Day 1: Hugs, Hope, Triage (and Mickey!)
After arriving in Guatemala on Saturday, May 23rd, our team officially began work at Las Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro in Antigua. This week, 41 volunteers from across the United States,representing Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, California, and beyond, are serving under the leadership of Dr. Wani through Faith in Practice.
For those new to these posts, they offer a glimpse into the work, relationships, and experiences that unfold throughout the week as our teams serve patients across Guatemala. Faith in Practice organizes medical missions that provide surgical care, rehabilitation, recovery support, and other medical resources to patients who might otherwise never have access to them.
Our team includes (but is not limited to) surgeons, anesthesiologists, CRNAs, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, surgical techs, interpreters, and countless others working tirelessly to make this week possible. For 12 members of the team, this is their very first trip, while the remaining volunteers have served at least one previous mission, some more than 10, bringing both deep experience and an incredible sense of dedication.
We began our day with breakfast followed by a devotional, led by Bill Favenesi, where he spoke about the importance of hope and its essential role in sustaining faith and love.
Today was triage day, one of the most important days of the week as it shapes everything that follows. By the end of the day, our team had triaged 188 patients in preparation for surgeries later this week. Families had traveled from all across Guatemala for the opportunity to be seen.
Patients first met with surgeons, who evaluated their conditions and determined whether they were candidates for surgery. Afterward, they met with the anesthesia team to review medical histories and ensure they could safely undergo the procedure. Every inch of the hospital seemed full of movement and purpose as volunteers guided patients between stations, translated conversations, organized paperwork, and helped keep the day running smoothly.
While part of the team focused on triage, the other half spent the day preparing the operating rooms for the week ahead: unpacking supplies, gathering surgical instruments, organizing recovery spaces, and ensuring everything was ready for the first surgeries tomorrow morning. Others moved through the hospital’s waiting areas, spending time with patients and families to create a warm, welcoming environment during what can be an anxious day.
One of the most memorable parts of the day was interacting with the children. They brought so much joy and energy into every room. One little boy in particular, just six years old, walked into the room and immediately gave a huge hug to each of the four volunteers present, myself included. A hug before anything else. In the midst of a busy day, that moment instantly reminded us all exactly why we are here.
Throughout the day, the resilience and gratitude of the patients and families stood out constantly Despite long travel days and hours of waiting, so many greeted us with smiles, patience, and kindness. Even through language barriers, trust was effortless.
After a full day of triage, our team visited Casa de Fe, a 100-bed guest house opened by Faith in Practice in 2003. Similar to a Ronald McDonald House, Casa de Fe provides a place for patients and their families to stay when they live too far away to travel back and forth for surgeries, recovery, and follow-up care throughout the week.
The moment we arrived, many of the children and patients recognized members of the team and immediately ran over with hugs and excited smiles. Even after such a long day, the energy and joy they brought were contagious.
Later in the evening, the children gathered outside for a Mickey Mouse piñata. Once it was lifted into the air, the kids quickly formed a line and eagerly wanted for their turn. Each swing was met with screams of excitement and encouragement from everyone watching. Small tears in the piñata only caused the anticipation to grow until, finally, the Mickey burst open and candy flew across the terrace. Within seconds, children scattered in every direction, crouching on the ground and filling their arms (some even filling their shirts) with candy. The stress and uncertainty surrounding surgeries and hospital visits for these patients seemed replaced entirely by laughter and excitement.
Afterward, we returned to Quinta de las Flores to rest. For some of those 188 patients, a life-changing surgery lay just hours away.
Jaya Sheth, Blogger & Photographer
