In today’s devotional our beloved CEO of Faith In Practice, Linda, led and talked about the story where Moses decides to stop, turn aside, and hear God’s voice. When Moses does this he is chosen by God to go and follow His instruction, and just like Moses, we were all called to come to Guatemala to help and serve these people. Today was our last day of surgery and our surgeons, Dr. Freddie and translators started their day by visiting all of their patients to make sure they are all recovering well. During these rounds we got to check in on Iris who had her gallbladder and stones removed, and her hernia repaired. Grateful since day one, she once again thanked Dr. Cochrane, her surgeon, and praised God for this surgery and for FIP.
Later today we had a patient, Luis, come in who told his story of being robbed and having his throat cut about 4 years ago. He was fortunate to have survived, and ended up with a tracheotomy. His history includes having a very small 3.5 trach tube for one year followed by a size 6 trach, for the last 3 years. He has been having trouble breathing because it is so small and old. Today Dr. Pogo replaced his trach tube for a size 8 one and right away Luis felt a huge improvement with his breathing. He is so grateful to receive this surgery and we hope to continue to see him once a year to continue to get his replacement trach. According to Dr. Pogo, these patients get a trach exchange every 3 months in the US. He hadn’t had a new on in 3 years! I think this case has really opened the eyes of everyone on this trip because it became apparent that these patients don’t get the same kind of follow up and care as those in the US. Overall, it has been such a great trip and everyone cannot wait to come back and help more people!
