Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Pastor Dave Job led us in devotions, homing in on Mt. 22:36-40 where Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment. His reply was that we “should love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” He added the 2nd commandment, to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This week is giving us so many opportunities to show that love.
We then gathered for a team photo, after which we headed to the Obras Hospital for an early start on the day’s procedures.
Today’s Procedures:
We had the opportunity to meet Ligia, a 49-year-old lady who injured her right shoulder two years ago lifting a heavy suitcase. She said she heard a cracking sound at the time. She wanted to have the injury repaired but was quoted 90,000Q (quetzals) for the surgery, which is over $11,000 US. Because she didn’t have the financial resources, she was forced to live with the pain until she found Faith in Practice. Dr. Stehly will be performing a rotator cuff repair for her, which will hopefully alleviate the pain.
Dr. Apel’s surgical group had a busy day treating pediatric upper extremity disorders.
Mateo, age 8, was born with only two digits on his left hand, a thumb and index finger. He was unable to bend his thumb. His procedure involved releasing scar tissue and then fusing his pointer finger in a position that will enable him to pinch or grasp with his two fingers.
7-year-old Erik was unable to lift his right wrist, which deprived him of use of his hand. His mother shared with Kellie Boyd her story of faith and perseverance.
In 2019, at the insistence of a friend, she attended a Faith in Practice clinic in her village. She waited most of the day for her son to be seen, and the doctor determined that Erik had a congenital birth defect affecting his hand and shoulder. The doctor informed them that he would need surgery but would probably be on a long waiting list.
After waiting six years, last week they received the long-awaited call: Erik had been selected for a surgical consultation. The family traveled 4 ½ hours to Antigua just for an evaluation with the orthopedic team. In God’s perfect timing, Dr. Peter Apel, one of Faith in Practice’s few hand surgeons, was here this week and able to perform the needed procedure, which involved a right tendon transfer from his wrist to his hand, allowing him to gain full function of his hand for the first time.
After over two hours in the operating room, the procedure was a complete success. As a young boy growing up, this surgery will allow Erik to experience life like other children—to play, to grasp objects, and to fully use his hand. Erik’s mother is overwhelmed with gratitude!
Dr. Apel’s last patient today was Yeslin, an 11-year-old girl whose index finger was raised above her other fingers and was not bendable. The team fused the joint of the finger together, which will now allow her to pinch her thumb and index finger together.
When you contemplate all the things we do with our hands – simple things like holding utensils to eat, using a pen or crayon to write or color, brushing your hair, and getting dressed – it gives you a true appreciation of how life-changing these surgeries are.
Please keep our team and all the patients we will be seeing over the next two days in your prayers. Lord, we thank you for showing us how, as in Psalm 23, your goodness and mercy follow us.
Therese Kiernan, Photojournalist
