See more highlights from the day on Facebook.

Surgicorps traveled to Zambia in September for the first time. The team knew that most of the surgeries would be burns but little else was known. Surgicorps’ 20 volunteers found a welcoming hospital staff and many patients in need of services. Surgicorps was able to provide 43 successful surgeries to the children of CURE hospital. 

One child was 11 year old Augustine. From the first day of screening his wonderful smile won everyone’s heart.  Augustine had been burned when he was nine months old when placing a stick in a cooking fire. His burn had healed but his arm had adhered to his chest.  Over the years, he had learned to function without full use of his arm. He also learned to smile!  

Prior to surgery Augustine watched the other children play basketball with the Surgicorps team.  After his surgery, he had to remain in bed to maintain positioning of his arm so it would heal properly.  He again had to watch, not participate, as the other children played basketball. Throughout his hospital stay he kept his smile.  When the team left Zambia, the Surgicorps volunteers decided to give Augustine his own basketball. A promise was made- next year when Surgicorps returns to Zambia, we will be shooting hoops with him-as always Augustine’s smile was there.

In the Words of Dave Fortun, Surgicorps Volunteer

Sunday, they arrive.

 They come with cleft lips and palates. They come with burn scars. They come with extra toes and fingers. 

They come with hernias, gallstones, and prolapsed bladders.

They come seeking help.

 Friday, the last leave.

 They leave with closed lips and palates, revised scars, the normal number of toes and fingers.

They leave without their hernias, their gallbladders, and sometimes, without uteri.

But they leave repaired.

 93 arrivals seeking help and all left repaired in Antigua, Guatemala, from August 15-21; the patients of the most recent Surgicorps mission.

Boston hand surgeon Dr. David Kim was the medical director of the mission, and was assisted by 2 plastic surgeons, 2 general surgeons, and 2 ob/gyn surgeons. 

They, in turn, were supported by an anesthesia staff led by Dr. Karen Boretsky.

Linda Esposto, executive director of Surgicorps International, oversaw the mission and managed the logistics of the trip.

In addition to the surgeries, non-medical Surgicorps volunteers fed, nourished, and entertained orphans daily in the nursery sponsored by the hospital.

 Antigua is an annual destination for Surgicorps, and the 2012 dates are already set.

 Sunday, August 13, 2012, more arrivals.

In the Words of Thad Ellis, Surgicorps Volunteer

 My Mother first went on a Surgicorps mission to Vietnam in October 2010, followed by a second in April 2011 to Bhutan. She seemed to have had some of the greatest experiences of her life. When she asked me if I wanted to join her on the upcoming trip to Guatemala, I thought what an amazing experience it would be to help so many people.

 Although I had no previous medical experience, there was no shortage of work I could do to help those who had come to Surgicorps asking for a healthy life. From participating in the screening of patients to observing surgeries in the operating room, to just playing with the children upstairs in the orphanage, there was nothing more rewarding than simply being in contact with those who had come for our help.

 No matter how busy and tiring the trip to Guatemala was, it was an experience I will never forget. I welcome any chance to take another extraordinary trip with Surgicorps…and my Mother.

Alex Kim blogs about his second trip to Guatemala as a Surgicorps International volunteer. Alex’s dad, Dr. David Kim, is leading the trip’s medical team this year.

Day One: Guatemala Screening

Upon arrival at the hospital, the lines of hopeful people waiting to be screened made it clear to us that we had a long day ahead. We greeted them all in a positive way but with some reserve, because we knew not all could be helped.

The hospital and orphanage were the same but different. Our orphanage tour was heart wrenching, even for team members who have been here previously.

During screening, each person had a role to play, and for the most part, none of us had hands to spare. While the medical volunteers were busy screening and diagnosing the patients, the rest of us (non-medical volunteers) were assisting with paperwork. In comparison to previous years, there seemed to be an increased number of unusual clinic cases that left even the most experienced surgeons somewhat baffled.
There were hundreds of patients eagerly waiting to be helped, but it felt like thousands. We heard countless somber stories from the indigenous families, some of whom had to travel about 20 hours seeking help. Stories included those of burns, severe accidents, and even machete incidents. Thankfully, each patient that was a candidate for surgery will receive help from only the best, giving an opportunity to create an improved life with brighter prospects.
Alex Kim

Day Two: Start of Surgery

The entire day the surgeons worked diligently with great reward, as every case produced exemplary results. Some of the surgical highlights included an intensive skin graft to restore a woman’s neck (which had been severely burned), the amputation of a pinky with a large growth protruding from it, and gallbladder removals. The non-medical volunteers spent their time working in both pre and post-op, in the baby orphanage, filing patient reports, and observing the surgeons at work. Although the surgeons worked long into the day (until 8:30 PM!), I felt they all were satisfied with their results and from knowing that their hard efforts greatly affect the lives of others for the better.

Day Three: Surgery Continues

Today was similar to yesterday with everything running smoothly. Even more non-medicals spent time in the baby orphanage and we were all, yet again, rather unwilling to depart from them, even after a few fell asleep in our arms.

While one patient was being wheeled into the OR, we heard the unfortunate story behind his accident. This teenage boy is an orphan who was brought to the hospital by two nuns and had been involved in a fireworks accident. According to the nurses, it was around Christmas time when the fireworks exploded into his eye. The misfortune left him with scars around his face and a damaged eye. Worst of all, we were also informed that he has a terminal illness. Although life truly does not seem unfair sometimes, we hope that this surgery will be the first step in a positive direction.

Day Four: The Volcano Hike

Today the non-medical volunteers were invited to climb one of the wondrous (active) volcanoes of Guatemala. As soon as we stepped out of the van, we were instantly swarmed by hungry children asking to buy their products. While we knew we couldn’t help them long term, we did what we could; we gave them the food we brought with us.

The hike itself was rather difficult but the sights at the end were well worth it. Our tour guide was a 66 year old man with four grandchildren. And, to our surprise, he was well ahead of us the entire climb. While we stopped to catch our breath, he would laugh and ask why the task was so difficult. Even on the way down from the top, our guide was in a full out sprint. The fact that we were all struggling to keep up with a man four times our age was slightly discouraging, but we were all able to laugh at the experience.

Day Five: A Familiar Face in the Orphanage

We are past the halfway point of this trip and everyone, especially the non-medicals, has found a particular role. I spent a good portion of time in the baby orphanage again today and I had a realization.

Last year, there was an older girl in the orphanage with a clear spinal disorder who was too delicate to play with. I recognized that same girl today, except instead of being penned away, she was strapped into a wheelchair.

Most of the children at the “orphanage” actually have families. Since many children are malnourished, their families only drop off their children to be fed until they are healthy. However, since that girl was still there, she does not have a family.

Despite her disabilities, she was aware of our presence and laughed whenever I was making another baby laugh.  She will most likely stay on in the hospital facilities for the duration of her life, but she is getting excellent care.

Day Six: Goodbyes

During the last day in the hospital, everything ran smoothly. The Surgicorps members assumed their own roles whether it was in the operating room, recovery room, the wards, or in the orphanage.  Many patients operated on earlier in the week returned for wound checks and dressing changes.

The day was filled with excitement to see the results, mostly by the parents. Much to the delight of everyone, each and every patient – we completed approximately 100 surgeries — had a great outcome. We all felt joy but also sorrow since we had to say goodbye to the hospital staff and patients’ families. The non-medicals bid farewells to the children in the orphanage but not without tears in our eyes.

In the evening, everyone gathered for a farewell dinner in which we honored Dave Fortun with a scrub shirt signed by the entire team. This award is named after Tony Demos, the first recipient, given to an individual who displays excellence and selfless dedication. We also recognized Linda Esposto for her diligence, kindness and for all the work that she has done for the Guatemalan team, patients and others around the world. Both Dave and Linda received long standing ovations.

Day Seven: New Outlooks & Return Home

The last day was spent travelling back to the United States. As we went our separate ways, the sad realization that we may not ever see each other again occurred to us all. However, it was the experience that we shared that we will keep forever. 

We will think back to our memories of Guatemala, the people, and how we helped them. These trips truly change people for the better. Every volunteer is left with a better outlook on life. Even veterans of these trips will admit that each journey is a new learning experience.

Most of all, we can all find comfort in knowing that we helped another life. From life altering surgery to simply feeding a child, each gesture benefitted someone in need.

Alex

Every once in while on these surgical volunteer camps reality raises its head, stares you in the face, strikes you deep down in your soul and reminds you just why we do this. Today was a one of those days. After the organized chaos of the first couple of days of getting to know each other, setting up the supply room, organizing the operating theater and just getting into the daily routine of the ebb and flow from pre-op to recovery, the third day usually goes smoothly. That day, we had a full schedule and thought we would be there late, but this remarkable team of 18 gelled very quickly, and surprisingly we were nearly through 13 cases in reasonable time. Lots of cleft palates, cleft lips, fistulas, a variety of burn contractures, cute kid with ear tags that Dr. Jack removed under local, and then, the last case, PATIENT #36 came out of surgery.

PATIENT #36’s name is Pema Yengehen. She is a 21 year old, married women and mother, and until February 18 lived with her husband and three year old daughter in her town of Chambkar. That was the day her life changed forever. A raging fire swept through her neighborhood—the second time in three months. At about 1:30 am, she was awakened by her daughter Jamyang, Patient #37, who had run into their room screaming and crying, “Mama my arms are hot!!” Realizing that Jamyang’s arms were on fire, Pema grabbed her and pulled her to her chest to put out the flames and shield her from the now raging fire. Her husband then ran to find a way for all of them to escape. Passing through one of the doors, he disappeared as the roof suddenly collapsed engulfing him completely in flames. Pema then ran in the other direction, now with her hair and much of her body in flames, but holding Jamyang to her chest, she was able to run outside and out of harm’s way.

She and her daughter were taken to the hospital in Thimphu. Pema had second and third -degree burns over 30% of her body—her entire head, arms, and feet. Her wounds became so badly infected that she was not expected to live. Then hope arrived when the 2011 Surgicorps team landed in Paro to conduct its volunteer surgery camp, and they were transferred to the hospital where we would be working.

Fortunately, her daughter Jamyang’s burns were not serious and she had a skin graft taken from her thigh to treat her most serious burns on her wrist and hand.

The first time I saw Pema was during our first day at the hospital for pre-op. After the initial shock of seeing the complete burns to her face, head, and shoulders, I became acutely aware of the deep sorrow in her eyes. Pema was scheduled to be treated every day, first having her infections cleaned and then having skin grafts performed on different parts of her body. This day, Dr. David Kim completed some more debridement (cleaning of her wounds) and, as is normally the case, she was brought to the open area outside of the operating room for recovery.

Then, something remarkable happened.

As Pema began waking from her anesthesia, she appeared to go into a trance. Slowly, her face that was always full of sorrow and tears seemed to be transformed, and she even appeared to smile. The Surgicorps volunteers who were assisting in recovery at the time became transfixed as she then began to speak, having a serious conversation, complete with changing expressions in her face. And stranger still, her voice seemed disembodied, as if it was coming from another place, as she was still wearing an oxygen mask. As everyone in the area became aware of what was happening, the room became very quiet as we listened to the on-going dialogue she seemed to be having with herself. We then asked our translators Pema and Wangmo from the Tarayana Foundation, our local support organization, to tell us what she was saying which became increasingly difficult and painful for them as they realized that she was reliving all of the terrible things that had happened in her young life—including the fire. Then, she spoke directly to her husband who perished in the fire. “Thank you..it was because of you that Pamyang and I are alive…you gave your life for us.” Then she spoke tenderly to Pamyang, telling her not to be worried, that she will be always be safe and that she will always be there to take care of her and love her.

And at that moment, as we all looked at each other with tears streaming down our faces, we realized, once again, why we were all there, and why we will continue to do this work, wherever we are needed, as long as we are capable.

Paro, Bhutan

Wangdi is a 64 year old male who lives in the village of Punakua, a two hour drive from the Capital City of Thimphu. Three years ago, Wangdi and some of the other villagers were rebuilding their homes. When he and his friend went into the forest in search of more wood they had an unfortunate surprise encounter with a large bear and her three cubs that had been sleeping under a tree. While Wangdi’s friend managed to run away, the bear went after Wangdi, viciously attacking his face and head. With his head halfway inside the bear’s mouth, Wangdi desperately tried to pry himself free. In the process, the bear tore three of Wangdi’s fingers off his left hand. With his right hand, he was able to pull out his long knife from his “gho” and stab the bear twice before losing consciousness. In the meantime, his friend ran back to the village to get help. Although he was badly wounded, they were able to get him to the hospital and saved his life. Despite his terrible wounds he asked his friends to go back and try and find his watch, which had come off during the attack. Although they didn’t find it, they did find the bear lying dead a few yards from where they had found Wangdi. Today, Wanghi’s face remains badly scarred from the attack, although time and surgery have improved his appearance. He wears a fur hat to cover the loss of scalp on his head and stylish dark aviator glasses to mask the damage to his eyes.

He was first operated by Surgicorps in 2007 to reconstruct and reposition his eye socket. He has been back each year for additional surgeries. In 2010 a staged reconstruction of his nasal cavity was conducted with a rib bone graft, and his badly deformed eye was also further reconstructed. He’s back again this year (with cooler looking dark shades) to re-adjust the positioning of his lower eyelids to help stop his constant tearing and protect his eyes. He still carries his trusty knife with him at all times and says he’s very grateful that he still has his thumb and two fingers on his left hand so that he can finger his prayer beads and thank his good karma that he was still alive.