Mission
of Hope, Bolivia
P.O. Box 4001
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone and Fax:
434-977-4748
E-mail: cindytha@cstone.net
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March 2007 Surgery Trip
Mission of Hope patients in Bolivia were so blessed by the ENT (ear, nose, throat) surgery team led by Dr. Charles Gross that came from the U.S. in March of 2007. Team members came from Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama and Oregon. More than 60 patients received the gift of a life-changing surgery! Patients who had been shunned and rejected by society because of facial and ear deformities received hope as facial tumors were removed and ears were reconstructed. Hearing was restored as eardrums were repaired and ears blocked from birth were opened. Chronic sinus infections were cured and breathing was restored as nasal obstructions were removed. Many patients who had a hearing loss that could not be corrected by surgery received solar powered hearing aids.
The March 2007 Surgery Team
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Dr. Yarifa, a Mission of Hope clinic doctor, and Cindy Thacker explain the admission process to the patients that are scheduled for surgery.
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Dr. John Ballert and Yvonne Gilmer, translator, interview a patient for surgery. Every patient meets with a surgeon and anesthesiologist before surgery. |
After Paola met with her doctors, she was taken up to her room, where she was given a coloring book with crayons.
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Paola, 6 years old, could not eat or sleep because of very large and inflamed tonsils. After a successful tonsillectomy, she is eating and sleeping normally. |
Judith is a nine year old girl that was admitted with a history of chronic sinus infections. She had problems breathing and sleeping for six years.
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Judith after a successful sinus surgery |
Team members praying with patients as they await surgery
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Mario going into surgery with Dr. Natalie Ballert
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Maria Del Carmen, a Mission of Hope clinic nurse, with her son, Dennis, who had a tonsillectomy. Many of our Mission of Hope staff's families benefit from the teams coming.
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Judit happily going into surgery with her nurse, Jean Blake. Judit could not hear out of either ear. She works as a librarian. It was difficult for her to do her job because people would whisper to her in the library and she could not hear them. After a successful stapidectomy, her hearing was restored.
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Jairo in his room before surgery
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Moises in his room before surgery |
Dr. Gross with Moises and Jairo
Moises and Jairo are orphans being raised by their grandmother.
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Dr. Charlie Gross with Jairo |
Eulalia is a 56 year old lady who has not been able to hear from either ear for many years. Because she had no money, she had no hope of ever getting well. Eulalia says her surgery was a miracle, and now she can hear.
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Dr. Bill Gross consulting with Dr. Yarifa, one of the Mission Of Hope clinic doctors. Mission of Hope staff worked closely with the U.S. team. |
Pedro, an orphan from a nearby orphanage, getting ready for surgery with his nurse, Kim Morris.
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Pedro walks to the operating room with his surgeon, Dr. Bill Gross. |
Drs. Charlie Gross (back turned), Bill Gross (on the right) and Mike Armstrong(in the back) discussing a case
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The doctors in surgery |
Pastor Joey Petty leads the morning praise and worship for the patients that are both waiting for surgery and recovering from surgery.
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Pastor Joey Petty and Nerven, one of the Mission of Hope clinic staff, work together to lead the praise and worship for the patients. |
Praise and worship with the patients
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Three special friends with Dr. Tana Tyler |
Yasmina getting a pre-op exam from Dr. Bill Gross. Yasmina needed a lot of hugs from the team because her mother was unable to stay with her. Her younger brother was also hospitalized in a different hospital and her mother was running back and forth between the two. After Yasmina was discharged, we learned that the father had abandoned the family and the mother had no money for food and she had not eaten for several days. Yasmina is one of six children. The team collected an offering to help her family.
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Yasmina after a successful ear surgery with her nurse, Marilyn Burruss |
Joel with his family after a successful surgery on his nose
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Rosa, 18 years old, after a successful tonsillectomy |
Jhossel with his mother and his nurse, Lisa McNerney. When Jhossel was four years old, he was hit by a bus while crossing the street. He lost his left ear in the accident. His family is very poor, and surgery for Jhossel was not an option. Jhossel's prayers were answered when this surgery team was able to form a new ear for him using cartilage from his rib.
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Dr. John Ballert looks on as Dr. Mike Armstrong removes the dressing on Jhossel's ear after surgery. |
Norm Brinkman, Terry Elzinga, Yvonne Gilmer and Suzi, of the Mission of Hope staff, work together to serve breakfast.
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Cathy Gross shares a laugh with Dr. Joe Han and her husband Dr. Charlie Gross. |
Children playing games and putting together puzzles with new friends as they recover from surgery
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Cindy Thacker and Kim Morris explain the discharge instructions for Lino and his wife. |
Ashley Petty takes vital signs on a patient after surgery.
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Kelly Sauer checks on a patient after a tonsillectory. |
Dr. John Antonakakis says goodbye to special friend.
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Norm Brinkman escorts Damaris to the front door after she has been discharged. |
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Surgery patients wait to see Dr. Charlie Gross the week after surgery.
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Dr. Charlie Gross does a post-op checkup.
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Pictured here are all of the patients who received solar powered hearing aids.
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Maira is 8 years old. She was 4 years old when her mother died, and she went to live with her grandmother. She had constant drainage from both ears and ear pain. Maira had a successful repair of perforations in both eardrums and is now free from pain. |
Tax deductible donations can be made
payable to:
Mission Of Hope, Bolivia
P.O. Box 4001
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Telephone and Fax: (434) 977-4748
Executive Director: Cindy Thacker
Mission of Hope, Bolivia is a
501c3 tax-exempt organization.
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