Stories

When Guatemala halted all flights from the United States and Canada, Partner for Surgery had to suspend surgical missions for the foreseeable future. In order to ensure the health and well being of the children and families who were waiting, Partner for Surgery’s Guatemalan Health Promoters and staff have stepped up to make sure the children in the Infant Nutrition Program remain healthy as they wait for their surgeries. More than 150 children are depending on our support.

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A Message From Partner for Surgery President, Todd Peterson

These are extraordinary times. I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy. My family is adjusting to this “new normal,” doing our best to maintain some daily structure and playing lots of board games! We also feel incredibly blessed, understanding that we are far better off than most in the world.

As in the US and most other countries, the coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on Guatemala. All travel into the country has been suspended and a curfew is in place from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. in an effort to prevent the spread. These strict measures were necessary because the Guatemalan health system is ill-prepared to test and provide the critical care needed for those who may develop COVID-19. Thankfully, the number of Guatemalan cases has been minimal and we pray this continues.

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Thank you for your help following the Fuego volcano eruption!

Dear Donors,

As you may recall, Partner for Surgery made a special appeal for funds to support burn victims when the Fuego volcano erupted near Antigua in June of 2018. Donations were used for patient travel and other expenses for the numerous trips to the Guatemala City burn clinic where patients received care for over a year. Support was generous and with the remaining funds we were able to purchase some of the very expensive compressive wrap necessary to keep skin grafts in place. The cloth finally arrived from an Asian supplier in October and volunteer surgeon Lourdes Santizo and the hospital staff were very appreciative.

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Our Health Promoters are one of our strongest resources

Partner for Surgery has over 15 part-time rural Health Promoters who live in the communities they serve. These men and women publicize upcoming Medical Missions and help locate patients in need of life changing surgery.  They monitor babies in the Cleft Infant Nutrition Program, as well as escort patients to the hospital and stay with them until they are ready to go home. If problems develop, patients know the Health Promoters can be called upon for reassurance and assistance. The two examples featured this month illustrate how important Health Promoters are, not only to the people they serve, but to the success of PfS. Continue Reading

Ana Lucrecia, born with a cleft lip and palate, was 6 months old in May. She is the fifth child of a day laborer earning two dollars a day to support his entire family, which lives outside the village of Chisec in a rented house that does not have electricity or water. Ana’s two older brothers attend school, which further stretches the family’s finances. They are the kind of typical rural family we at Partner for Surgery assist with surgical care. Continue Reading

 

Catalina Ixcopal is a Partner for Surgery patient whose efforts to get medical care are, unfortunately, typical of the 1,000 individuals we will serve in 2019. Eight years ago, Ixcopal noticed a mass growing on her shoulder. After two more years, it was creating significant discomfort. She worried it was malignant. Catalina went to the National Hospital and was told they could not help her. Continue Reading