Sunday - Tuesday, February 10-12   

This will be the last journal before we leave La Providencia Hospital this afternoon. Your journalist has been out of commission and cannot blame it on the water. One of the benefits of being chronologically challenged(old) is senior discounts and one of the liabilities is that your gastrointestinal system can no longer handle some of the rich and exotic foods(greasy pizza) once enjoyed. Lesson learned!  I've redeemed myself, atoned for my sin and promise never to do it again.  I am back at work and plan to get this finished and mailed today.

This great team quickly fell into a daily routine. Arriving in the morning the  first task is to do Post Op Ward rounds. If there were no complications overnight, yesterday's patients and families are transported to Barnabas House for final recovery.  The little ones scheduled for surgery the next day will leave The Barnabas House for La Providencia.  Meanwhile each of the two surgical teams performs at least two procedures each day. There are always last minute patient additions, equipment failures and patient issues that often go well into the night. There is such a need and so little time that we work on all that we can.

A highlight of each day is the departure and arrival of the big white school bus that ferries the families to and from Barnabas House; great big smiles on all faces and bandages on many of the departing.

 FOBF collaborates with many Honduran doctors and health care proponents for the underserved. Yesterday we were visited by Drs. Adan Arita and Luis Enrique Perdoma with Pauta Dental Organization. They were here to follow up on a child with a cleft palate and severe neurological issues. Dr. Adan has assisted another US oral team on which one of our surgeons served and has another mission coming up. Many of you know Dr. Adan as the Honduran dentist that travels with our Mountain Medical Teams. In the future he will participate in our Extended Care Program which follows up on our past surgical patients, an important part of sustainable health care for the future.

We take pride in our Extended Care Program. We have an investment in bricks and mortar, but a greater investment with people on the ground in Honduras to provide long term follow up on health issues that cannot be fixed in a one week surgical or medical mission. Such was the case with Idalia last week. She received her third oral surgery this week and had cardiac surgery in 2011. We have also treated Idalia's sister.

This week we are doing a second surgery on Elizabeth Marquez. She had her first surgery several years ago. My dear Honduran amiga Onelia Lawrence is a parishioner of Elizabeth's father and heard that we were in country doing cleft lips/palates. Onelia contacted us to see if it were possible for Elizabeth to be seen. She came Saturday for a consult and came back to have her surgery today. Somehow the word gets out that we are coming.

We see many Holy Moments on our medical and surgical teams. Around the halls of our cardiac and cleft lip/palate surgical missions is a familiar sight; everyone praying before entering the OR.  You are likely to see Dr. Berta Turcios, La Providencia Medical Director leading prayer and laying on hands. Prayer is known to staff as well as families. If only I could have understood the prayer said over Elizabeth by her family and Dr. Turcios.

This is our last day here and the staff has arranged for a cookout in the covered patio, with lots of food and fellowship.  Friendships and professional ties have been made. Previously I've included a count of the children we have treated.  But numbers are not the mission.  We came to serve.  The story is that our mission was successful. Every one of those precious wee little people needing medical attention received the medical attention.  They now have an even more beautiful face and look toward a bright future.

We thank you for your prayers and support as we went about our work helping the children of Honduras.  And the families of the patients also thank you, even if you don't know one another's names.   Prayers are universal.

Peace, Love, Joy and God's Blessings to You and Those You Hold Dear,

"Papa Joe" and the Friends of Barnabas Foundation Cleft Lip/Palate Team