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Santa Cruz Clinic Update
A big "THANK YOU!" to everyone who contributed to the $100,000 matching gift challenge! We successfully completed the match and this money is being used to operate our free medical clinic in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
As we reflect on the past nine years, we are amazed at what God has done through Mission of Hope! Many lives have been saved! You may remember the story of Farid, a baby who was born with a congenital heart defect. Doctors told his parents that he was going to die and disconnected the machines that were keeping him alive! A series of miracles followed as Farid's parents found Mission of Hope and we sent them to a hospital in Cochabamba that specializes in heart surgery for children. Farid's life was saved and his father, Carlos was hired to work in the Mission of Hope clinic!
You may also remember the story of Silvia, a beautiful young lady who came to the Mission of Hope clinic so weak and short of breath that she had to be in a wheelchair. Silvia had a serious heart condition. Mission of Hope arranged for her to go to this same hospital in Cochabamba, where she had surgery on her mitral valve. She had a very successful surgery and her life was dramatically changed! Prior to the surgery, Silvia was focused on whether or not she would live or die. When Silvia came back to the Mission of Hope clinic a few months ago to visit, she was completing a two year nursing program! She had also married and was joyfully expecting her first baby! You can read Silvia's story in the December, 2008 newletter by clicking here.
 Denil is one of five children. His father is a carpenter and his mother works as a cleaning lady. Denil has been in and out of the hospital since birth with episodes of not being able to breathe. Each time this happened, his parents would rush him to the hospital. At the hospital, Denil would receive only enough treatment to stabilize and go home again because his parents did not have money for any diagnostic tests.
Finally, when Denil was five years old, a doctor told his parents that he needed heart surgery. They looked for help from charitable agencies in Santa Cruz, but no one would help them. They went to local TV stations and asked for air time to plea for help, but their request was denied. Meanwhile, the hospitalizations continued.
First they lost their house. Then, the lot of land that they lived on was raffled off to pay the hospital bills. Finally, Denil's dad had to sell all of his carpentry machinery and tools to pay the bills. Each time that Denil was admitted to the hospital, Denil's mother had to quit her job to stay with him in the hospital. She would sit in a chair beside his bed for days at a time.
Denil's parents had lost hope of being able to help their son. They knew that surgery was not a possibility. It was hard enough just to feed their family and keep up with the hospital bills. Then someone told them about Mission of Hope.
When Denil came to the Mission of Hope clinic in October of this year, he was 13 years old and weighed only 57 lbs. He was so weak, he could hardly walk. His parents said his condition was worsening, that he had no appetite and that he was losing weight. He was often sent home from school because of extreme fatigue and shortness of breath. The Mission of Hope clinic arranged for Denil to visit the hospital in Cochabamba that specializes in heart surgery for children, the same hospital that Farid and Silvia went to.
Denil was evaluated and put on a special diet. When he returned to Santa Cruz a week later, he had gained 10 lbs! Doctors determined that Denil needs surgery for an aortic value replacement as soon as possible. We have received $7,000 of the $10,000 that is needed to cover all the expenses of Denil's surgery. This includes pre-operative testing, lab work, surgery, medicines, and the cost of the replacement valve. If you would like to help with this surgery, please note that on the memo line of your check. If you are donating online, please send us a note by email to designate your gift. Our goal is to schedule his surgery for late January, 2012.
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