Hospitalito Atitlán Blog

After Fat Tuesday, after Ash Wednesday, the Friday afternoon Lenten processions begin to leave the Catholic church at 5 PM, with the last of six being on Good Friday.

Ohio Emergency room physician Dr. Judy Royer returned to the Hospitalito with her sister, son and anthropologist Lea Pellett. HA administrator presented a thank you gift to Judy. This time they brought nine suitcases of medicines and medical supplies. With José is Kathy, Judy and Jerry Pellett a NASA scientist who helped repair toliets and a laparoscopic camera.

Volunteer carpenter Tom Kruse of Eureka Springs Arkansas escaped the snow and cold to build cabinets for the Hospitalito. Tom taught Pedro and Ezequiel the work of laminating formica, so that they will be able to continue the work and install the cabinets when it comes time.

Bonnie O’Neill president of Amigos Hospitalito Atitlán visited the construction site today.  In the photo are her husband David Adams, K’aslimaal secretary Karin Bergstresser, Bonnie, Lidia and Brian Oak from Ottawa Canada, and Jo Anne Davidson from New York.

Pediatrician Dr. Joshua Bress from San francisco has been volunteering at Hospitalito Atitlán for several weeks and has been much busier than anyone could have imagined. He has been training the nurses in neonatal resuscitation and they have had the opportunity to put what they have learned to use. Thank you Doctor, you are leaving the new babies in better hands because of the time spent with the staff.

We were so excited about the arrival of the Burket Family, that we sent Aklax to the airport ONE DAY EARLY!  Brent and Jennifer have arrived to volunteer at the Hospitalito for THREE YEARS. They are both family practice physicians with the ability to perform cesareans.

On the left in the group foto are Christopher, Brent, Jennifer and Julianna Burket. Aklax is holding Elizabeth and Juan Manuel has little Nicholas. (yes, four small children!) The staff was so eager to meet the new family that they arrived to welcome them, and to help carry luggage.

We are very happy that they have arrived! Mission Doctors is the organization that facilitated their volunteer time with HA. It was September 2007 when Dr. Brent arrived with Mission Doctor’s director Elise Frederick. We have been patiently awaiting his return.

The Sherman family left last week…. Ulysses, Amigo Hospitalito Atitlán treasurer, and Narda, physician assistant and AHA secretary were in Santiago Atitlán for the month of January with their two children, Tai and Zara.

Narda was kept very busy with patients at HA, and Ulysses worked closely with K’aslimaal members and HA administration in preparing financial reports in English for the donors.

GOOD NEWS! On January 28^th Amigos Hospitalito Atitlán received 501(c)3 status!!

Louise Kenny left HA last week for England after six months of volunteering as an Emergency Room physician. She intends to return for a longer period of time, and left a suitcase of personal items as proof.