DAY THREE
This year, four gifted Spanish language interpreters bring their voices, expertise, and cultural fluency to the team. Interpretation plays a vital role in the success of our medical mission in Guatemala. Their work ensures communication between healthcare providers and local patients is clear and respectful. Without effective interpretation, critical information about symptoms, treatment plans, and consent can be lost or misunderstood.
Our interpreters are needed from the very beginning of the day, rounding with our surgeons in the ward, until the last patient wakes up from surgery with our gifted nurses in the PACU. After long days, the interpreters continue their work by trading notes about specific medical terms well into the evening, sharing successes and challenges, and holding space for each other with humor and love.
Team interpreters Shannon Lawler and Liz Giannone are serving their third year for the Martini Stempel team. Together, they mentor two new volunteer interpreters: Otis Wortley of Portland, Maine and Julie Dani of Denver, Colorado.
Julie Dani, a Spanish-language elementary school teacher at home and a college friend of Giannone, is struck by the deep sense of community here. “I feel so supported,” she says. Otis Wortley, who met Giannone in 2024 during a course on Spanish medical interpretation, echoes that sentiment. After just three days with the team, he calls the mission one of the most gratifying experiences of his career.
Beyond supporting surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, our interpreters play a vital role in nurturing relationships with our colleagues at Las Obras. The local team welcomes new medical mission groups each week with grace and resilience. Giannone and Lawler have built a strong bond with the staff. Today, Benito Say, a nurse at Las Obras, pauses briefly during the busy day to greet the interpreters and take a photo: “¡Mis amigos!”
As part of this year’s medical mission, Giannone organized a Tuesday evening yoga session at Quinta de las Flores for the team, led by Lauren McKiddey, co-founder of the studio Shakti Shala here in Antigua. The gathering offered more than physical rest—it mirrors the heart of interpretation itself: creating space for connection, understanding, and care across lines of language and culture. Interpretation on these missions isn’t just about words; it’s about building trust, honoring presence, and finding shared humanity—even in the quiet.
For those keeping score at home: across six busy rooms, our gifted surgical teams completed 27 cases today. Among them were two led by surgeon Dr. Kelvin Yu, who is dedicating his time here working with the year-round medical team at Las Obras. This week marks his third such collaboration with the hospital, where he’s continuing to share his expertise in complicated thyroid surgeries.
Also a big thank you to Dr. Carlos Rodolfo Sinibaldi, a Guatemala City based general surgeon. Dr. Sinibaldi joined us in 2024 with the Guatemala-based Faith In Practice Méndez Team, and is back working with Dr. Karen Zink on laparoscopic surgeries this week. Dr. Sinibaldi assisted our team on several surgeries today and we’re grateful for his time, dedication, and care.
I also want to shine a light on Dr. Andy Cramer’s patient, Luis, a warm-hearted tour guide who traveled ten hours from the north to receive treatment. When asked how his experience has been, he smiles and says, “There aren’t enough words… the best.”
Luis made the trip alongside a friend from a nearby village who’s also receiving care this week. The two will return home together in just a few days. “Thank you all for being here,” he says to me warmly, and then, with a grin, “don’t forget to visit Tikal!”
Zachary Carlsen, Team Blogger
