile Foundation was a true success! We cannot thank our 21 volunteers and our partner organization, Partner For Surgery, enough for all of their compassion, love and hard work in helping to change the many lives of the people of Guatemala!
