Obstetrician Joella Morrow works at Mt. Sanai in New York and is volunteering at the Hospitalito for three weeks as part of a program called Saving Mothers. Samantha is a nurse who works with Dra. Joella.
Hospitalito Atitlán, Guatemala
Michael Oswald CRNA, MNA (Anesthesia)
Teresa Oswald
One afternoon during a lunch break, my wife Teresa and I decided to visit a local school in Santiago. In the past, we have had great success in finding children at various schools in Guatemala who have an eye condition known as strabismus or crossed eyes. This school visit was particularly successful because we were able to meet Manuel. With the assistance of the school director, we climbed the stairs up to the second level and met with Manuel and his teacher. His teacher spoke of Manuel’s double vision related to his crossed eye. Previously she had spoken with Manuel’s mother and asked that he be seen by a local Doctor. Money was hard to come by in Manuel’s family, so his mother simply accepted Manuel as he was instead of seeking medical attention. His teacher also explained that many families simply do not understand that certain vision conditions or eye aesthetics can be corrected. She described to us how she has taught her students to be accepting of all people and to not judge or ridicule another based upon appearance.
After speaking with Manuel about his condition and how it limited his abilities in the classroom, we then asked if we could call his mother and find out if she could bring him to our clinic. Right about then she appeared out of nowhere. I described the surgery that her son would need as the director translated my Spanish into Tsutujil. Manuel smiled as we described the potential outcome of his surgery. We told them to meet us at the clinic the next morning at 0800.
The next morning as we hiked up to Hospitalito, our thoughts were with Manuel. Would his mother take this opportunity to improve the life of her son? Or would the fear of the unknown prevent her from coming?To our surprise Manuel was outside the clinic doors waiting with his family to be seen at 0800. He had been asking for Miguel (me!). His smile of anticipation will forever be in our mind’s eye. He was not afraid. He was simply excited to have his eye corrected.
After meeting with Dr. Stormogipson, the surgical plan was put into place. On Thursday he would have strabismus surgery on his right eye.
On Thursday morning, Manuel was the second case of the day. In the preoperative area, he had Teresa and all of the nurses laughing hysterically because of his contagious laugh. I then brought him into the operating room and asked him to be my helper. The nurses had given him a large bulldog stuffed animal that he jokingly named after me, “Miguel”. He climbed onto the operating room table without fear, smiling all the while. Gently I placed the anesthesia mask over his mouth and said to him, “respirá profundo amigo” as he drifted off to sleep. After a successful surgery, we took Manuel into the recovery room where his nurse Denise sweetly spoke to him in English, but with a tone of love and compassion that anyone could understand.
Manuel spent that night in the hospital as he cuddled with Miguel the bulldog by his side. His mother had gone out to get him some Horchata to drink and was, as most are after surgery in Guatemala, concerned about his diet. I could see in her eyes the love of a mother for her son as she tried to help him through the process in her own way.
The next day, Teresa and I excitedly hiked up to the hospital and found Manuel in the screening room in a chair ready to be seen. After his eye patch was taken off, we saw that his eyes were perfectly aligned. He smiled again with joy upon hearing how he looked.
If Manuel had been the only general anesthetic I had given the entire two weeks while in Guatemala, I would have been satisfied. I am content with the work that I do in Guatemala not based upon the number of surgeries, but rather the effect we have as a group upon individuals. As Manuel hugged my wife and I goodbye, he walked out of the hospital with Miguel in his arms and an unforgettable smile on his face.
This is why my wife and I come to Guatemala. There is nothing more satisfying to us than serving one of God’s precious children. This trip was an honor and a blessing to Teresa and I. We hope to return again soon.
HA continues to donate supplies to the community healthcare workers that were received in the Medshare container that arrived last month. The local volunteer rescue workers (Bomberos) and ambulance company picked up latex gloves and other supplies… and were told when they need more to contact us again.
A team of Ophthalmologists has been at HA all this week. They had just completed a surgical mission in the department of San Marcos before arriving in Santiago Atitlán. Dr. Justin Stormogipson performed 26 surgeries this week. Also in the group were Maj Stormogipson, Dr. David Dance, Reosmary Sibulsky, Barbara Baker, Mike Oswald and Teresa Oswald.
The mother in this family is able to see for the first time in many years. Her son cried tears of joy and she is very happy.
Students at the University of Pennsylvania school of nursing are in Santiago Atitlán this week working with the Hospitalito, the traditional birth attendants, the Centro de Salud and PRODESCA. Today they left a donation from funds raised before they traveled to Guatemala.
Mamie Guidera presented the donation to Lyn Dickey. Lauren Danella and Candace Freeman are students in the Nursing School.
There is an article in the recent newsletter http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5707448b923bc5d4fda1f77e7&id=c2c11c9e90
telling how these solar panels came to cross the Pacific to be installed on the roof of Hospitalito Atitlán. The donation of 1200 panels from SunGrid of Australia arrived the end of February and the installation began last month. Thanks very much to Phil Livingston, owner of SunGrid. We expect to save $100,000 on our electric bill over the next ten years. If you look closely in the reflection of the panels you can see the solar water heaters on the roof. These produce all the hot water at HA, and substantial savings too.
Part of the WDF project includes the design of educational materials for people with type II diabetes. Project coordinator Victor Ramirez has been working with Santiago Atitlán artist Angelika Bauer to create a ten page booklet using illustrations, text and key phrases in Tz’utujil. Today nurses and medical staff had an opportunity to review the drawings and layout and give input over the booklet.
Dr. Jason Huang and Internal medicine doctor from the University of Virginia and Luz Maria Silverio are saying good-bye to the staff and other volunteers today. They have been working at Hospitalito Atitlán for a month. For their going away party, they ordered tacos for everyone. Thank you both for all of your hard work and help.
Hospitalito Atitlán, Smile Network International and Tess Unlimited have been planning and working all year to prepare for a week of surgeries that will change the faces and futures of thirty children.
The SNI team includes a plastic surgeon, a pediatrician, nursing and support staff that starts work today as they evaluate 39 patients and schedule cleft lip surgeries that will start on Monday.
The patients come from the far reaches of Guatemala, Huehuetenengo, the Peten, Coban, Mazatenango, and the department of San Marcos. They arrived tired by chicken buses and by water.
The Hospitalito found housing for all the families, and is happy about the local collaboration. The Posada de Santiago housed 16 patients and their families and the new mayor Tomas Chiviliu rented the entire Pension Rosita for 15 families. Others are staying at the Catholic Church and Las Milpas, which is managed by the Hospitalito.
This is the second Smile Network International team to work at HA. Last year 28 patients received surgeries.
Tess Unlimited of Antigua is responsible for locating patients from around the country. Six patients are from the Lake Atitlán area. The day of the evaluations a baby boy was born in Santiago Atitlán who will need the surgery in the future.
Hospitalito Atitlán has just reached an agreement to do testing for TB in the Santiago Atitlán area under the guidance of the National League Against Tuberculosis. HA is creating alliances with different agencies in the country in order to better provide services. 
Another truckload of medical supplies from Medshare and the Mundito Foundation is going out to the community. Today Pati, Isaias and Antonio from the National Hospital in Sololá came to Santiago Atitlán to pick up supplies.
Hospitalito Atitlan, and the people of Santiago Atitlán want to thank the Mundito Foundation for their help with a container of medical supplies sent thru Medshare International. This donation will reduce costs for the Hospitalito and the people it serves. Yesterday workers from the local Health Department arrived to pick up part of their donation. They will share the donation with traditional midwives and health promotors. Thanks to all involved who made this donation happen.
When Dr. Glen Dean and his team departed, they had educated the staff on dental hygiene for children and left a power point program so that we could continue teaching. The last Wednesday of every month is the maternal infant meeting. Today Victor Ramirez presented the group on how to care for babies first teeth. Everyone in the family will also receive a toothbrush.
Long term volunteers really become part of the Hospitalito Atitlán family, as was the case with Miguel and Isobel Harvey who have lived in Santiago Atitlán for one year. Miguel first came to Guatemala as a student and part of the Guatemalan Health Initiative group from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his Masters in Public Health and they planned to volunteer for one year.
Miguel has worked in the Development Office, with the data base, the Maternal Infant Sponsorship program, on the newsletters, jornadas and many other things. Isobel has worked as a Nurse Educator. She created a small library of Spanish Nursing books and a Drug Guide.
They invited the staff to a going away party, and they had it catered by their favorite taco stand. everyone enjoyed the tacos in the grassy area above the hospital. 
Ajm’kil became fairly proficient in Tz’utujil with help during lunch from Fredy and Rigo. There were many hugs and tears yesterday…. and they are missed today. Thank you for your time and great energy for the community.
Lawry Goodwin is in charge of Biomedical technology services at Mackay Base Hospital in Queensland Australia. He is at Hospitalito Atitlán this week to check and repair medical equipment. Henry Mendoza the electrician for the Hospitalito is taking the opportunity to work with Lawry and learn what he can. A Biomedical engineering degree is not available in Guatemala and technicians charge a great deal when they travel from the capital. We hope with Lawry’s help to create a maintenance schedule and designate who is responsible for each machine.
Jennifer Audette is a professor of physical therapy at the University of Rhode Island. She has been visiting the Hospitalito and ADISA for several years, bringing students and gifts. It is always a pleasure to see them again.
Josef Fischer from Guatemala City is a long time friend of Hospitalito Atitlán’s. He arrived in Santiago Atitlán on Sunday with a nice surprise. After closing the books for the big Rotary grant with the Sunnyvale California Club, he found a little more money. He contacted HA to see what equipment was needed and we requested pulse oximeters. José Reanda, nurse Susana, and Dr. Chuc met with Josef to accept the beautiful new machines. Thank you again Rotarians.
Dustin Kirkham is at Hospitalito Atitlán with his father Derek, one of the pediatric dentists on the jornada this week. Before they arrived, Dustin, told his Dad that he wanted to take a gift to the children of Santiago Atitlán as part of his Eagle Scout project. Dustin is a member of Scout Troop 525 of Colorado Springs CO. He talked to people at his church and they all pitched in to make 210 blankets. Dustin Kirkham, you are an amazing young man!
Dr. Glen Dean and many of this team have been Amigos since the very first surgical jornada in 2005.
Dr. Dean returns frequently but this is the first team of pediatric dentists that he has brought to HA. They set up eight portable dental chairs in the education room, they used a digital X-ray machine on the patio, and they are seeing more than 150 patients in four days. Notice that the portable chairs include a TV screen where the little ones can be distracted by their favorite cartoon!
The staff prepared a ‘pulik’ dinner for the group. The jornada was a first in many ways. Yesterday four children were given anesthesia for their extractions. a procedure never before done on Lake Atitlán. We expect Dr. Glen and others to return again soon. Thank you all.
Julie Chapell has been the British Ambassador to Guatemala for three years, but she left her position and the country on Sunday. But first she celebrated in grand style with British Week, and ending with a charity event, the British Ball.
Janet Ilott of the Hospitalito Atitlán development office wrote a proposal for the Embassy and it was a winner. We were invited to the British Ball! And we will soon receive a check for more than $10,000.
Attending were Hospitalito staff, volunteers and K’aslimaal board members and guests. The charity event was Q400 a plate and the auction was a big success.
The theme was British film, the dress was formal or as a star of British film. 
A great dance band started the evening and a Beatles tribute band, Replay the Beatles from Montreal, Quebec took the stage at 1 AM. What a party Ambassador Chapell!
University of Pennsylvania students raised money before their Guatemalan trip to help Hospitalito Atitlán cover indigent patient care. They sold a LOT of coffee and pastries on campus. In the group appears Tarik Asmerom, Alyssa Nguyen-Phuoc, Alexandra Duisberg, Yael Ruth Nobel, Dr. Juan Manuel Chuc, Rosa Katherine Daves, Nancy Atchison, and Arielle Clynes.
The company ResMed donated four BiPaP machines for Hospitalito Atitlán and this week, ER physician Dr. James Gardner from the University of Pennsylvania gave a demonstration on their use to medical staff. The machine will reduce the need for intubation and transfers to Guatemala City. The machines will be used to treat patients with asthma, COPD and other breathing difficulties. With the help of Penn medical student Erin Bassett Novoa, HA will be gathering information on the use in the ER.
Today the traditional midwives of Santiago Atitlán are at the Hospitalito with Dr. Andrew Smith who has created simple educational aids for their midwifery pack. The cards are half a page and in plastic. Using illustrations the cards show the danger signs during pregnancy and delivery and what should be done.
A hard working group of students from Presbyterian Campus Ministries in Nashville TN are building a wall this week at the Hospitalito. A small section of wall is all that remains so that someday the property can be made secure with fencing. The group is accompanied by Antonetta and Jacqui of CEDEPCA in Guatemala City.
These volunteers feel somewhat guilty that their pictures appear on the Hospitalito Atitlán blog and they aren’t working. Corrine Abalos and Sharon Rubin are medical students from the University of Virginia volunteering for one month. Dr. Alan Bock and his wife Lynsey are in Santiago Atitlán for six weeks. He will return to work at the Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, South Carolina. His wife Lynsey worked in the development office on the diabetes educational materials. They are enjoying banana and pineapple smoothies, now for sale next to HA for 6 Quetzales. Also available are strawberry and papaya. Wonderful to have fresh fruit in February!
Last month we received a lot of help from Liam Mackenzie, a professional carpenter from London. Liam worked with Ezekiel and Manuel to put together some pieces of furniture and assisted in training. The furniture looks great. We look forward to his return!
Our nursing staff was pleased to have Thomas Swenson, RN, CCRN, visiting this month from Seattle, WA. Thomas created a quick reference guide for our emergency medications and a dosing guide for cardiac life support medications. We are thankful for his nursing expertise!
Thomas is an ICU nurse and plans to attend nurse anesthetist school in the fall.
This is the donation that traveled the furthest to reach Hospitalito Atitlán. The trip was long and complicated, and the relief was great when everything (1200 pieces of glass) were safely at the Hospitalito.
SunGrid is an Australian solar energy company that distributes solar modules… down under. The donation to the Hospitalito started when SunGrid’s owner, Phil Livingston offered a donation of panels to Solar Energy International (SEI). Ian Woofenden SEI solar energy expert was instrumental in the training of Santiago Atitlán electrician Henry Mendoza Ian asked Phil about a donation of panels for the Hospitalito. 
Phil Livingston must think the world of Ian and his ideas (as we do). Phil sent a full container of photovoltaic modules to us. Twelve hundred 42 Watt panels in total. Twenty seven boxes, containing 47 panels and each box weighed 1500 pounds.
It is expected that HA will save up to $10,000 annually when the panels are installed. Ian was also instrumental in an incredible donation from Outback power.
Our gratitude is immense… thank you Phil and Ian.
The Hospitalito nursing staff invited everyone to a little Valentines Day Celebration with games and a gift exchange for those who wanted to participate. Dr. Andy Smith and his daughter Rosie are giving their gift to Rebeca, whose name they drew. Everyone enjoyed chuchitas and orange crush.
The new Mayor and his administration for 2012 - 2016 took office in January, and today they visited the Hospitalito. Alcalde Tomán Chiviliu and councilman Pedro Napoleon Sojuel Ravinal were given the tour and spoke with the department heads.