March 2009 Surgery Trip

Mission of Hope, Bolivia
P.O. Box 4001
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Phone and Fax: 434-977-4748
E-mail: cindytha@cstone.net

March 2009 Surgery Trip

On March 21, 2009, the 12th surgery team arrived at the Mission of Hope hospital in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for a week of free surgeries. The team was led by Dr. Charles Gross, an ENT surgeon (ears, nose and throat) from the University of Virginia. He was joined by team members from Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Virginia, who all came together to serve the poor in Bolivia. It was a week of great blessings for the 70 patients who were selected for surgery. The doctors were able to construct ears for children born without ears, remove tonsils that had caused painful infections, remove nasal obstructions, and patch holes in eardrums to end years of chronic infections.

The March 2009 Surgery Team

Some of the patients who were chosen for surgery

Some of the patients waiting to find out what day their surgery will be

The team waits for the first patients to arrive.

The nurses meet for the first time to plan the week of surgery.

Wendi, six years old, waits for admission.

Noemi, six years old, waits for admission. Noemi had successful surgery to repair a perforated ear drum.

Aldahir, ten years old, awaits having a tonsilectomy.

Aldahir ready for his surgery

Jose, 14 years old, was born with only one ear. He lives with his parents in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He rode on a bus for 12 hours to each screening appointment. Using carilage from his rib and tissue from his inner thigh, doctors were able to form an outer ear for him!

Jose after his surgery with Terry Elzinga

Susana and Ana enjoy coloring together as they wait for their turn for tonsil surgery.

Nancy Cooper with Susana (a different Susana than the picture to the left) before Susana's tonsilectomy

Calvin, who is six years old, had a successful tonsilectomy.

Ivonne (center) and Terry (right) talk with a patient's mother whose daughter is in surgery.

Daniel, 7 years old, lives in a very poor Ayore Indian village with his grandmother. He was born with a hole in the roof of his mouth. After surgery, Daniel spoke his first clear words and was able to eat and drink without problems for the first time in his life!

Daniel and his mother ready to go home

Dr. Mark Schneyer with Noemi before she heads home

Alie Cooper (left) with Cleofe and Gladys Candelaria (right) before her ear reconstruction surgery. Cleofe, 19 years old, was born without an ear.

Dania, who is twelve years old, waits for admission. She had a successful tonsilectomy.

Robin Sommer plays ring-around-the-rosy with the kids.


Patients having a time of praise and worship

Jhon Maicol, who is five years old, had an ear reconstruction surgery.

Cesar (left) and Felipe (right) before their tosilectomy surgies

Abel (left) and Carlos (right). Abel is 43 years old and had ear surgery to restore hearing in his right ear. Carlos returned this year for followup surgery on his facial tumor.

Leticia, hearing for the first time, is thrilled with her solar-powered hearing aid!

Jose Daniel (right) and Jose Augusto (left) competing with each other for the tallest pyramid of cards.

Bobbie Thornton with Jose Augusto

Dr. Joe Han (left) and Dr. Charlie Gross (right)

Wendi waiting for her ear surgery.

Ivonne Gilmer (left) looks on as Dr. Mark Schneyer (center) talks with Anne, our translator for the Mennonite patients who only speak German.

Branly colors with Bobbi Thornton. Branly is eight years old and had a tonsilectomy. She traveled with her mother all the way from Trinidad, over 16 hours away, to come to Mission of Hope.